Sean Strickland usually grabs headlines for saying or doing something wildly controversial. And when he’s not stirring things up outside the cage, ‘Tarzan’ earns the spotlight by putting on all-out wars inside it. But this time, the former middleweight champion has caught UFC fans’ attention for a completely different reason. A major life milestone! Yes, Strickland just got married.

One of the UFC’s most outspoken figures has officially tied the knot with his longtime girlfriend, KJ. To mark the occasion, Strickland shared a photo captioned, “Well, time to grow up I guess.” But that’s not all. The celebration was also in true ‘Tarzan’ fashion. He was surrounded by friends holding g*ns, grinning from ear to ear. Once the photo hit social media, the UFC world flooded him with congratulations. And even his last opponent, Dricus du Plessis, joined in to send his best wishes. 

Dricus du Plessis congratulates Sean Strickland on his marriage 

In the comments section of the Instagram post, the former 185 lbs kingpin wrote two lines of greetings: “Happy for you brother! Congratulations to you and your wife.” Many fans found du Plessis’ message surprising, given how fierce their rivalry once was. Remember the UFC 297 buildup? ‘Stillknocks’ trash talk really got under Strickland’s skin back then. But over time, it seems both men have developed a mutual respect.

That respect was shown during their UFC 312 rematch, where they exchanged words of appreciation after going to war once again. They might not be best friends, but there’s clearly a level of respect between them now. That said, Strickland hasn’t stepped into the Octagon since February, when he failed to reclaim his title against ‘DDP.’ He’s also been serving a six-month suspension from the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) after getting into an altercation at a Tuff-N-Uff event.

‘Tarzan’ reportedly agreed to attend an anger management program, which could shorten his suspension and make him eligible to fight by November. But since he’s just gotten married, it’s fair to assume he might take a little extra time off to enjoy life with his new wife. Still, a return is inevitable — that brings up the question: who will he face next? Could it be Israel Adesanya? According to Strickland, another top contender might make more sense for his comeback. 

‘Tarzan’ wants Fluffy Hernandez next  

Although the UFC might be tempted to book Sean Strickland against ‘The Last Stylebender’ next, it doesn’t seem like he’s too interested in running back their UFC 293 fight. Instead, ‘Tarzan’ appears more focused on facing Anthony Hernandez. And the real reason behind that might surprise a few fans.

In an interview with MMA Junkie, Strickland explained, “I don’t want Izzy. I’m not going to fight Izzy. I think it’s an easier fight for me. So that’s kind of where I’m at. I want to fight somebody like Fluffy. Fluffy puts me in title contention. Especially with him, because all he does—he’s like the American Chimaev… Go beat your cans and then let me know when you’re ready.”

‘Fluffy’ was originally set to face Reinier de Ridder at UFC Vancouver, but an injury forced him out, and Brendan Allen stepped in as his replacement. Now, Hernandez needs a big-name opponent to re-establish himself in the middleweight title picture — and a fight with Strickland could be exactly that. Honestly, it’s the kind of matchup that could headline a marquee UFC event. Whether the promotion actually goes in that direction remains to be seen, but one thing’s for sure — Sean Strickland’s return to the middleweight division will shake things up once again.

Do you think Strickland should get a direct shot at Khamzat Chimaev, given their rivalry, or should he face another contender first? And what are your thoughts about him finally tying the knot? Let us know in the comments below.