And the closer I get, the more I think he’s just the grown-up version of a kid that was an outcast through no fault of his own, that never really learned how to establish meaningful connections and is therefore extra guarded when it comes to letting anyone see glimpses of his true self.
It comes out in flashes — those brief moments where the brashness recedes and those glimmers of pride slip out — and when it does, I see glimpses of myself in the perpetually agitated middleweight.
“I love fighting and I love making money, I want to have a f***** war, and I want to get re-signed by the UFC and for them to pay me more money,” began Strickland when asked whether there is an urgency to get back into the win column this weekend and if victories in the Octagon bring him any satisfaction. “I want to be a happy guy, but at the end of the day, the more you fixate on MMA and the more that you chase it, the more it f**** you in the end.
“I enjoy life so much more when I’m not fixated and obsessing about it.”
Now, five months after having a terrible day at work, Strickland is set to get back to it. He’s done all the prep, as miserable as it constantly can be, and is ready to step in there opposite Cannonier this weekend.
“It’s nice to fight a human-sized person,” he said, a sharp, single chuckle chasing his words. “A big human, but a normal-sized person.
“I just think I’m better than Jared,” he added, the gravel and tension stripped out of his voice, almost like he was a little uncomfortable giving himself praise. “He’s a heavy-handed guy and not somebody that you want to get hit by, but on the ground, wrestling, standup, I’m just better than him.”
