UFC CEO Dana White recently discussed his opinions on former middleweight champion Sean Strickland’s outspoken nature. He revealed that he didn’t agree with the majority of Strickland’s remarks. However, he did affirm that Strickland would not be silenced by the promotion and stood up for his freedom of speech.
Sean Strickland is renowned for his candid and forthright public speaking. He fearlessly shares his unfiltered opinions on sensitive societal matters.
Dana White disagrees with 95% of Strickland’s speech but he’s not about to gag him: If you don’t like him, you get to see him get punched in the face
Recently, Strickland raised a lot of eyebrows in the mixed martial arts world on social media for making remarks critical of the LGBTQ+ community during the UFC 297 press conferences.
In the aftermath of his statements, Strickland faced criticism for being insensitive. Yet, a faction of fans rallied behind the 32-year-old in order to support Strickland for his freedom of expression.
During an interview with Vivek Ramaswamy, Dana White addressed Strickland’s outspokenness.
He said: “This is America. Everybody can have their own opinion. I’m not telling anybody what to do, what to say, how to feel, we’re human beings in America… Sean Strickland said a lot of things. I don’t agree with 95% of what this guy says, but it’s his right to say it. And if you don’t like it, tune in on Saturday night, he’s gonna be getting punched in the face. If you don’t like him, you get to see him get punched in the face.”
Sean Strickland faced Dricus du Plessis in a middleweight title clash at the headline event of UFC 297. Following five rounds of intense action, Du Plessis emerged victorious via split decision and won the 185-pound title.
Given the closely contested nature of the match, many believed Strickland was robbed and deserved to have won. Dana White was one of the people who believed Strickland should have won. He acknowledged that it was a tight match, however.
White said: “I had it 2-2 going into the last round, and I thought that Strickland won the last round. Guys who were sitting at the same table had it the other way. It was a close fight… I had it even going into the fifth round, and this is the round to see who wants it. They both started to turn it up a little bit.”