All about Sean Strickland's girlfriend 'KJ' and their relationship

All about Sean Strickland's girlfriend 'KJ' and their relationship

Sean Strickland is an outspoken UFC fighter. Despite his brash personality, he is also a romantic at heart. KJ is Sean Strickland's girlfriend, and she has positively influenced him. He shared about her:

Well, I don’t know much about life, but I know it is significantly better with a dog and a good woman.
Sean Strickland and his girlfriend
KJ and Sean Strickland at the UFC 302 press conference at Prudential Centre on 30 May 2024 in Newark, New Jersey (R). Photo: @stricklandmma on Instagram, Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC (modified by author)
Source: UGC

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Key takeaways

  • Sean Strickland's girlfriend is only known by her initials, KJ.
  • The first glimpse of KJ was on the UFC 293 embedded vlog in 2023.
  • KJ’s boyfriend, Sean Strickland, is an American MMA fighter who competes in the UFC.
  • Sean is not married.

Profile summary

Full nameSean Strickland
GenderMale
Date of birth27 February 1991
Age33 years old (as of 2024)
Zodiac signPisces
Place of birthAnaheim, California, United States
NationalityAmerican
EthnicityWhite
Current residenceUnited States
SexualityStraight
Height185 centimetres (6'1")
Weight84 kg (185 pounds)
Hair colourBrown
Eye colourBrown
Relationship statusDating
GirlfriendKJ
SiblingLawrence
EducationNewberry Varsity Football team
ProfessionProfessional mixed martial artist
Net worth$5 million
Social mediaInstagramYouTubeX (Twitter)

Who is Sean Strickland's girlfriend?

Sean Strickland's girlfriend is KJ. She first appeared in the UFC 293 Embedded Vlog Scenes. Her real name or information about her background and career has not been publicly revealed.

The black belt is private about their affair and has not shared when they began dating. He occasionally posts clips of videos with her on his social media page. In an interview on Helen Yee Sports in August 2023, Sean said:

Guys, I have a girlfriend, who I love very much. I said it. She makes me a better man, you guys. You know what? And every time, and I was just telling her this the other day, I'd tell my girl. I'm like, 'Babe, every time I think about breaking up with you... I think about who I was before I met you.
Facts about KJ
Facts about KJ. Photo: Mike Roach/Zuffa LLC on Getty Images (modified by author)
Source: Original

KJ is a great support system for her boyfriend during hard times

During Strickland's mental health struggles, his girlfriend allegedly provided crucial support and helped him cope. In a video shared on Instagram in 2024, Sean stated:

I woke up and told my girl, I was like, ‘Babe, I feel like I'm a danger to people. Like I don’t feel like I should be out in the world.'

KJ stood by him and gave him a thoughtful gift with a "Hope you feel better" message.

Strickland and his girlfriend almost broke up once

The UFC fighter revealed he almost broke up with his girlfriend over a hypothetical scenario where he said he might go to jail if he killed someone. This revelation was when KJ was first seen in the UFC 293 Embedded vlog. He said:

We almost broke up once. I'll tell you why. So something happened; we're talking about if I accidentally killed a man. Like, I'm going to go to jail for life.

KJ also said in the video:

But seriously, he almost broke up with me. He was like, 'I don't know if I want to be with you anymore,' and I said, 'Let me go grab my stuff.'
Sean Strickland
Sean Strickland on stage during the UFC 312 press conference at Qudos Bank Arena on 6 February 2025 in Sydney, Australia. Photo: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
Source: Getty Images

Strickland's girlfriend was worried about her safety

KJ joked about fearing for her life because of the risk of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) from Sean’s career as an MMA fighter. In a candid conversation between the couple, she reportedly expressed concern about the long-term effects of head trauma that most martial artists experience.

Sean Strickland's conversation about CTE with his girlfriend was posted on his Instagram story and later reposted by a user called Hashirama on X.com in March 2025. In the video, Sean said:

She's concerned that one day I might wake up with CTE and shoot her. It's not valid. So, you truly believe that one day, I could wake up because of brain trauma and murder you?

His girlfriend responded by saying it is valid because stranger things have happened. When Strickland asked if she had a specific calibre she would like to be offered in the same video, KJ replied:

Make it quick, [let it] be a good shot.

Sean often shares affectionate moments with his girlfriend

Tarzan posts clips of himself and his girlfriend on a boat cruise on his Instagram page. He also posted another where they were playing shooting games.

Sean Strickland during the UFC 312 open workout
Sean Strickland during the UFC 312 open workout at Sydney Town Hall on 5 February 2025 in Sydney, Australia. Photo: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
Source: Getty Images

Are Sean Strickland and Nina together?

Sean Strickland and Nina-Marie Daniele are just friends. Strickland clarified it in a February 2025 interview with Full Violence. He said:

Nina is like a little sister to me.

Nina, an MMA news reporter, is in a relationship with Jhanelle Castillo, a creative director, model, and photographer. Is Sean Strickland married?

He is not married. As a result, no one is known as Sean Strickland's wife. Sean is still dating KJ, but they do not have any children. The UFC champion reportedly stated he was not ready and scared because he had an abusive childhood with his dad.

What is on Sean Strickland's left arm?

Sean revealed he had a staph infection on his left arm before his UFC 312 fight against Dricus Du Plessis. He initially denied it but later admitted to the issue in an Instagram video, one of several problems he faced during training camp.

Sean Strickland
UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland during the UFC 2024 seasonal press conference at MGM Grand Garden Arena. Photo: Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC
Source: Getty Images

Sean Strickland's girlfriend has a positive influence on him. He speaks highly of her and shows gratitude for her love and unwavering support.

READ ALSO: Sean Strickland's net worth: How much does the UFC star really earn?

As Briefly.co.za published, Sean Strickland's journey through major bouts and title victories has significantly boosted his earnings.

The American mixed martial artist is ranked #1 in the division and is known for his outspoken persona inside and outside the Octagon.

Source: Briefly News

Authors:
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Favour Adeaga (Lifestyle writer) Dr. Favour Adeaga is an author, speaker, and coach. He graduated with a degree in Mass Communication from The Polytechnic, Ibadan, Nigeria. He did his internship at The Nation Newspaper and taught diploma students in Newspaper and Magazine courses at the Nasarawa State University, Keffi. He has curated the facts and life hacks category since 2018. Dr Favour is the author of several books available on Amazon. He currently lives in Nigeria. Email: favouradeaga@gmail.com