TLDR
- Sean Strickland rejected a fight against Anthony Hernandez at UFC 325 in Sydney, Australia on January 31
- Strickland cited insurance costs as the main reason, saying he would have to give half his paycheck for medical coverage
- The former middleweight champion’s suspension ends next week after a cage-storming incident at a regional event in June
- Strickland wants the Hernandez fight rescheduled in the United States instead
- He has only fought once in 2025 and competed just once in America over the last two years
Sean Strickland Rejects UFC 325 Australia Card Over Insurance Dispute
Former UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland has declined a fight offer for UFC 325 in Sydney, Australia. The promotion wanted to match him against Anthony Hernandez on January 31 at Qudos Bank Arena.
Strickland cited financial reasons for turning down the bout. He explained that insurance costs would take half of his fight purse. The fighter stated he does not have medical insurance and would need to purchase coverage for the Australian event.
“I don’t have medical insurance,” Strickland said on social media. “So you want me to go get my first fight back in Australia and give half of my check to you and buy your medical insurance? I ain’t doing it.”
The 34-year-old fighter remains interested in facing Hernandez. He just wants the fight to happen in the United States instead. Strickland emphasized his preference for a domestic venue.
“I love the Fluffy fight,” Strickland said, referring to Hernandez by his nickname. “Let’s get this booked in the States.”
Strickland’s suspension with the Nevada Athletic Commission ends next week. He received the six-month ban for entering the cage and engaging in a physical altercation at a Tuff-N-Uff regional event in Las Vegas in June. The incident occurred after an opponent defeated a fighter Strickland was cornering.
Limited Recent Activity in America
The former champion has only competed once in 2025 due to his suspension. Over the last two years, Strickland has fought just once in the United States. He never defended his title on American soil during his championship reign.
Sydney would have marked Strickland’s third fight in the Australian city. He previously won the middleweight title there at UFC 293 by defeating Israel Adesanya. His most recent fight was at UFC 312 in Sydney, where he lost to Dricus du Plessis in a title rematch.
Strickland holds a record of 29-7 overall and 16-7 in the UFC. He is currently 1-2 in his last three fights.
Hernandez enters as one of the division’s hottest fighters. The California native rides an eight-fight winning streak. He holds a 15-2 overall record and 9-2 in the UFC.
An injury forced Hernandez out of a planned number one contender bout against Reinier de Ridder in October. That fight would have determined the next challenger for middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev.
Both Strickland and Hernandez were born and raised in California. A fight card in their home state would accommodate both fighters’ preferences.
