Sean Strickland says MMA tops every sport, takes another shot at soccer

Sean Strickland recently listed sports in terms of what he considers masculine.

According to Strickland (31-7), mixed martial arts is the manliest sport in the world, followed by other combat sports. The two-time Ultimate Fighting Championship middleweight champion believes the striking arts of kickboxing and boxing follow MMA on the list. He considers wrestling less masculine than the striking arts but manlier than all other sports.


Strickland went off on the world’s most popular sport in the aftermath of the FIFA World Cup final, shaming soccer players for faking injuries and their dramatic reactions to contact.

“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?”

Furthermore, he sees swimming as the least masculine sport. Notably, he had hockey, American football, baseball, lacrosse and tennis ahead of soccer.

Strickland dethroned Khamzat Chimaev in a massive upset at UFC 328 this past May to win the middleweight title for the second time. Chimaev is targeting a rematch, but Nassourdine Imavov and Dricus Du Plessis, who has two wins over him, are also in the running.

Most masculine sports in order from being a man to being a lady boy

MMA
Kickboxing
boxing
Wrestling
Rugby
Hockey
Football
Baseball
Lacrosse
Tennis
Soccer
Golf
Swimming

Right or wrong?

— Sean Strickland (@SStricklandMMA) July 19, 2026