Sean Strickland remains sidelined from competition following an altercation at a Las Vegas MMA event, and his return to the UFC will have to wait.
The Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) unanimously voted to extend Strickland’s temporary suspension during their July 23 meeting, postponing his disciplinary hearing until at least August.
The incident that triggered the suspension took place at a Tuff-N-Uff event on June 29, where Strickland wasn’t fighting but was cornering fellow Xtreme Couture fighter Miles Hunsinger. After Hunsinger was submitted in the second round by Luis Hernandez via standing guillotine, Hernandez turned to Strickland’s corner and began taunting, even throwing in a pro-wrestling-style “crotch chop” gesture. That was all it took for things to boil over.
Strickland, accompanied by teammate Chris Curtis, stormed the cage and threw punches at Hernandez. At least one landed before security stepped in to break up the scuffle. Since Strickland was a licensed cornerman that night, his conduct fell under the NSAC’s regulatory authority and triggered an immediate temporary suspension on July 3.
“In connection with the June 29, 2025 contest held in Las Vegas, NV, which the respondent was not participating in as a combatant,” said Nevada deputy attorney general Matthew Feeley, “the respondent engaged in a physical altercation with a contestant immediately after the contestant’s bout.”
Strickland, a former UFC middleweight champion, last fought in February at UFC 312, where he dropped a split decision to Dricus Du Plessis in a hard-fought title rematch. While he’s been pushing for another top-tier matchup, his future remains unclear until the commission decides on a final punishment, which could include a longer suspension and financial penalties.
Due to the ongoing suspension, the UFC won’t schedule Strickland for a fight. His status hinges on either reaching an adjudication agreement with the NSAC or facing the outcome of a formal disciplinary hearing, both of which are expected to be addressed no earlier than the commission’s August session.
Despite being the target of the cage invasion, Luis Hernandez has shown nothing but class in his response. He even advocated for leniency toward Strickland.
“I really have nothing towards them, and hope the commission does not… like they even asked me, ‘Hey, you’re gonna press charges?’ I’m like, ‘What? No,’” Hernandez said.
“I would never want anything to happen to these guys because I actually like them, and I hope they watch this. I have nothing against Sean, nothing against Chris, nothing against Xtreme Couture. I like those guys.”
“I would say we’re all adults here, and I have nothing against them, and I will say this again: I hope the commission does not take this out on them at all because, at the end of the day, we’re all professionals and this is entertainment.”
Sean Strickland remains in limbo, but what’s clear is that his latest outburst has once again put him at the center of controversy. With the middleweight division moving forward, Strickland will need to resolve his issues with the NSAC before he can resume his climb back to the top.
