Sean Strickland at middleweight proved unbeatable once again Saturday.
In the UFC Fight Night 200 main event, Strickland (24-3 MMA, 11-3 UFC) defeated perennial contender Jack Hermansson (22-6 MMA, 9-4 UFC) by split decision (49-46, 47-48, 49-46) to extend his winning streak to six.
The fight largely could be categorized as a technical boxing match. Strickland proved to be more polished in that world, which ultimately won him the fight. Behind his jab, Strickland methodically picked Hermansson apart on the feet.
Round 1 was closely contested, but the gap widened in Round 2 when Strickland dropped Hermansson. Round 3, Hermansson let his hands go a tad more but came across a bit too wild to top Strickland’s patient high-accuracy approach. Body punches became a big part of Strickland’s attack as the fight progressed.
BIG DROP TO END THE ROUND! 😳
The #UFCVegas47 main event keeps rolling on @ESPNPlus. pic.twitter.com/Vzryv4MEbz
— UFC (@ufc) February 6, 2022
Through the championship rounds, Strickland kept a slow pace, but it was effective. Hermansson was unable to answer most of Strickland’s best shots and his takedown efforts were denied. In the final seconds, a bleeding-from-the-nose Strickland barked at Hermansson as the two traded.
SWINGING IN THE MIDDLE TO END IT ON ESPN+!!!! #UFCVegas47 pic.twitter.com/No6FtPYFDQ
— UFC (@ufc) February 6, 2022
Strickland, 30, continues to roll at 185 pounds. Since he made the jump from welterweight in 2020, Strickland has gone 5-0 with his other victories coming against Jack Marshman, Brendan Allen, Krzysztof Jotko and Uriah Hall.
Hermansson, 33, continues to be competitive at the top of the middleweight division, but with mixed results. Since April 2019, he’s alternated wins and losses with a 3-3 record in that stretch.
Up-to-the-minute UFC Fight Night 200 results include:
- Sean Strickland def. Jack Hermansson via split decision (49-46, 47-48, 49-46)
- Nick Maximov def. Punahele Soriano via split decision (28-29, 30-27, 29-28)
- Shavkat Rakhmonov def. Carlston Harris via knockout (strikes) – Round 1, 4:10
- Brendan Allen def. Sam Alvey via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 2:10
- Bryan Battle def. Tresean Gore via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Julian Erosa def. Steven Peterson via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
- John Castaneda def. Miles Johns via technical submission (arm-triangle choke) – Round 3, 1:38
- Hakeem Dawodu def. Mike Trizano via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Chidi Njokuani def. Marc-Andre Barriault via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 0:16
- Alexis Davis def. Julija Stoliarenko via unanimous decision (29-27, 29-27, 30-27)
- Jailton Almeida def. Danilo Marques via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 2:57
- Phil Rowe def. Jason Witt via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 2:15
- Malcolm Gordon def. Denys Bondar via submission (injury) – Round 1, 1:22
