Chris Curtis is urging everyone not to fret over Sean Strickland’s recent loss. Both friends and training partners had bouts at UFC 297, but only Curtis emerged victorious with a split decision over Marc-Andre Barriault on the main card.
On the other hand, Strickland, headlining the event, narrowly lost his middleweight title to Dricus du Plessis in a points decision.
Curtis reassures everyone that Strickland is swiftly moving past the defeat, a mindset Curtis wishes he could adopt more often.
He highlights Strickland’s ability to separate himself from the fighter persona, emphasizing that fighting is something Strickland loves, but it doesn’t define him. Curtis acknowledges his own struggle in differentiating himself from his fighter identity.
While Curtis appreciates Strickland’s positive outlook, he doesn’t entirely let his friend off the hook. Despite Strickland’s reputation for staying true to his beliefs, Curtis playfully reveals an unexpected change – Strickland buying a Tesla.
Curtis humorously admits to teasing Strickland about this new purchase, adding that besides the Tesla, Strickland remains the same person, maintaining his frugal habits.
Curtis, coming off a much-needed victory at UFC 297 following a recent no-contest and loss due to accidental head clashes, expresses support for Strickland. He believes the judges may have been swayed by the visible cut on Strickland’s face during the fight.
Curtis suggests that judges might be influenced by blood, speculating that it played a significant role in the scoring. He argues that judges sometimes struggle to differentiate the impact of previous rounds’ blood on the current round, potentially affecting their opinions, especially in close rounds.
