In June, former Bellator welterweight Dante Schiro achieved one of the most significant wins of his career by defeating multi-time PFL champion Ray Cooper III at Tuff-N-Uff 145. Despite this triumph, the event was widely overshadowed by an unexpected cage storm involving UFC fighter Sean Strickland, which dominated the buzz. Schiro’s performance could have marked a defining moment for his career, especially as he pursues a UFC opportunity, but all eyes shifted toward the altercation in the cage.

Inside the Cage Incident: Strickland and Chris Curtis Enter the Fray

The cage storm occurred during Luis Hernandez’s submission victory over Miles Hunsinger, when Hernandez directed trash talk towards Strickland and Chris Curtis, who were cornering Hunsinger. Following the tap-out, Hernandez made a provocative “crotch chop” gesture toward the two UFC fighters. This provocation triggered Strickland and Curtis to jump into the cage, with Strickland throwing punches and sparking chaos that drew major attention away from the remaining fights, including Schiro’s bout.

Schiro Reflects on the Disrupted Spotlight

Reflecting on the event, Schiro acknowledged the distraction caused by the viral moment and its impact on his win’s recognition. He told MMA Fighting,

“I think so, but I guess you never know, It’s just one of those things where, that’s the kind of where the sport is now, too. It’s big on entertainment as it as. It should be. It’s on TV, people want to see like exciting things happen and sometimes the things that aren’t really fighting [outshine] actual scale and merit, but that’s where we’re at. They probably over shined it a little bit.”

He went on to emphasize how the cage storm lingered in public memory, overshadowing other quality fights that followed, saying,

“Because there was like three great matchups after, and they were all good fights. Exciting things happened after that, and even still, it’s, ‘What happened during that fight?’ Every interview that I’ve had, people have had to ask about it, and it’s like, I get that it was a crazy moment, but yeah, I guess it does kind of take away [from it] a little bit.”

The Fighter’s Focus Amid Unexpected Distraction

At the time of the incident, Schiro was preparing behind the scenes, fully concentrated on facing a former world champion. His focus was on last-minute adjustments and strategy, undistracted by the chaos unfolding outside. He recalled the moment he first sensed the disturbance, saying,

“Pretty much right away,” he said.

“We heard… it was like different kind of screaming. It wasn’t like fight cheers and whatever, and I’m in the back warming up, and at the time I didn’t really give a shit.”

He added that he only briefly glanced around to gauge what was happening but prioritized staying in “fight mode” to avoid delays that could disrupt his routine. Schiro compared the situation to a previous fight against Neiman Gracie where delays forced him to wait several hours, describing the frustration:

“We got down there, as soon as we get down to walk out, they’re like, ‘We ran out of time. You guys got to go after the televised portion,’ and I’m sitting there waiting two and a half hours to get ready again and I’m like, ‘You’ve got to be kidding me, dude. This stuff is crazy.’”

Building Momentum After His Earlier Success

Prior to his victory over Cooper, Schiro had submitted former UFC competitor AJ Fletcher at LFA 195 in October. Now 3-0 since leaving Bellator, he is on the cusp of breaking into the UFC ranks. Schiro indicated that the promotion has him on their radar and has encouraged him to remain ready for any potential opening. He plans to be in Las Vegas soon, aiming to increase his visibility to UFC decision-makers and capitalize on forthcoming chances.

Expressing his readiness, Schiro stated,

“I’m ready. Whatever it is, Contender series, short notice, Ultimate Fighter would have made a cool opportunity, but that obviously is passed and whatnot, but yeah, whatever the way is in is the way you got to go because there’s so many guys in the position that I’m in that are waiting for that call, so it’s kind of just being at the right place at the right time and having the right connections.”

Looking Ahead: Gaining Experience and Awaiting the Next Call

Schiro noted that opportunities keep presenting themselves, including assisting UFC welterweight Neil Magny as part of his corner team at UFC Vegas 108. This role helps Schiro accumulate valuable experience and foster relationships within the UFC circle. He shared his anticipation for these ongoing prospects:

“So, we’ll see, next ’m going out with Neil [Magny], to help corner him for his fight [at UFC Vegas 108]. So it’s another opportunity to get in there and just even gain more experience with him and being in his corner and helping him for his fight. So, just looking forward to like all these opportunities that keep coming my way.”

As Schiro continues to build his career momentum, the Sean Strickland cage storm serves as a reminder of how unpredictable incidents can divert attention in the fast-paced world of MMA. For Schiro, the next challenge lies in turning his in-cage achievements into a stable place among the UFC’s welterweight contenders, navigating distractions while seizing every opportunity to advance.