INSIDER reveals Donald Trump making ‘best coaching I’ve ever seen’ comments to Sean Strickland’s coach

Paulo Costa getting the nod in a round for his split decision loss to Sean Strickland stunned the MMA community. Moreover, Saturday’s UFC 302 co-main event did not feature much action. However, it would seem Donald Trump enjoyed the outcome as Strickland won the fight. The ex-POTUS also credited coach Eric Nicksick for it.

‘Tarzan’ outpointed Costa in the co-main event of UFC 302 en route to a split decision (46-49, 50-45, 49-46). However, the whole thing did not feel like the penultimate clash of the pay-per-view event. Paulo Costa kept retreating from his non-rhythmic pulses of kicks and jabs. Although it did not carry the vibe, Trump apparently liked how it ended and heaped huge praise on Nicksick, according to an Insider.

All right, round number five…going into [round] number five…Eric Nicksick. I was talking to him…He said…Donald Trump came up to him after the fight and said ‘that was some of the best coaching I had ever seen’…He said ‘Eric, that was a proud moment for you’. So one thing I want to talk about is Eric’s camp…what we heard him say…’you gotta be a dog’…Eric was going pretty crazy going into the fifth’…
Bear Degidio via the ‘JAXXON’ Podcast

Sean Strickland (29-6 MMA, 16-6 UFC) went with his usual defensive attire at Prudential Center. Given that he lost out in his maiden defense in yet another controversial scoring in January, people thought differently. The MMA clique considered this would goad him enough to put on a violent affair to rise up the contention ladder and face Dricus Du Plessis. Yet it didn’t.

The Brazilian middleweight from Team Pitbull Brothers was similarly tempered. Even CEO Dana White was in shock with a round in the UFC 302 scorecard going to Costa. Often known for his explosive wars, White found his disposition unexpected. Bear Degidio tells podcast co-hosts Quinton Jackson, Luke Rockhold, and TJ Dillashaw that it was all thanks to Xtreme Couture MMA coach Eric Nicksick that Strickland saved face, ending it somewhat proactively.

Sean Strickland bills Donald Trump as a ‘Solid’ Person Who ‘Gets to Know You’

For some, UFC 302 was a slow night until the main event rolled in. For some, it was adequately mediocre and yet enjoyable. Add to the fact that besieged former president Donald Trump was cage-side again this weekend, which added to the charm. But the most interesting allure of the night would be the difference in reactions to it.

Sean Strickland with Donald Trump during UFC 302 (Source: latimes.com/ (@SStricklandMMA) / X)

Case in point – Aaron Rodgers recently said at the Jets’ OTAs he supports Robert F Kennedy Jr. and did not heed Trump’s arrival. When even Joe Rogan was ecstatically announcing the fanfare and arrival of the ex-POTUS, he remained seated. Meanwhile, Sean Strickland gave him a shoutout after his split-decision victory over Paulo Costa in the co-mains.

Even before the fight, he took a hit at longtime rival Colby Covington. Considerably Trump’s favorite fighter (the jury isn’t out on that yet), Strickland swiped and said that Trump would attend his and Paulo Costa’s fight on the weekend. Notably, Trump left saddened and early at Covignton’s last match. He even supposedly talked with Strickand’s coach, Eric Nicksick, later on.