The aftermath of UFC Vegas 90 saw former UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland stepping up to support his teammate, Chris Curtis, after Curtis fell short against Brendan Allen in a closely contested bout. Despite a valiant effort from Curtis, Allen clinched a split decision victory in what was dubbed a ‘Fight of the Year’ contender, reminiscent of their 2021 matchup, which Curtis won by second-round TKO.
Strickland, a prominent figure in the UFC, took to Twitter to express his thoughts on Curtis’ performance. He revealed that Curtis entered the fight underprepared and out of shape, despite which he managed to put up a commendable fight. Strickland’s tweets reflected his understanding of the relentless demands of the UFC and the pressure fighters face to accept fights, regardless of their readiness.
The fact that Curtis looked so good in this fight shows you guys did the prep right.
He had great pace going into the 5th.
— Malcolm Fle𝕏 (@Malcolm_fleX48) April 7, 2024
Acknowledging the reality of the situation, Strickland quipped about the necessity of adhering to UFC’s demands, humorously suggesting that Curtis should have finished high school. However, he concluded his rant with a call for a rematch on full camp, recognizing Curtis’ efforts and deserving another shot under optimal conditions.
Strickland, who has his own history with Allen, having previously defeated him, faced a setback in his recent fight against Dricus du Plessis at UFC 297 after losing the middleweight title to Israel Adesanya. Meanwhile, Curtis took the short-notice fight against Allen after securing a victory over Marc-André Barriault at UFC 297, breaking a two-fight skid.
Despite the loss, Curtis’ stock in the middleweight division remains strong, given his impressive performance against Allen. With his track record of success in the UFC, including three initial victories, Curtis is still considered a formidable opponent for top contenders in the middleweight division.
Looking ahead, both Strickland and Curtis aim to bounce back in their respective Octagon appearances later in the year. Strickland seeks another shot at the title amidst a competitive middleweight landscape, while Curtis continues to climb the ranks, presenting a challenge to any opponent in the division.
