UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland caught attention before his main event fight on Jan. 20 in Toronto as he sparred with journalists, criticized the prime minister, and told Canadians he’s standing up for their freedom.
The American mixed martial artist told a rowdy crowd at the event’s press conference on Jan. 18 that he would continue to “stick up for you [expletive] guys.”
He appeared donning a white t-shirt with the printed words “Strickland” and “Make Canada Great Again.”
“I am not chasing the Chinese checkmark of Nike. I don’t give a [expletive] about that. I care about you guys. I care about you guys being free. I care about you guys having freedom of speech,” he said.
A reporter had remarked that Mr. Strickland said “a lot of things about Canada” and asked him how it feels to receive an ovation from the Canadian fans and “be a hero to these people.”
The boisterous fighter, who often peppers his commentary with a stream of expletives, has been critical of having to make his first title defence in Canada, a land he associates with an absence of freedom in its laws and social policies.
Earlier in the week during the event’s media day, Mr. Strickland went viral on social media for his interactions with Canadian reporters.
He accused one reporter of siding with the “commies,” asking if he was supportive of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and whether he’s a “bank account stealer,” in a reference to the Liberal government freezing the bank accounts of Freedom Convoy protesters in February 2022.
“We got to know where this man stands; are you non-biased?” Mr. Strickland asked the reporter. The reporter replied that he should be the one asking questions, to which the UFC champ replied he should skip talking with the reporter lest he report his bank account information to Mr. Trudeau.
The champion’s criticism has been directed at journalists and other UFC fighters during his media appearances, while he had praise for his opponent Mr. Du Plessis. “Dricus likes to fight ... and he’s a hell of a fighter,” he said.
The last UFC event in Canada took place in June 2023 in Vancouver. The last time it made a stop in Toronto was in 2018 for UFC 231.
UFC President Dana White told media on Jan. 18 that the event at Scotiabank Arena is sold out with a crowd of 18,100, and grossing US$7.6 million at the gate. “Highest grossing arena gate in history and the highest gate ever for Canada,” said Mr. White.
The head of the foremost mixed martial arts promotion didn’t say how many more UFC events would be held in Canada this year, but said they had waited a long time to come back to Toronto. “We’re going to cruise all over Canada here and now.”
