UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland apparently had a close call, but luckily he's OK.
Strickland said he got into a motor vehicle accident while he was sitting passenger in a UTV with no helmet on. The accident happened Monday night in Las Vegas while hanging out with friends and fellow UFC middleweight Anthony Hernandez, who was not involved in the accident.
"Guys, I’m in a real bad place," Strickland in an Instagram video. "Aw, f*ck. I let my buddy drive, he rolled us going, like, 60 (MPH). We rolled like six times. [Shows head scratch] That was from my head smacking the ground, going 60, did not have a helmet on. I’m an idiot.
“[Shows scrapes on shoulder] That was just from rolling and smacking the concrete and the dirt. F*ck, I’m in a real
bad place right now. I think I’m just going to lay here and take a nap for a little bit, just a little shuteye. A little shuteye will do right, just sleep it off.”
Strickland followed up with another video hours later assuring his followers that he was healthy and without major injuries despite crashing at 60 miles per hour.
"Quick update: I think I'm OK," Strickland said. "Chris went unconscious for a little bit. He's in the hospital, but I think he's going to be all right. He just went asleep for a little bit. But honestly, the most f*cking fun I've had in a very, very long time."
Strickland, 35, became UFC middleweight champion for a second time this past May, taking the belt from Khamzat Chimaev in a split decision at UFC 328. Strickland entered the fight as a sizable underdog. His first stint as champion came in 2023 when he also pulled off an upset against then-champion Israel Adesanya. He would lose the belt to Dricus Du Plessis and fail to recover it from the South African before reclaiming it against Chimaev.
Strickland has yet to be booked for his first title defense, but many expect him to defend later this year against No. 1 contender Nassourdine Imavov.
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC champ Sean Strickland says he 'rolled like six times' in motor vehicle accident
