Sean Strickland posts harsh criticism of New York ahead of Newark fight

UFC middleweight Sean Strickland posted a controversial tweet about New York and New Jersey ahead of his fight against Khamzat Chimaev in Newark. The bout will take place at Prudential Center, just 35 minutes from Central Park. Rather than the typical fighter approach of praising the host city, Strickland called New York "a perfect example of what it means to be a Democrat" and described children, adults, and leaders as "pathetic." He concluded by calling New York and the majority of its residents "a disgrace to America," stating people are either criminals or wealthy individuals without principles. The inflammatory social media post comes as fighters typically engage positively with local communities before events.