Sean Strickland’s Unexpected Collaboration with Francis Ngannou and Jamahal Hill Sends MMA Fans Into Overdrive

Just days after his misadventure, Strickland was seen back in the gym, putting in the work for what could be his next title defense against Nassourdine Imavov. This time, though, he had some rather notable company.

Former UFC champions Francis Ngannou and Jamahal Hill were alongside the middleweight king, and Strickland being Strickland, the reunion didn't exactly go without a memorable moment. The UFC star shared a glimpse of the session on social media, giving fans a goldmine of an update and a typically unfiltered "Tarzan" line to go with it.

Sean Strickland, Francis Ngannou & Jamahal Hill – the Unexpected Trio 2026 Didn’t See Coming

For Strickland, 2026 has been anything but quiet. Just four months removed from reclaiming the UFC middleweight title with a split-decision win over Chimaev at UFC 328, the 35-year-old found himself at the center of another eventful stretch.

Most recently, Strickland was involved in a frightening side-by-side accident with a friend. The vehicle was reportedly traveling at around 60 mph when it rolled roughly six times, with the 35-year-old revealing that he repeatedly hit his head during the crash. 

He initially feared he could have suffered a concussion, although no official diagnosis was publicly disclosed. A later update from the champion was considerably more reassuring, with Strickland saying he was feeling better and even suggesting he’d be back in the gym.

Sean Strickland Back in Gym Soon After Accident

Return, he did. Rather than allowing the accident to keep him away from training for long, Strickland was back in the gym, preparing for what could be his next title defense. 

Nassourdine Imavov seems to be the leading candidate for that matchup, although the UFC has yet to formally announce the fight. Recent reports indicate that discussions are already well underway, with the remaining hurdle reportedly being the financial side of the deal.

Strickland has already made it clear that he wants to stay active, and after knocking out Anthony Hernandez earlier this year before beating Chimaev for the belt, another fight would give him a chance to close out an unusually busy 2026 on his own terms.

This latest training session was hardly business as usual. “Tarzan” found himself sharing the gym with former UFC Heavyweight Champion Ngannou and ex-light heavyweight king Hill. 

Interestingly, the sight of the middleweight champion working alongside Ngannou is not entirely new. Previously, the two have trained together at Xtreme Couture for years, with “The Predator” having joined Strickland's preparation camps.

Still, seeing the trio together was enough to get MMA fans' attention. Strickland, predictably, couldn't resist adding his own flavor to the occasion. Posting the moment on social media, the champion said, “I’m real excited to see some black on black violence today. Let’s f**king go.”

For all the noise surrounding the champion outside the cage this year, from the Chimaev title fight to the accident and even the recent RAF speculation involving Colby Covington, the latest update brought the focus back to the one thing Strickland has consistently returned to, that is training.

Fans Have a Lot to Say About Strickland’s Latest Training Session

Of course, Strickland stayed true to himself, and the training footage quickly became about more than just who was in the gym with him.

The middleweight champion’s comment about “black on black violence” gave fans plenty to work with, and the reactions ranged from amusement to outright exhaustion with his trademark sense of humor.

Some fans simply couldn't resist the spectacle of UFC’s unapologetic controversialist sharing the gym with Ngannou and Hill, with one reaction cutting straight to the point, “Strickland got no chill.”

Another fan went a step further, looking past the joke and straight at the potential implications for Imavov, writing: “Imavov is f**ked.” Not everyone was entertained, though.

One critic aimed what has become a familiar part of Strickland's public persona, noting, “This man is weirdly obsessed with race and sexuality, it’s his whole personality.” Meanwhile, another netizen had an even simpler response to the champion's latest attempt at humor -  “Derrrrrrrr so funny! Hilarious 16 year old sense of humor……so lame.”

Interestingly, that same sentiment appeared again from another fan, suggesting that while Strickland's unfiltered personality remains a major part of his appeal, it can also wear thin for some of his audience.