Sean Strickland, the former UFC middleweight champ, opened up about a strange worry his girlfriend KJ has about his fighting career. On March 28, 2025, he shared how she links his years in the cage to a scary future. It’s tied to chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a brain condition from repeated head hits that some fighters face. Strickland didn’t take it too seriously, spinning it into a dark, funny moment that shows his wild side.
“She is concerned that one day I might wake up with CTE and shoot her,” he said in their chat.
KJ doubled down. “It’s valid,” she replied, sticking to her fear.
Strickland wasn’t having it.
“So you truly believe that one day I could wake up because of brain trauma and murder you. Are you f**king kidding me?” he asked, caught off guard.
She laughed loud and said, “Stranger things have happened,” keeping it light.
Then he went darker.
“Do you have a specific caliber you would like to be offed with?” he asked.
“Make it quick, be a good shot,” she shot back, playing along.
Sean Strickland’s girlfriend’s biggest fear pic.twitter.com/x6Umuo1hW8
— Hashirama (@KenpachiSa66678) March 27, 2025
Fight Record Meets Real Risks
Strickland snagged the UFC middleweight title in September 2023, beating Israel Adesanya at UFC 293. He lost it to Dricus Du Plessis in January 2024 at UFC 297, then fell to Paulo Costa by split decision in June 2024 at UFC 302. Now 34, he’s got a 28-6 record and no fight booked. CTE’s a known risk in MMA, with fighters like Wanderlei Silva reporting memory trouble from years of damage. KJ’s worry reflects that, but Strickland’s “Tarzan” style turns it into a quirky exchange from their March 28 talk.
