Sean Strickland’s Masculine Sports Rankings & UFC Comeback

MMA Takes the Crown as Most Masculine

Sean Strickland (31‑7) opened up about what he considers the most masculine sport on the planet. The UFC middleweight champion placed mixed martial arts at the top of his list, followed by kickboxing and boxing as the next most masculine disciplines. According to Strickland, wrestling still outranks “all other sports” despite being less dominant than pure striking. The two‑time title holder’s perspective has sparked plenty of discussion among fans.

Soccer Gets a Sharp Rebuke After World Cup

The outspoken fighter didn’t stop at ranking combat sports; he also took aim at soccer after the FIFA World Cup final. Strickland accused players of faking injuries and reacting dramatically to contact, asking how “a grown a** man” can fake being hit. “How are you a grown a** man faking being hit? Are there any soccer players out there? Do you feel no shame when you fake being injured?” he challenged. His comments have added another layer to his reputation for speaking bluntly.

Full Masculinity Scale from Strickland

Strickland’s list runs from the most to the least masculine sport in his view. At the top sit MMA, kickboxing, and boxing, with wrestling still above every other activity. In the next tier, hockey, American football, baseball, lacrosse, and tennis sit above soccer. Soccer, however, is still seen as more masculine than swimming, which he labeled the least masculine of all.

Title History and the Road Ahead

Strickland’s latest title victory came at UFC 328 in May, where he dethroned Khamzat Chimaev to reclaim the middleweight championship for a second time. Chimaev has already signaled a desire for a rematch, but the division also features Nassourdine Imavov and Dricus Du Plessis. Both Imavov and Du Plessis have recorded two wins over Strickland, keeping the title picture wide open.