UFC middleweight Sean Strickland has posted a controversial message on social media ahead of his upcoming fight with Khamzat Chimaev in Newark, New Jersey. Rather than the typical promotional approach of praising the local area, Strickland attacked New York and its residents in harsh terms. In his tweet, Strickland called New York "a perfect example of what it means to be a Democrat" and described the children, adults, and leaders as "pathetic." He stated that New York and the majority of its residents are "a disgrace to America," adding that people there are "either a criminal or a rich pussy without a backbone." The fight will take place in Newark, which is about 35 minutes from Central Park in Manhattan.
Sean Strickland is not taking the conventional promotional route ahead of his middleweight title fight against Khamzat Chimaev in Newark, New Jersey. Rather than drumming up excitement for the local area, the champion used social media to launch a pointed political attack on neighboring New York, calling the city "a perfect example of what it means to be a Democrat" and describing its children, adults, and leaders as "pathetic." He added that New York and most of its residents are "a disgrace to America" and that people there are "either a criminal or a rich pussy without a backbone." Newark sits roughly 35 minutes from Central Park in Manhattan.
Strickland, 35, holds the UFC middleweight title and carries a record of 31-7-0. Fighting out of Xtreme Couture, the six-foot-one American is one of the most active strikers in the division, averaging 6.04 significant strikes per minute with a 76-inch reach. His willingness to speak without filter outside the cage has become as recognizable as his output inside it.
Standing across from him will be Khamzat Chimaev, known as "Borz," the number-one ranked middleweight and number-ten pound-for-pound fighter in the world. The 32-year-old representing the United Arab Emirates owns a 15-1-0 record and fights out of Allstars Training Center. At six-foot-two with a 60 percent striking accuracy and a dominant grappling game averaging 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes, Chimaev presents a multidimensional threat.
Why it matters
- Strickland's title is directly on the line against the division's top-ranked contender
- A Chimaev victory would install the number-one middleweight as champion and reshape the division
- The stylistic contrast is sharp: Strickland's high-volume striking against Chimaev's elite takedown and submission pressure
- Strickland's social media habits continue to generate attention beyond the sport itself
