Is Sean Strickland the Best Short-Notice Fighter in UFC History?

Sometimes, the biggest opportunities are the ones that come without warning. Today, in combat sports, it is quite common to see fighters pull out of bouts due a variety of reasons, only for a new opponent to step on short-notice to keep the contest afloat. These last minute bookings always come as a double edged sword for both individuals involved, as the combatant who lost their initial opposition has to painstakingly readjust their training camp to prepare an entirely new foe and their respective style. For the one filling in for a tilt, however, the risks are much lower, for they have the chance to earn a degree of notoriety with a victory while earning a quick and possibly substantial payday.

The invitation to compete in short-notice fights can appear to any mixed martial artist regardless of their skill level, from top regional prospects to established contenders in major organizations. Among these names, there are a few who have practically defined their careers off of their eagerness and success in abrupt bout bookings. No one encapsulates this better than current UFC Middleweight Champion Sean Strickland. 

For much of his run at 185-lb, Strickland has made a name for himself as a man who will fight anyone anywhere at any time. This mentality has taken the Xtreme Couture product to the pinnacle of the sport on two occasions, proving that he undoubtedly thrives in contests that he almost jumps straight into. Having etched an undeniable legacy as an all-time great in his weight class, Strickland has proven that whether it is a month or a nearly a week's notice, he will take on any and all comers put in front of him on the biggest stage in mixed martial arts without hesitation.

These are some Sean Strickland’s most notable short-notice UFC fights

3. Sean Strickland vs. Brendan Allen UFC Fight Night 182

At the height of the pandemic in late 2020, UFC events were frequently hit by canceled bouts due to the surging Covid-19, with most cards during that time losing several fighters and matchups to the virus. This was the case for UFC Fight Night 182’s second main card scrap, which saw Ian Heinisch pull out from his middleweight clash with Brendan Allen.

Scrambling to find a late replacement adversary, the UFC contacted Strickland, who accepted the booking on just five days' notice, making it his first fight in just over two weeks after besting Jack Marshman at UFC Vegas 12.

Undefeated in over two years at the time of the bout, Allen had compiled an amazing seven-fight winning streak, which saw him capture the LFA 185-lb strap and defend it once before vacating to compete on the Contender Series. Scoring a contract with the UFC with a first round submission over Aaron Jeffery, “All In” had announced himself as a legitimate prospect with three straight victories in the Octagon, taking out the likes of Kevin Holland and Kyle Daukaus.

Dragging Allen into deep waters, Strickland imposed a slow but methodical pace that saw him wear down his opponent with his pinpoint jab and constant forward pressure.

Though Allen did manage to land a few impactful shots himself, it was “Tarzan” that eventually delivered a hard left hook that dropped the South Carolina native. Finishing him off with subsequent ground-and-pound that forced the referee to wave off the fight. On less than a week’s notice, Strickland had bested a man many considered a tough test for him, handing Allen his first loss by strikes.

The defeat only proved to be a minor setback for Allen, who would go on to become a bonafide middleweight contender over the next six years. As of this writing, he is coming off a monumental triumph over former ONE Championship double champion Reinier de Ridder at UFC Fight Night 262.

2. Sean Strickland vs. Nassourdine Imavov UFC Vegas 67

Starting off 2022 on a high note, Strickland had collected an impeccable win over European luminary Jack Hermansson, solidifying his position as one of the premier middleweight fighters on the planet, However, while things seemed to be on the up and up for the striking specialist, the rest of the year did not end up being as fruitful, with Strickland suffering two consecutive losses to the burgeoning Alex Pereira and Jared Cannonier.

Heading into 2023, Strickland was eager to get back into the winner’s circle by any means necessary. Fortunately, the chance to get back on track came calling in early January, when he was asked to fill in for Kelvin Gastelum in a main event scrap with surging French phenom Nassourdine Imavov at UFC Vegas 67, with the match being contested as a light heavyweight catchweight.

Winner of three straight prior to his clash with Strickland, Imavov had begun to come into his own as a streaking contender at 185-lb. Showcasing a rapidly improving skillset following his first loss in the UFC to Phil Hawes, “The Sniper” had racked up decisive victories against Ian Heinisch, Edmen Shahbazyan, and Joaquin Buckley. For his meeting with Strickland, though, Imavov had entered new territory in terms of fighting weight, as he had never fought at 205-lb once in his entire career.

In what played out as a close bout on the feet, Strickland and Imavov put on a stellar five-round contest, with both men logging over 100 significant blows landed. Sadly, for Imavov, the gap between him and the American started to show itself as the tilt made its way into the later stages, where Strickland’s superior conditioning and striking abilities proved a solid edge.

Taking home the unanimous decision victory, Strickland had snapped his losing skid in fantastic fashion, setting the stage for an even grander triumph later on in 2023.

The loss to Strickland wound up being a hard lesson for the young Imavov, who was forced back to the drawing board after having his lengthy stay in the win column brought to a disappointing end. Learning from the defeat, the Frenchman would embark on a current run of domination up the middleweight ladder after stringing together five straight wins, leading some to call him the true number one contender of the division as of this writing.

1. Sean Strickland vs. Israel Adesanya UFC 293

Following his dismantling of Imavov, Strickland again impressed by taking down another top European prospect in Abus Magomedov, starching the German in two rounds after weathering an early storm from him in the opening minutes of the bout. Winner of two in a row, “Tarzan” received the opportunity of a lifetime to headline UFC 293 on little over a month's notice, with his opponent being none other than then two-time 185-lb incumbent Israel Adesanya.

In the not-so-distant past, Adesanya looked to be untouchable as middleweight kingpin. Amassing five straight title defenses, the Nigerian-born kickboxer had pushed back some of the greatest fighters the weight category had ever produced, such as Yoel Romero,Paulo Costa, and Robert Whittaker. Although he did initially hand over his throne to his perpetual nemesis Alex Pereira at UFC 281, “The Last Stylebender” rebounded in legendary fashion by ripping the crown from the Brazilian with an emphatic comeback knockout in their subsequent rematch.

Preparing for what was hoped to be another successful title reign, Adesanya was at first expected to battle fellow African combatant Dricus du Plessis at UFC 293. Unfortunately, the challenger had to back out of the fight after picking up an injury in training, leaving the door wide open to step in on short notice to contend for the belt. Before the bout took place, fans and pundits alike did not give the American much hope, with some websites listing Strickland as a gigantic underdog.

In the first four minutes of the contest, though, Strickland flipped the combat sports world on its head by dropping Adesanya with a stunning right that left him visibly wobbled. For the rest of the main event, Strickland pressured the compromised champion with an unending string of jabs and font kicks that he seemingly had no answer to. While the City Kickboxing legend did manage to rally to see to the final horn, it was clear to all that Strickland had pulled off the biggest upset in the division’s history, with him snagging the championship via dominant unanimous decision.

Following his setback to Strickland, Adesanya has encountered a great deal of adversity, losing his next three consecutive fights. Falling short in a failed title bid against Driuc du Plessis at UFC 305 in his next Octagon assignment, the aging previous champion has also taken two knockout defeats to younger opposition in Nassourdine Imavov and Joe Pyfer.