UFC middleweight Sean Strickland has unleashed a blistering verbal assault on one of America’s most beloved outdoor activities, delivering an expletive-laden tirade that has left the hiking community scratching their heads and social media buzzing.
In a recent video that has gone viral across multiple platforms, the outspoken MMA star launched into what can only be described as an all-out offensive against recreational hiking, questioning both the masculinity and authenticity of those who partake in the popular pastime.
“Listen you little pompous bastard saying that I like to hike. You motherf***ers don’t like to hike,”
Strickland declared with characteristic intensity. His rant quickly escalated as he painted a scathing picture of what he considers typical hiking behavior:
“Your version of a hike is you probably walk like a mile down a dirt road look at the same f***ing tree and once you realize there’s no f***ing p***y there you take a little selfie, you put it on the ground, you say some f***ing gay little quote and you move the f*** on.”
The controversial remarks didn’t stop there. Strickland proceeded to dismiss even legitimate hiking experiences, describing them as mind-numbingly repetitive exercises in futility.
“A real hiking’s bad you guys. You’re walking eight miles with a f***ing backpack on. It’s real f***ing boring. The same tree, the same f***ing tree. You finally get to your view and you’re up there for like five minutes and you’re like alright man, that’s f***ing cool, I could have seen this s*** on Google.”
The MMA star’s critique extends beyond mere personal preference, touching on broader themes of masculinity and human achievement. In his view, hiking represents a fundamental misallocation of male energy and purpose.
“That’s not what f***ing men do dude. We f***ing build engines, we build s***. We don’t walk f***ing mindlessly on a f***ing dirt road man. That’s not what we f***ing do.”
This latest outburst appears to be an extension of thoughts Strickland previously shared on social media, where he expressed deep suspicion of hiking enthusiasts and characterized the activity as inherently feminine. His posts revealed a worldview that celebrates human technological achievement over communion with nature.
Interestingly, Strickland did carve out one narrow exception to his anti-hiking stance. When pressed by a social media user about whether hiking might be acceptable for “mapping out territory for masculine reasons,” the MMA star conceded that “scouting” would be permissible, drawing a sharp distinction between purposeful reconnaissance and recreational wandering.
The reaction to Strickland’s hiking manifesto has been swift and polarized. Outdoor enthusiasts have pushed back against his characterization of their beloved activity while others have found humor in his unfiltered take on what many consider a wholesome pursuit.
The controversy highlights Strickland’s unique position in combat sports as someone willing to voice unpopular opinions on virtually any topic. His latest target may seem unusual but it fits a pattern of challenging widely accepted activities and social norms.
Whether this marks the beginning of a sustained campaign against outdoor recreation or simply represents another fleeting Strickland controversy remains to be seen. What’s certain is that the hiking community now has an unlikely but vocal critic in one of mixed martial arts’ most provocative personalities.
