UFC middleweight Sean Strickland recently revealed that he punched a fan of the middleweight champion in the stomach after the fan told him, “Izzy is gonna f—-k you up.” The incident occurred during Strickland’s trip Down Under, where he is scheduled to challenge Israel Adesanya for the title at UFC 293. Strickland, who is known for his outspoken persona and controversial remarks, apparently thought the fan was approaching him for a photo at first.
In an interview with Fox Sports Australia, Strickland recounted the encounter: “Boom, right in the guts. I’d only been in Australia a day and already I’d committed an assault. Initially, I thought the guy was coming up for a photo. Because anybody who wants a photo, man, I love the fans. But if you wanna come up to me and run your f—-ing mouth, I’ll smack you like I smack anybody else.” He went on to say that if he sees the fan again, he would have no problems confronting him and thanking him for not pressing charges.
Strickland’s Absence at Welcome to Country Event
Strickland’s penchant for making unsavory statements and actions may have led to him not being invited to the Welcome to Country event at Bangaroo, as he was reportedly not present at the ceremony. This has led to speculation that the fighter’s participation in the event was deliberately limited due to concerns about his behavior. Adesanya was originally scheduled to face Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 293, but the matchup fell through when Du Plessis was not physically ready to return following a victory against Robert Whittaker at UFC 290 in July.
Strickland’s Opinion on Adesanya’s Demeanor
Strickland has been open about his dislike for Adesanya’s demeanor, as he feels the champion believes “he’s better than everyone else.” He said, “Izzy is authentic. He paints his nails, is very authentic to what he is. He’s just another guy with a lot of money who is trying to be a superstar. He doesn’t give a f—k about me, doesn’t give a f—k about you, doesn’t give a f—k about the world.” Strickland went on to share an anecdote about a fan who allegedly had a negative encounter with Adesanya, claiming that the champion was “stuck up” and wouldn’t even shake the fan’s hand.
Strickland believes his authenticity is what distinguishes him from Adesanya, stating, “I don’t wear a pearl necklace. I don’t drive a BMW. I don’t wear designer clothes. So people like me because I represent them. People don’t like Izzy because he thinks he’s better than everyone else — the way he dresses, the way he talks, the way he acts. If Izzy could learn anything from me, it’s get off your high horse, people will like you a bit better.”
UFC 293 is set to take place on Saturday at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, Australia, with the main event featuring the middleweight title fight between Adesanya and Strickland. The main card will be aired on pay-per-view via ESPN+ starting at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.