TLDR
- Sean Strickland called Robert Whittaker a ‘gatekeeper fighter’ and said beating him wouldn’t lead to a title shot
- Strickland used a crude party comparison to express his lack of interest in fighting Whittaker
- The former champion prefers his February 21 matchup with Anthony Hernandez, who is on an eight-fight win streak
- Whittaker has lost three of his last five fights and hasn’t held the middleweight title since February 2022
- Strickland is returning to the UFC for the first time since losing to Dricus du Plessis at UFC 312 in February 2024
Sources: Yardbarker | MMAWeekly | MMA-Core
Former UFC Middleweight Champion Sean Strickland has made it clear he has no interest in fighting Robert Whittaker, delivering harsh criticism of the former champion ahead of his UFC Houston main event.
Strickland, who faces Anthony Hernandez on February 21 at the Toyota Center in Houston, called Whittaker a “gatekeeper fighter” in a recent interview with the Kairouz Bros. He said a win over Whittaker would not lead to a title shot.
“I don’t want Whittaker,” Strickland said. “I beat Whittaker, there’s no title shot ahead of that. It doesn’t do anything. Gatekeeper fighter, but it doesn’t do anything for me.”
The 33-year-old fighter then used a crude comparison to further dismiss the potential matchup. “It’s like the girl at the party everybody’s f****d and you’re just like, ‘Ehh, maybe if 3 a.m. hits and there’s nobody left, I might try it,” Strickland said.
Sean Strickland on fighting Robert Whittaker: "He’s like the girl at the party everybody’s f***ed. And you’re just like… uhh, maybe if it’s 3AM and there’s nobody left, I might try it."pic.twitter.com/8ua3HVEzXu
— Joe Rogan Podcast News (@joeroganhq) January 8, 2026
Strickland Praises Hernandez Matchup Instead
Strickland expressed more enthusiasm about his scheduled fight with Hernandez, who is currently on an eight-fight winning streak. He compared Hernandez to rising star Khamzat Chimaev, calling him “the American Chimaev.”
“The good thing about ‘Fluffy’ is guy’s on like a 50-fight winning streak. You’re next in line,” Strickland said, exaggerating Hernandez’s actual eight-fight win streak. “That’s the fight. That’s the next title fight.”
Hernandez was originally scheduled to fight Reinier de Ridder at UFC Vancouver but had to withdraw due to injury. In a statement, Hernandez apologized to the UFC, his opponent, and his fans, saying he needed time to get healthy before returning to make a statement.
Strickland is returning to the UFC for the first time since February 2024, when he lost a rematch to then-champion Dricus du Plessis at UFC 312. The loss marked his second straight defeat to du Plessis.
Whittaker’s Recent Record Examined
Whittaker’s recent performances may explain Strickland’s dismissive attitude toward the matchup. The Australian fighter has lost three of his last five fights and hasn’t held the middleweight title since February 2022.
Whittaker lost the belt in his rematch against Israel Adesanya at UFC 271, where he was unable to reclaim the championship. Since then, his path back to a title shot has been complicated by inconsistent results.
In addition to his critical comments, Strickland also delivered a freestyle rap on January 11 that included shots at Whittaker and other UFC fighters. The performance was consistent with Strickland’s reputation for unfiltered trash talk and controversial statements.
The middleweight division has been discussing Whittaker’s potential move to light heavyweight in 2026, though no official announcement has been made. Strickland weighed in on these discussions as part of the broader MMA community conversation about Whittaker’s future.
Strickland’s main event against Hernandez on February 21 will determine whether his strategy of avoiding Whittaker pays off. A win over the streaking Hernandez could position Strickland for another title shot without needing to face the former champion.
