Sean Strickland had a chance to cement himself as a title contender in the middleweight division at UFC 276. Instead, he became the latest victim of former two-division Glory Kickboxing champion Alex Pereira.
Strickland elected to stand and trade with his Brazilian opponent for the duration of their bout, a decision which cost him dearly. Pereira waited for his opening and then dropped Strickland to a knee with a left hook before sealing his victory with two follow-up right hands at the 2:36 mark of Round 1. Strickland was disappointed after the defeat but also felt like things were going his way prior to the finish.