The first UFC main event of July went the way of Sean Strickland, and it was arguably one of the most important wins of his career.
It’s not because Strickland (27-5 MMA, 14-5 UFC) managed to halt Abus Magomedov (25-5-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC) by second-round TKO for his first stoppage in nearly three years in the UFC on ESPN 47 headliner at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, but because of the timing of it all.
Strickland put himself in position to potentially get a title shot against Israel Adesanya at UFC 293 in September with his win, but it’s a matter of how Saturday’s UFC 290 bout between Robert Whittaker and Dricus Du Plessis shakes out.
Could Strickland actually get the shot? Watch the video above for thoughts and analysis on his future after UFC on ESPN 47.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 47.
Mick Maynard’s Shoes: What’s next for Sean Strickland after UFC on ESPN 47 win?