UFC’s Sean Strickland hit with six-month suspension, $5,000 fine for in-cage brawl

Former UFC champion Sean Strickland has been suspended for six months following his involvement in an in-cage brawl at a Tuff-N-Uf event in June. The incident occurred after Luis Hernandez secured a win in the middleweight fight and began taunting the corner of his opponent, Miles Hunsinger, whose coaches included Strickland and fellow UFC fighter Chris Curtis.

Both men faced disciplinary action from the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC), but only Strickland, who was caught on camera entering the cage and throwing punches at Hernandez, received a suspension.



The NSAC ruled that Strickland’s suspension could be reduced to four and a half months if he completes an anger management program. In addition, the American was fined $5,000 along with legal costs.

NSAC chairman Dallas Haun, however, praised Strickland for the manner in which he accepted responsibility and dealt with both the incident and the resulting punishment.

"Sean Strickland stepped forward. He made this process easy," Haun said during the meeting. "He apologized for his behavior. We appreciate someone stepping up, owning something and then a resolution could be come to quickly and with all parties in agreement."

The suspension is set to run until December 29, unless shortened through compliance with conditions. Strickland’s most recent bout came in February, when he was defeated by then-middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis in a dominant performance by the South African.