Johnny Eblen open to Sean Strickland fight despite friendship

Johnny Eblen has no reservations about fighting Sean Strickland even though the two are close friends and training partners.

The interim PFL middleweight champion told Ariel Helwani this week that competing against Strickland would be a natural extension of what they already do in sparring. "We fight each other for free," Eblen said, per Sherdog. "We spar with big gloves because we're trying to crack each other."

Eblen's wrestling background shaped his mindset on teammate bouts

Eblen explained that his wrestling career prepared him for the idea of facing training partners in competition. He started the sport at four years old and spent years going against his own teammates at tournaments. The hard sparring sessions with Strickland, who holds the UFC middleweight belt, regularly feature heavy contact with larger gloves. Eblen clarified that neither fighter looks to finish the other if someone gets wobbled during training rounds, but the intensity stays high throughout.

Strickland has publicly backed Eblen for a UFC contract and recently suggested he would put his title on the line against his friend. Eblen knocked out Impa Kasanganay in the third round to claim the interim PFL middleweight strap in Austin. Strickland flew to Florida to help Eblen prepare at American Top Team ahead of that fight.

PFL Washington DC airs Saturday, July 25 at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN with a welterweight title bout in the main event.

Reported via:

• Sherdog — Johnny Eblen wants Sean Strickland bout: ‘We fight each other for free’