UFC’s Sean Strickland ‘Mentally Unwell’ Despite Having ‘Everything I’ve Ever F****** Wanted'
Sean Strickland has never been a stranger to speaking his mind.
The UFC middleweight has amassed quite the platform since taking the promotion by storm post-pandemic. Strickland's return to the Octagon after a serious motorcycle accident in 2018 saw him become a world champ just last year with a dominating win over Israel Adesanya.
Strickland's title reign didn't go the distance however as he was dethroned by Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 297 in a controversial split decision... a fight that he hopes to run back later this year.
Belt or no belt, it's pretty much the same for the American who's living his dream after UFC fame and fortune. But the thing is, it's not all sunshine and rainbows for Strickland who takes a step back to focus on what's really going on in his personal life.
"All week, I've been f***** up, dude," Strickland said in a video posted to Instagram. "I've been on the Twitter saying crazy s***. Just f****** spiraling. I woke up and I told my girl, I was like, babe, I feel like I'm a danger to people. I don't feel like I should be out in the world, you know?
"I think that, I have everything. I'm rich, I'm famous. Like I have everything I've ever f****** wanted and I still am mentally unwell."
Throughout the last few months, Strickland has been vocal on his childhood trauma and even opened up about it on Theo Von's podcast, where he was left in tears.
"I've thought about going to therapy once," Strickland wrote on 'X' last year. "Well Sean let's talk about these repressed memories that are holding back personal growth" By the end of it I'm going to be loading a magazine crossing names off a list.... Some shit should just stay buried lol!!!"
Strickland is one of the few fighters on the UFC roster to express that his violent intentions follow him outside the gates of the Octagon. As it turns out, it's not always a physical battle for 'Tarzan', it's a mental one, too.
"I get in these like mindsets to where like, I want to burn everything down the world. I want to have nothing so I can just f****** lose it and just take out everything on people, you know? I think that, like you guys, in a weird way, like my family, like I've shared some s*** with you guys and you guys have shared some s*** with me that like, I feel more connected with my fans.
"I think most people feel just 'cause we've gone through, we've gone through a lot together. I have everything I want, dude. I still struggle with mental health, you know?
Strickland continued.
"My memory is so short that like, when I've gotten through this week, I think of myself. Like, once I get past it, I think of myself, 'Oh man, like that was a really rough time in my life'. But then when I really think about it, this happens multiple times a month, every month, you know? And again, I don't even know why I'm telling you guys this. I've just been kind of going through some s***."
Strickland ends his message on a positive note, going from a dark place to training at his home gym of Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas.
"I'm fine, I'll be fine," Strickland added. "I'm gonna go train right now. I'll try to hurt all my friends and all the demons will go away. I just want you guys to know that I have everything I could ever want in the world and I still struggle. So what if you guys are going through, man? Hope y'all feel better. Go to the gym, train. F****** wish you all the best."
If you use any quotes from this article, please leave an H/T to MMAKnockout.com for the transcription.
Stick with MMA Knockout for more daily coverage of the UFC, MMA, WWE, and AEW.