Sean Strickland blasts New York ahead of UFC 317 bout with Chimaev

Sean Strickland has posted harsh criticism of New York on social media ahead of his upcoming fight with Khamzat Chimaev. The bout is scheduled to take place in Newark, which is located approximately 35 minutes from Manhattan's Central Park. In his tweet, Strickland called New York "a perfect example of what it means to be a Democrat" and labeled the city and its residents "a disgrace to America." The post stands in stark contrast to how athletes typically engage with host cities before events. Strickland's inflammatory remarks characterize New Yorkers as either criminals or wealthy people without backbone. His comments are likely to generate controversy in the leadup to the Chimaev matchup.