The honeymoon phase appears to be over for former UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland, who is now gearing up for a comeback. It has been over eight months since he last set foot inside the Octagon, and during that time, plenty has changed in his life. ‘Tarzan’ served a six-month suspension from the NSAC under specific conditions, and on a personal front, he went from being single to married.

With his suspension likely to conclude by the end of December, Sean Strickland’s time away from competition has started to take its toll, particularly on his weight. Now back to sparring and training sessions, Strickland’s bigger frame has fueled talk of a potential move to the light heavyweight division. The outspoken former champion recently took to social media to interact with fans and answer questions about his next move. Here’s what he had to say.

Sean Strickland teases comeback date as light heavyweight contenders take notice

Known for his outspoken nature, Sean Strickland confirmed on X that his “suspension is up in December,” signaling that his return could happen as early as January 2026, right around the time the UFC kicks off its new broadcasting deal with Paramount+ following the end of its partnership with ESPN. In recent weeks, ‘Tarzan’ has shared training clips on Instagram, prompting a flood of fan questions. When asked about his next fight, he responded, “Jan or Feb next year.”

Another fan questioned how he manages to make middleweight, to which Sean Strickland replied that he maintains his weight through “running.” Expanding on the topic, the American star pointed to “genetics,” as a factor. “Some guys struggle to keep weight… I’m not that way. My metabolism is 11 percent slower than the average middleweight in the UFC, so I make up for that with running… a lot… I hate it more than anything.”

Throughout his career, Sean Strickland has been known to walk around much heavier than his fighting weight. A proud 185-pound competitor, he has faced elite names like Israel Adesanya and Nassourdine Imavov. But with his current size, fans are beginning to speculate about a possible move up and potential matchups against fighters in his occasional training partner and friend Alex Pereira’s light heavyweight circle. When one fan guessed his current weight to be “205 confirmed,” Strickland responded, “Currently 230 lol.”

Tarzan is 4-2 in his last six fights, with losses coming against Dricus Du Plessis in a title bout and one other close contest. Now, the American looks ready to bounce back and make another run for the title, with one opponent in mind.

Who does Sean Strickland want to fight next?

Khamzat Chimaev has quickly become the man everyone in the UFC middleweight division wants a piece of. But for Sean Strickland, Chimaev represents something different, not a target but an irritation he’s eager to deal with. Once training partners, the two now find themselves on opposite paths, with tension building toward a likely Octagon clash.

At one point, rumors suggested Sean Strickland was negotiating a rematch with Israel Adesanya. However, after his loss to Dricus Du Plessis, the former champion now sits at No. 3 in the rankings and sees a clear route back to contention. In his view, one solid win could put him right back in the title picture, and that win, he believes, could come against Anthony Hernandez.

Speaking to MMA Junkie, Strickland laid out his thoughts, saying, “I would imagine me and ‘Fluffy’ might be going at it. I imagine that is the fight to make I don’t want (Israel Adesanya). I’m not going to fight Izzy. I think it’s the easier fight for me, but I want to fight that little Chechen whore. I want to fight somebody like ‘Fluffy.’ He puts me in title contention, especially with him, because all he does (is grapple). He’s like the American Chimaev.”

Strickland’s comments have raised questions about whether the UFC will actually pair him with Anthony Hernandez, who’s currently on a winning streak. But considering the American star’s current size, do you think he’s ready to take on one of Alex Pereira’s rivals? Share your thoughts below.