Sean Strickland left UFC 328 as a two-time middleweight champion, but there was some uncertainty before fight night.

Strickland successfully challenge Khamzat Chimaev for the 185-pound gold in Saturday’s headliner in Newark. After the fight round, Strickland managed to give Chimaev problems with his takedown defense. Once Chimaev was forced to stand with Strickland, the bout became an exciting and bloody battle that went the distance. Strickland earned the split decision to hand “Borz” the first defeat of his pro MMA career.

Chatting with reporters during the UFC 328 post-fight presser, Strickland revealed that he suffered a separated shoulder just four days before the title fight.

“So, on Tuesday, I’m sparring Johnny [Eblen], that [expletive], PFL champ,” Strickland began. “I’m at Plinio’s gym, Cruz’s gym, and he shoots on me and I hit this brick ass wall and I separated my shoulder. I had a grade one AC joint separation on Tuesday.”

“I’m laying there,” Strickland continued. “I can’t lay on my left side. I’m like, ‘You’re such a [expletive] idiot.’ In the back, I normally like to get better warmups, but I didn’t want to warm up and throw my shoulder out. The entire time I’m like, ‘You’re a [expletive] moron.”

Strickland will likely be shelved for a bit when the medical suspensions are handed out. He has already expressed interested in putting gold at stake against Nassourdine Imavov. Strickland holds an early 2023 win over “The Sniper” at light heavyweight.

As for Chimaev, UFC CEO Dana White told reporters that “Borz” is already setting his sights on a move to light heavyweight. Strickland and Chimaev shared an intense war of words ahead of their bout, but they had mutual respect for one another once the score totals were read.

Is Nassourdine Imavov the right choice for Sean Strickland’s next title challenger? Tell us in the comments below.