LAS VEGAS – Sean Strickland expects to get his hand raised against Krzysztof Jotko at UFC on ESPN 23.
Strickland (22-3 MMA, 9-3 UFC), who meets Jotko (22-4 MMA, 9-4 UFC) in a middleweight bout on Saturday’s main card, will attempt to push his winning streak to four fights in the contest. Given the style matchup, he expects a “violent” bout that will go his way, so long as he’s smart.
“Just another day at the office,” Strickland told MMA Junkie at UFC on ESPN 23 media day. “It feels good to be winning. Saturday, I could get knocked out and go back to the hotel room all pissed off, but as of now I’m on a high. I feel that I am 100 percent better than Jotko. In the gym, I don’t think he would even want to be a sparring parter of mine, but on the night with four-ounce gloves on, sh*t’s dangerous. Chances are good (of me winning) as long as I don’t act like an idiot.”
If Strickland gets the win, he’s already been called out for a rematch by Brendan Allen (16-4 MMA, 4-1 UFC), who he beat by TKO at UFC Fight Night 182 in November. Clearly, though, Strickland isn’t interested.
“F*ck Brendan Allen; that guy’s such a douchebag,” Strickland said. “It’s like, if we could call out rematches, I have a list of guys before it’s f*cking you. Kamaru Usman, No. 1, although it ain’t going to be at welterweight. Brendan Allen’s just such a douchebag. What’d you win with, like a f*cking heel hook? A leg lock? You took the coward’s way out, a submission. F*ck off, dude. Go focus on yourself.
“He’s like, ‘That was lucky.’ I beat your ass for two rounds. Shut up. Focus on yourself. F*ck him. If you keep winning, and the moment you actually get ranked again and it’s for a belt, we’ll give you a f*cking rematch all day long. But do yourself a favor, do me a favor, and focus on yourself you f*cking loser.”
UFC on ESPN 23 takes place at the UFC Apex. The entire card airs on ESPN2 and streams on ESPN+.
Watch the video above for Strickland’s entire UFC on ESPN 23 media day interview.
UFC on ESPN 23’s Sean Strickland shuts down rematch with ‘f*cking loser’ Brendan Allen
