The world of mixed martial arts often sees intense rivalries within the cage, but sometimes, disagreements surface concerning past training environments. A recent point of contention has arisen between former UFC Middleweight champion Sean Strickland and MMA legend Dan Henderson, centered around the circumstances of Strickland`s departure from Henderson`s renowned Team Quest gym in California.
For some time, Dan Henderson has shared his recollection of events, suggesting that Strickland`s tenure at Team Quest concluded because his behavior became problematic. According to Henderson`s account, Strickland`s tendency for aggressive trash talk extended beyond the mat and onto online platforms, targeting his own training partners. This, Henderson stated, led to warnings that were ultimately unheeded, culminating in the decision for Strickland to leave the team. While acknowledging Strickland was a dedicated training partner, Henderson`s perspective paints a picture of a necessary parting due to interpersonal issues exacerbated by public commentary.
However, Sean Strickland offers a significantly different version of events. Responding publicly to Henderson`s comments, Strickland flatly denied being “kicked out” of the gym. His explanation centers on the natural evolution of the team following Dan Henderson`s retirement from active competition. Strickland contends that after Henderson stepped away, the dynamic and focus of the fight team shifted. He maintains that his departure simply coincided with the expiration of his membership, choosing not to renew as the team structure had changed.
Adding a characteristic Strickland twist to his narrative, he admitted to frequently mocking members of the fight team. The reason for his derision, he explained, stemmed from what he perceived as a lack of commitment from some fighters who opted for activities like yoga instead of participating in scheduled sparring sessions. Strickland humorously noted the irony that one specific individual he often teased for this practice, Keith Berry, is now a regular sparring partner at his current gym, Xtreme Couture.
Strickland even conceded that this perceived lack of seriousness on sparring days did, in fact, trigger his well-documented temper on multiple occasions. He describes “massive gym blowups” resulting from his frustration over finding a majority of the team engaged in yoga when rigorous sparring was scheduled.
Despite the differing accounts regarding the precise reasons for the split, it appears a degree of mutual respect persists between the two fighters. Strickland was quick to offer praise for Henderson, even suggesting that the MMA legend would have shared his frustration about training partners prioritizing other activities over intense practice sessions had he witnessed it regularly before his retirement.
Ultimately, the exact circumstances of Sean Strickland`s exit from Team Quest remain a subject of debate between the parties involved. While Dan Henderson points to disciplinary reasons rooted in disrespectful behavior, Sean Strickland attributes it to the natural dissolution and changing focus of the team after Henderson`s retirement, highlighted by his own frustrations with training partner commitment. The conflicting narratives offer a glimpse into the intense personalities and dynamics that can exist within elite fight camps.
