UFC President Dana White is defending the right of his fighters to say what they please after now-former champion Sean Strickland drew attention for his transgender-related comments prior to his Jan. 20 fight in Toronto.
“I don’t give anybody a leash,” responded Mr. White during the post-event press conference, after a reporter asserted a “long leash” is given to Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) fighters regarding speech.
“You are getting into territory of homophobia, transphobia...” said the reporter before being cut off.
“Free speech. Control what people say? Going to tell people what to believe? Going to tell people... I don’t [expletive] tell any other human being what to think, and there’s no leashes on any of them. What is your question?” said Mr. White in response.
The reporter said this was precisely his question but that he would move on.
“Yeah, probably a good idea,” said Mr. White. “That’s ridiculous to say I give somebody a leash. Free speech, brother.”
The outspoken UFC president added that people can say and believe whatever they want. He noted that the other title fight before Mr. Strickland fought Dricus Du Plessis for the middleweight title involved Raquel Pennington and Mayra Bueno Silva, who are both gay.
Mr. White said the two “sat on the stage with Sean Strickland” and that they don’t care “what Sean Strickland thinks or what he says or what his beliefs are, what his opinions are.”
One reporter had asked him to discuss his previous comments about the trans community and on the UFC’s Bud Light sponsorship. The beer company has faced backlash and boycott for hiring a trans influencer to sell its products.
Mr. Strickland said that 10 years ago being transgender was considered a mental “illness” until individuals like the reporter asking the question “weaselled” their way into the world. He added the “world is not buying” what the reporter is peddling. “The world is saying ‘no, there are two genders,’” and asserted his opposition to gender ideology being taught in school.
The American, Mr. Strickland, who was the clear fan favourite, lost to South African Mr. Du Plessis in the main event by way of a split decision, failing in his first title defence. Mr. Strickland had become champion in September after winning against New Zealander Israel Adesanya.
The fight between the two middleweights was extremely close, with each taking at least two rounds according to all judges’ scorecards, but two judges gave an extra round to Mr. Du Plessis.
Mr. White told media he believed Sean Strickland had won. “I had it 2-to-2 going into the last round, and I thought Strickland won the last round,” he said.
Only the two female Canadian fighters Gillian Robertson and Jasmine Jasudavicius saw their hands being raised in victory.
It was a lucrative event nonetheless for the UFC and the sport in Canada. Mr. White said the $10.6 million collected at the gate represented the highest-grossing event for the Scotiabank Arena and for any arena in Canada.
No new dates have been announced for Canada thus far. Interest currently revolves around which fighters will step in the cage for the promotion’s 300th contest in Las Vegas in April.
