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.

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 name | Sean Strickland |
Gender | Male |
Date of birth | 27 February 1991 |
Age | 33 years old (as of 2024) |
Zodiac sign | Pisces |
Place of birth | Anaheim, California, United States |
Nationality | American |
Ethnicity | White |
Current residence | United States |
Sexuality | Straight |
Height | 185 centimetres (6'1") |
Weight | 84 kg (185 pounds) |
Hair colour | Brown |
Eye colour | Brown |
Relationship status | Dating |
Girlfriend | KJ |
Sibling | Lawrence |
Education | Newberry Varsity Football team |
Profession | Professional mixed martial artist |
Net worth | $5 million |
Social media | InstagramYouTubeX (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.

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.'

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.

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.

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