Former UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland’s head coach thinks Paulo Costa presents one distinctive drawback for them to think about at UFC 302.
Strickland and Costa will sq. off in a five-round middleweight co-headliner at UFC 302 on June 1. The winner might doubtlessly earn themselves a middleweight title shot, or at worst, a No. 1 contender combat.
Regardless of a loss to Robert Whittaker at UFC 298, Costa stays a singular puzzle to resolve for Strickland and the remainder of the middleweights. He has electrical hanging and one-punch knockout energy to go together with his unprecedented athleticism.
Strickland and his group know they’re in for a warfare at UFC 302 and are specializing in not letting Costa bully him as he has his different opponents.
Coach Eric Nicksick: Sean Strickland should do to beat Paulo Costa
In a latest interview with The Schmo, coach Eric Nicksick shared the primary focus for Strickland towards Costa.
“[Paulo]’s a menace when he will get your again as much as the cage when he will get you backed up the barrier,” Nicksick stated. “That’s after I assume his identify ‘The Eraser’ may be very prevalent and he’s seeking to put your lights out. So it’s going to be essential to not again your self up within the cage. He’s very, superb there, very dynamic…
“While you watched him with Robert Whittaker, the kicks come from wherever, however they arrive quick, too. So we gotta ensure that [Sean’s] not within the place the place he’s leaning, or in a foul spot position-wise.”
Strickland is seeking to earn one other UFC middleweight title shot after dropping the belt to Dricus du Plessis at UFC 297 in January. He pulled off one of many greatest upsets in UFC historical past final September when he defeated Israel Adesanya by unanimous choice to win the belt.
Strickland and Costa are able to placed on a present in Newark, and if Nicksick’s feedback are any indication of the way it would possibly play out, anticipate a chess match contained in the Octagon.