From Pacific Legends to UFC Champion: The Samoan & Tongan connection To Sean Strickland's UFC Win
In a stunning upset at UFC 293, Sean Strickland emerged victorious against Israel Adesanya to claim the UFC Middleweight Championship.
But what many may not know is that Strickland's journey to his career-defining win over the NZ-Nigerian champ was marked by a deep appreciation for the contributions of a Pacific Island mentor who played a major role in his training.
In the lead up to UFC 293, Strickland and his coach, Eric Nicksick, appeared on the Submission Radio podcast and opened up about the role played by Samoan Muay Thai champion 'Sugar' Ray Sefo in his training.
"Ray Sefo's not my coach, he's never held pads for me, but I think every day he gives me advice. Every day Ray will watch me spar, 'Hey Sean, let me pull you aside,' and help me out.'"
Nicksick echoed this sentiment, revealing a lineage that ties both Strickland and Adesanya's coaching teams back to legendary Tongan fight coach Lolo Heimuli, who has produced some of the greatest fighters in New Zealand history at Balmoral Lee Gar Gym.
"Ray comes from that New Zealand kickboxing background with Lolo (Heimuli); and Eugene (Bareman) was in the same gym.. so there is a lineage between all of us that's missed, people dont really know that. Ray is a big reason why I'm in the position I'm at today"
Ray Sefo is a legendary figure in combat sports. He is a six-time Muay Thai world champion. Transitioning to MMA, Sefo competed in organisations like Strikeforce and the Professional Fighters League (PFL). Beyond his fighting career, Sefo has made significant contributions to the combat sports community as a coach, mentor, and event promoter, currently serving as the president of the PFL.
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After Strickland's upset clinch of the UFC Middleweight gold, Nicksick shared insights on the Morning Kombat podcast, further cementing their ties to the Pacific combat sports community.
"There's a lineage there between myself and Eugene, and that's Ray Sefo and Lolo (Heimuli) and Doug Viney, and all these guys that were in New Zealand during this kickboxing trend; Mark Hunt, so there is a linear connection there between myself and Eugene and that a lot of people don't know"
Nicksick's shout-out to these Pacific fighters underscores the far-reaching impact of the Pacific Islands on combat sports, influencing fighters and coaches alike.
It's clear that the Pacific Islands have made a mark on the world of mixed martial arts. The influence of mentors like Ray Sefo, Lolo Heimuli, and fighters like Mark Hunt stand as a testament to the Pacific's contribution to the growing sport of MMA.
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