Sean Strickland is the walking embodiment of a man who’d stroll into a room wearing a t-shirt that says, “Cancel Me if You Can!” If there’s one thing UFC fans know, it’s that when the outspoken former middleweight champion starts talking, he never holds back—no matter the consequences. His stream-of-consciousness style of communication has produced countless viral moments, from candid revelations about his troubled past to politically charged rants that leave UFC PR scrambling.

His edgy banter with media personnel Nina Marie Daniele and Helen Yee has garnered headlines on multiple occasions. Who can forget his post with the influencer on his Instagram handle where he referenced interim champ Tom Aspinall’s NSFW comments during an interview with Daniele? He captioned it as, “What would it take” I got you @tomaspinallofficial #shocker.” Unlike the calculated trash talk of someone like Conor McGregor, Strickland’s outbursts have an authenticity that makes them both compelling and uncomfortable, leaving audiences and fellow fighters never quite sure where the line between performance and genuine expression lies.

But is ‘Tarzan’ hiding a softer side behind his bold persona? According to his longtime rival, Israel Adesanya, the answer is yes. Despite Strickland’s harsh words in front of the cameras, Adesanya claims that behind the scenes, he’s actually a decent guy—someone who motivates others and offers surprising kindness. Can you believe it? The same Sean Strickland who once called The Daily Telegraph a “bunch of communists” apparently has a kind bone in his body!

Adesanya recently shared his thoughts during a conversation with Michael ‘Venom’ Page on his YouTube channel, offering insight into Strickland’s real personality. Reflecting on his 2023 loss to Strickland, The Last Stylebender said, “I’ll say this about him [Sean Strickland]: he is a d—head on the screen, saying all these kinds of stuff. But behind the scenes, he will say the nicest things to someone. He’ll relay messages to me and say nice things, so I know that there is good in him. He just has to put on this persona… but there is good in everyone, there is good in him. He also has to do the work on himself so that way he does not have to carry that stuff, trauma, and whatnot because it comes out.”

By now, it’s no secret what trauma Adesanya was referring to when discussing Strickland’s past. And his persona may be the culmination of his dreaded past and terrible experiences. Moreover, the American has long struggled with keeping his emotions in check, but in a deeply raw and unfiltered interview with Theo Von, the former champion opened up like never before, revealing harrowing details of his childhood.

Recalling a particularly jarring incident involving his parents, Strickland shared, “My dad gets on top of my mom, and I remember he said, ‘I’m going to fu—ng kill you tonight.’ I’m under the bed, and he starts strangling her. I get out, and the only thing I can see is a guitar and I just fuc—g crack him in the head and call the cops. I run down the street to call the cops. He’s arrested, and my dumb-ass mom bails him out of jail. I would say that’s the tip of the iceberg.”

Strickland went on to describe how this violent upbringing shaped his outlook on life, faith, and mental health, “Now you fast forward this, I don’t go to school. I’m up until 3 in the morning, and I couldn’t stay awake in school. I stopped believing in God when I was in elementary school. I was laying in bed crying, thinking about killing myself. There can’t be a fu—ng God here. How is there a God? Why would I be in this situation if there was a God? There ain’t no fuc—g God.”

Throughout the interview, Strickland paused multiple times, gathering himself as he revisited the pain of his past. Despite the intensity of the conversation, Von shared the same sentiment as Adesanya—that beneath Strickland’s brash persona, he’s actually a lovable guy. After the segment aired, the podcaster took to Strickland’s Instagram to leave a heartfelt comment:

“As fckn retarded as u are, u are somehow one of the most lovable people in the world, man. I was crying too, man. I coulda made bantamweight by the end of it. And the offer stands at 100. I’m just glad I got to talk honestly with someone abt shit that fuc—g hurt as a child. And tbh, we weren’t the ones crying, bro.”

Moreover, we have receipts to prove just how kind Strickland was toward Adesanya after his recent loss to Nassourdine Imavov. Appearing on Fox Sports Australia, Strickland was asked about Adesanya’s third career defeat, and instead of delivering the kind of crude, biting remarks fans have come to expect, he took a surprisingly respectful and supportive tone.

“At the end of the day, Izzy’s made his legacy,” Strickland said. “He made his legacy. If you want to continue to fight, continue to fight. But you’ve done what you wanted to do. You don’t have to prove anything.” Given their heated rivalry leading up to their UFC 293 showdown in 2023, Strickland’s words of encouragement came as a surprise. But it seems that times have changed, as even Adesanya has now thrown his support behind Strickland ahead of UFC 312.

Israel Adesanya picks his winner for UFC 312 main event

During his conversation with Michael Venom Page, Israel Adesanya also shared his thoughts on the highly anticipated UFC 312 showdown between Dricus Du Plessis and Sean Strickland. Having faced both men inside the Octagon, Adesanya offered his prediction on who would emerge victorious.

While he acknowledged that Strickland would be a tough challenge, The Last Stylebender ultimately backed Du Plessis to retain his middleweight title. “I think, to be honest, it’s gonna be Dricus. You know what he does. Strickland might wrestle a bit, but he is not going to initiate it. If he can have his defense on point, he might be able to defeat Dricus. Yeah, I think Dricus is gonna win. He’s gonna do it the way he does it, which is to be stubborn, try to take him down, and beat Strickland. But if Strickland can stop the takedown, he will be fine.”

Their first encounter was a razor-close battle, with Dricus Du Plessis securing the win through his relentless wrestling. But can he replicate that success, or does Strickland have new tricks up his sleeve to turn the tables? Moreover, how do you feel about Sean Strickland’s persona? Tell us in the comment section below!