Sean Strickland’s coach likes thought of Robert Whittaker struggle subsequent

Xtreme Couture head coach Eric Nicksick is open to the concept of Sean Strickland combating Robert Whittaker subsequent.

Strickland (28-6 MMA, 15-6 UFC) misplaced his middleweight title to Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 297 in January. In the meantime, former champion Whittaker rebounded from his TKO loss to Du Plessis by outlasting Paulo Costa at UFC 298.

Whittaker (25-7 MMA, 16-5 UFC) was requested about Strickland throughout the UFC 298 post-fight information convention, and he didn’t dismiss the matchup. Strickland’s head coach, Nicksick, had loads of excessive reward for Whittaker.

“It’s an awesome struggle,” Nicksick instructed MMA Junkie Radio. “I nonetheless suppose Robert’s probably the most gifted from high to backside within the division, in my view. I believe he has probably the most talent set and is probably the most harmful. I’ve at all times been an enormous fan of Robert Whittaker. I’ve stolen a number of strategies off of him, issues that he’s carried out.

“I’ve seen him within the locker room, warming up, doing issues that I put in my database and brought for good motive. I believe he’s top-of-the-line 185ers to ever do it, and I believe had it not been for Israel Adesanya, Robert Whittaker would have been holding that belt for an extended time period.”

Strickland has emerged as a fan favourite and one of the vital common (and polarizing) fighters on the roster. Nicksick has no subject with Strickland protecting energetic, particularly if he can capitalize on his budding star energy.

“He’s a prize fighter, and I believe cash talks,” Nicksick mentioned. “So, he’s ready the place he can maximize on his worth within the state of affairs that he’s in, then why not? Why not go struggle? He hasn’t been taking an entire lot of injury aside from the Alex Pereira struggle, so he’s comparatively wholesome. He’s nonetheless again within the room, he’s nonetheless coaching laborious, he’s doing every part he’s presupposed to do.”