Sean Strickland and Francis Ngannou Resume Training Rounds

Footage of a recent gym session featuring Sean Strickland and Francis Ngannou has circulated online. The two athletes have maintained a long-standing training partnership at the Xtreme Couture gym in Las Vegas. According to their coach, Eric Nicksick, Strickland frequently requests sessions with the heavyweight to test his skills against a larger opponent.

While Nicksick characterizes the sparring as competitive, he emphasized that Ngannou does not approach the training as a real fight. Strickland has previously acknowledged the physical disparity, joking in 2022 that he might be knocked out if the two were to compete in a regulated bout with four-ounce gloves. Ngannou previously noted that the pair shared training time during Strickland’s preparation for his UFC 328 match against Khamzat Chimaev.