With the current UFC roster filled with fighters boasting extensive combat sports backgrounds—whether in wrestling, BJJ, or kickboxing before transitioning to MMA—there’s one standout, former middleweight champion Sean Strickland. Unlike his peers, Strickland didn’t begin his journey in traditional martial arts. Instead, he entered the MMA scene at the age of 14. Over time, ‘Tarzan’ honed his skills, mastering striking and excelling in boxing. However, Sean Strickland’s unorthodox fighting style has often been the subject of scrutiny.

Fellow middleweight Robert Whittaker, in particular, has criticized Strickland’s approach and humorously likened it to “a brother and sister fighting.” Despite these jabs, Strickland’s unconventional method has proven successful, leaving many to wonder how such a unique style can thrive at the highest level of competition. Strickland’s distinctive approach was recently highlighted on The Joe Rogan Experience podcast, where Rogan drew a comparison between ‘Tarzan’s style and the fighting style of a legendary all-time boxer.

Joe Rogan admires Sean Strickland’s ‘weird’ fighting style

In his latest podcast episode #2235, Joe Rogan, joined by television host and narrator Mike Rowe, brought up Strickland’s style while analyzing a classic boxing clip between Floyd Mayweather and Emanuel Augustus, where Augustus showcased his unorthodox “dancing” skills in the ring. The clip reminded Rogan of Strickland’s unusual stance and approach.

“There are guys who come along in fighting, particularly with styles so weird and unique, that you go, ‘Do you know who Sean Strickland is? He was the UFC Middleweight champion. He stands straight up” Rogan explained to Rowe. “With one hand like this and one hand down here, and beats the sh-t out of everybody. He stands straight up while everyone else is crouching or moving, yet Sean is just straight up, moving towards you.”

Throughout his MMA career, Strickland’s unorthodox and conservative fighting style has proven to be a major asset. He successfully made a name for himself under the King of the Cage promotion back in 2008, where he remained undefeated. Strickland later made his UFC debut, compiling an impressive 14-fight win streak. Joe Rogan further praised Strickland’s unique approach, saying, “He has phenomenal head movement, awesome timing, and walks people down with a weird style. There are a bunch of guys who fight weird, but they’re really good at it.”

With his conservative yet effective style, Strickland has continued to dominate, earning victories over notable fighters such as Dagestani sensation Abus Magomedov and former champion Israel Adesanya. However, this isn’t the first time someone has appreciated Strickland’s “weird” fighting style. Last year, his team and fellow UFC middleweight also brought attention to his unique approach.

Chris Curtis breaks down Strickland’s fighting style

Who knows a fighter better than their teammate? Chris Curtis, once a close friend and training partner of Sean Strickland at Xtreme Couture, now finds himself at odds with Strickland. The two have since drifted apart, with Curtis even going so far as to block the former 185lbs king on social media.

A year ago, however, things were better when Curtis used to spar with Strickland, who was preparing for his fight against Israel Adesanya at UFC 293. At that time, Strickland was the underdog in the eyes of the oddsmakers. Yet, with his “weird yet unique” fighting style, Strickland successfully dethroned Izzy, taking the title.

While many believe Strickland’s victory came because of Adesanya having an “off night,” Curtis had a different take. Speaking on The MMA Hour, Curtis shared his perspective: “Everything he does is, on paper, wrong. It’s not the way you’re supposed to move. He moves weird, he throws weird, and he kung fu blocks. He’s really good at shutting down the things you’re supposed to be good at. You hear at one point Izzy say, ‘I can’t find my jab.’ It’s hard to find your jab against Sean because he creates so much random traffic with his jab.”

What’s your take on Sean Strickland’s fighting style? Do you believe a fighter can keep succeeding with such an unconventional approach in a promotion like the UFC, where nearly every competitor has a solid foundation in traditional martial arts? Share your thoughts below.