Sean Strickland posted a harsh criticism of New York City on social media ahead of his fight against Khamzat Chimaev in Newark, New Jersey. The fight venue is approximately 35 minutes from Central Park. Instead of the typical athlete practice of praising the host city, Strickland tweeted that New York is "the perfect example of what it means to be a Democrat" and called the city and its residents "a disgrace to America." He stated that people there are either criminals or wealthy individuals without backbone. The comments come as UFC fighters typically engage positively with local communities before major events in the area.
