Sean Strickland calls New York a disgrace to America ahead of UFC fight

UFC middleweight Sean Strickland posted a scathing criticism of New York City ahead of his upcoming fight against Khamzat Chimaev in Newark, New Jersey, located just 35 minutes from Manhattan. Rather than engaging in typical promotional goodwill toward the host region, Strickland tweeted that New York is "the perfect example of what it means to be a Democrat," calling the city's children, adults, and leaders "pathetic." He declared that New York and the majority of its residents are "a disgrace to America," stating that people there are either criminals or wealthy individuals without a backbone. The inflammatory comments are characteristic of Strickland's confrontational public persona.