Strickland slams New York ahead of Chimaev fight in Newark

Sean Strickland took to social media with harsh criticism of New York and its residents ahead of his fight with Khamzat Chimaev in Newark, New Jersey. The bout will take place at the Prudential Center, approximately 35 minutes from Central Park. Rather than courting local fans, Strickland posted a scathing tweet calling New York "a perfect example of what it means to be a Democrat" and describing the city's children, adults, and leaders as "pathetic." He concluded by stating that New Yorkers are either criminals or wealthy individuals without backbone, calling the city and its people "a disgrace to America." The inflammatory comments stand in stark contrast to how fighters typically engage with host cities before major events.