Sean Strickland posted a harsh criticism of New York on social media ahead of his fight with Khamzat Chimaev in Newark, which is located just 35 minutes from Central Park. Instead of the typical promotional praise fighters give to host cities, Strickland called New York 'the perfect example of what it means to be a Democrat.' He described the children, adults, and leaders as 'pathetic' and called New York and most of its residents 'a disgrace to America.' Strickland concluded that people there are either criminals or 'rich pussies without a backbone.' The comments represent an unusual and inflammatory approach to pre-fight promotion, contrasting sharply with standard athlete behavior when visiting cities for events.
