Former UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland has a penchant for controversial remarks. He has often faced criticism from the liberal sections but found a fanbase in the conservative sections. Strickland’s recent controversial rant has gone viral (again).
Preluding the UFC 302 co-main event fight against Paulo Costa, Strickland interviewed with CBS Sports’ Shakiel Mahjouri. In the interview, Mahjouri enquired whether the UFC had offered him Khamzat Chimaev at UFC Riyadh, to which Strickland had a controversial reply.
Nah, I wouldn’t go to Saudi Arabia. Hang out with a bunch of burqas, I’m good man…Something about burqas and no bikinis and sh*t, doesn’t sound like my place.
Sean Strickland via SHAKMMA YouTube
Strickland has often criticized Muslim culture. Recently, a female Muslim PFL fighter revealed Strickland had sent her offensive messages when she announced her conversion to Islam. Amber Leibrock, the PFL fighter, didn’t name Strickland, but the comments sections filled with his name, and Leibrock attested to it.
Strickland had often made fun of many things but had stated on the Joe Rogan Experience that he wouldn’t be doing anymore with Islam after teammate Albert Duraev confronted him. Nonetheless, Strickland’s recent rant on the SHAKMMA YouTube interview shows otherwise.
Sean Strickland pats Islam Makhachev in the back at UFC 302 press conference
Even though Sean Strickland has made controversial remarks about Islam, he has remained cordial with many of his Muslim teammates. In addition to Albert Duraev, light heavyweight contender Magomed Ankalaev is Strickland’s teammate. Strickland has only spoken highly of Ankalaev, whom he calls a fundamentally correct fighter.
Sean Strickland pats Islam Makhachev (Image via: IMAGO)However, Strickland has often trolled other Muslim fighters. He has been very vocal against Belal Muhammad for his pro-Palestinian views and also trolled Khabib Nurmagomedov. As such, nobody expected Strickland to be cordial with Islam Makhachev at the UFC 302 press conference. The fans at the press conference were pro-Poirier and pro-Strickland.
Islam Makhachev received a lot of boos from the crowd, which the pound-for-pound king took with a smile on his face. Makhachev entertained the crowd with the ‘What’s up guys?’ comment. Funnily enough, Strickland appreciated Makhachev’s humor as he patted the Russian on the back.
Strickland was the star of the press conference, as expected. UFC 302 is Strickland’s first PPV event on home soil since UFC 276. His previous two PPV headliners were in Australia and Canada. At UFC 302 in Newark, New Jersey, Strickland will likely get the loudest pop in the arena on fight night.
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