Sean Strickland admits Kayla Harrison tapped him 20 times in gym

Sean Strickland says women's bantamweight champion Kayla Harrison submitted him about 20 times during a recent training session at American Top Team in Coconut Creek, Florida.

The UFC middleweight champion worked out with the two-time Olympic gold medalist judoka last week and came away impressed with her grappling arsenal. Sherdog reports that Harrison posted video to her Instagram Stories asking Strickland who had gotten the better of him in training. His answer left little room for interpretation.

"[Kayla] tapped me out like 20 times," Strickland said, per the video Harrison shared. "She did some Japanese throws I can't pronounce because I'm American."

What the session reveals about Harrison's grappling

Harrison made her UFC debut in 2024 and captured the bantamweight strap in her third promotional appearance by dethroning Julianna Pena. She was set to defend against Amanda Nunes at UFC 324 earlier this year but pulled out with a neck injury. Her judo credentials translated to immediate success against elite mixed martial artists, a fact Strickland acknowledged after getting thrown and submitted repeatedly by the 135-pound champion.

Strickland won the middleweight title for the second time in May with an upset victory over Khamzat Chimaev. He is nursing a shoulder injury and is rumored to face either Chimaev or Nassourdine Imavov in his next outing once cleared to return.

Reported via:

• Sherdog — Sean Strickland admits women's champ tapped him out ‘like 20 times’