Sean Strickland calls New York 'disgrace to America' ahead of Newark fight

Sean Strickland posted harsh criticism of New York on social media ahead of his fight with Khamzat Chimaev in Newark, New Jersey. The bout will take place at Prudential Center, approximately 35 minutes from Central Park in Manhattan. Instead of the typical promotional approach of praising the host city, Strickland called New York "the perfect example of what it means to be a Democrat." He wrote that children, adults, and leaders in New York are "pathetic" and called the city and most of its residents "a disgrace to America," adding that people are either criminals or wealthy individuals without backbone. The inflammatory comments represent an unconventional promotional strategy for a fighter heading into a major bout.