Strickland opts for stem cell treatment over surgery for shoulder injury

UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland, 34, has decided to treat a torn shoulder muscle — sustained during training ahead of his title fight — with stem cell therapy rather than surgery.

Strickland said in a recent social media post that an MRI scan revealed an acromioclavicular joint separation and a small tear in one of his shoulder muscles. "So I'm going to be doing stem cell treatment," he said.

Strickland reclaimed the middleweight title May 10 (Korean Standard Time), defeating then-champion Hamzat Chimaev, 32, of the UAE and Russia by decision in the main event of UFC 328 at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. It was his first title reign in two years and four months.

The injury occurred during training before the fight. At a post-fight press conference that day, Strickland said he had hurt his shoulder four days earlier while sparring with PFL middleweight champion Johnny Eblen. A takedown sent him into a gym wall, separating his right shoulder joint and leaving him in so much pain he could not sleep on his right side.

Strickland gutted out a five-round war while carrying that injury, also suffering a broken nose, before claiming the title.

The social media post included a video of a doctor at Ways2Well clinic explaining the nature of his injury and the planned course of treatment.

"It's a really small wound. Ways2Well is going to take care of it," Strickland said. "Joe Rogan recommended the place — said it's really good. I'll be back in the ring soon."

The injury is not quite the minor issue Strickland made it sound. Surgery could sideline him for more than a year before he could return to training and competition. Even with non-surgical stem cell treatment, a return to the octagon before the end of the year looks unlikely.