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Sean Strickland handed indefinite suspension following injury at UFC 328
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- Sean Strickland handed indefinite suspension following injury at UFC 328
Photo by Jack Gorman/Getty Images
After his surprising title victory at UFC 328, Sean Strickland has been hit with an indefinite suspension by the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board until he's cleared.
Sean Strickland stunned the MMA world once again on Saturday, claiming a second major upset to take the middleweight title from Khamzat Chimaev in the main event of UFC 328.
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The American is now just the second fighter to hold the middleweight belt twice, joining Israel Adesanya – a former opponent – in that exclusive group.
But it wasn't all good news for Strickland. He didn't leave Newark unscathed and has been handed an indefinite suspension by the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board. No specific timeline has been given for his return yet.
Sean Strickland suspended indefinitely following UFC 328 victory
Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
Chimaev started well, but it didn't take long for the momentum to shift. Fatigue set in midway through the second round, and Strickland took full advantage of that.
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Dana White later revealed that Strickland suffered a broken nose in the first round, which may have played a part in his fatigue later in the fight.
That's not what led to his indefinite suspension though. The New Jersey State Athletic Control Board listed the official reason as a left hand injury, requiring clearance from an orthopedist before he can return.
Strickland was already dealing with injuries before stepping into the cage. He had separated his shoulder during training with Alex Pereira but still went ahead with the fight.
During his win over Chimaev, Strickland landed 123 of 312 significant strikes, which fits his high-volume striking style and may have contributed to his hand issues.
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The American has since admitted that Nassourdine Imavov is probably next up for him after the win over Chimaev.
But Chimaev appears to have backed away from plans to move up to light heavyweight and has told Strickland he's ready whenever he wants a rematch.
Joshua Van also suspended pending clearance on a hand injury
In the co-main event, Joshua Van held on to his flyweight title after a hard-fought win over Tatsuro Taira.
Throughout the five-round battle, Van landed several heavy shots on Taira, and now he's also been given an indefinite suspension until an orthopedist clears his left hand.
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The Burmese native is likely set for a big rematch against Alexandre Pantoja next, with there still being unfinished business between the two.
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