UFC fighter Gilbert Burns has recently joined the ranks of those standing up for his fellow professional, Sean Strickland’s actions during UFC 312. Despite his loss against the current reigning middleweight champion, Dricus Du Plessis, and his track record of 23-2 MMA and 9-0 UFC, Strickland faced severe criticism. Making headlines as the main event at Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena this past Saturday, Strickland, received negative feedback and many believed he lacked the right stance and aggression required in the octagan during the match.
Strickland, who is already well-known with an MMA score of 29-7 and a UFC record of 16-7, suffered a promising blow in Round 4 of the fight due to a nasal fracture. Many in response to this incident, felt that he did not match the expected briskness or intensity throughout the entire round. As a result, many commented on his lacklustre performance, including his loss.
Gilbert Burns, however, has come forward voicing his thoughts on Strickland’s fight. Providing a very different perspective, Burns has suggested that the criticism of Strickland might be a bit premature and he reminded critics of Strickland’s illustrious UFC middleweight champion past. Indeed, Burns states, ‘Strickland’s actions could be attributed to many factors. Who knows, he might not have been in the best of health that day.’
Burns also expressed his discontent with the narrative that labels Strickland as an all-talk and no action fighter. He refutes such claims by saying, ‘I can’t agree with the narrative that he talks a lot, he doesn’t back it up.’ To Burns, this is a somewhat skewed perception of Strickland and his fight. He justifies this by pointing out Strickland’s accomplishments in the past.
Strickland’s string of remarkable victories further back Burns’ statements. He points out that Strickland showcased his skill and tenacity through impressive wins against contenders like Imavov and Brendan Allen. Strickland didn’t just talk, he proved himself in the ring multiple times against formidable opponents.
Strickland’s performance was not only against regular fighters but also quite exceptional ones. Burns highlights this when he mentions Strickland’s victories over noted fighters like Paulo Costa and Israel Adesanya. Burns brings these instances to light in order to remind fans of Strickland’s not so distant glory days.
However, Burns says these achievements seem to have been forgotten. ‘People are saying, ‘Oh, he just talks, he doesn’t do much,’ I find this utterly disrespectful, forgetting about someone’s accomplishments that quick.’ He evidenced this by saying that people quickly forget and jump to conclusions.
He goes on to comment on the impact of social media and the internet age on people’s perceptions. People’s memory on these platforms is short-lived. ‘In these TikTok days, people are swiping through, seeing something nice, moving on, and forgetting the previous.’ His comments reflect a broader critique of how rapidly content is consumed and forgotten in today’s digital age.
Burns fondly recalls Strickland’s time as champion, as a period when he took on everyone and emerged victorious. Strickland rose to victor on multiple counts against well-acclaimed fighters, something that has now faded into the background. ‘People are now talking, ‘Oh, he talks a lot, he’s crazy,’ but I like it. And the guy backs it up, or he tries at least.’ further commenting on the love he has for Strickland’s fighting style.
However, what was later made public was Strickland’s health conditions during the fight. The former champ confessed that he was dealing with a staph infection at the time of his fight, something that was evident on his arm during fight week. This allowed a new perspective to emerge, providing a potential explanation for his affected performance.
In addition to this, Strickland opened up about another challenge he was dealing with during his fight. He disclosed that he was nursing a broken arm while he was still in his training camp, a severe injury for any professional athlete, particularly a fighter.
This information adds an entirely new perspective to Strickland’s actions in UFC 312. The staph infection and broken arm could have contributed to his diminished performance in the octagon. At the end of the day, Strickland’s resilience in the face of adversity should not be overlooked.
While some might see these revelations as excuses, others see them as an explanation. It’s easy to judge someone’s performance without understanding the context. Strickland’s dedication, despite his health challenges, becomes a testament to his character.
Burns’ perspective challenges the quick to judge mindset prevalent in many sports fans today. It’s crucial for people to remember the achievements a fighter has made in the past, and not let a single performance cast a shadow over them.
In conclusion, Strickland’s actions during UFC 312 might have been unexpected. But as Burns points out, it’s important to remember Strickland’s past victories and the physical challenges he faced. Overcoming adversity, showing resilience, and having the courage to enter the ring no matter what, is very much backing it up, even if it’s not in the conventional way.