Sean Strickland insults New York ahead of UFC Newark fight vs. Chimaev

Sean Strickland posted a controversial tweet ahead of his fight against Khamzat Chimaev in Newark, New Jersey, which is located near New York City. Instead of the typical pre-fight promotion praising the local area, Strickland called New York "a perfect example of what it means to be a Democrat" and attacked the city's residents. He wrote that "children are pathetic, adults are pathetic, leaders are pathetic" and claimed that "New York and the overwhelming majority of its residents are a disgrace to America." Strickland added that people there are "either a criminal or a rich pussy without a backbone." The inflammatory comments stand in stark contrast to how fighters typically engage with host cities before major events.