Even the UFC appeared tired of listening to Sean Strickland after UFC Houston.
Strickland’s microphone was abruptly cut off and his post-fight press conference was brought a premature end late Saturday night in a rare sight following Strickland’s victory over Anthony Hernandez in UFC Houston’s main event.
Advertisement
Strickland, who stopped Hernandez via third-round TKO to re-enter middleweight title contention, spoke for roughly seven minutes at the event’s post-fight press conference, during which he made numerous homophobic and vulgar remarks, including proclaiming, “I’ll make fun of gays any chance I get.” This was, of course, nothing new for Strickland. The 34-year-old American has made courting controversy his brand throughout his UFC rise, with his press conferences often serving as pulpits for him to rant against social issues of the day and spew hate speech toward various marginalized groups.
Shortly before Strickland’s press conference Saturday, UFC CEO Dana White called the former middleweight champion’s outbursts “a nightmare,” but blamed the media for baiting Strickland into venturing into topics like Bad Bunny’s performance at Super Bowl 60, despite Strickland marching into that territory on his own with a deeply homophobic rant at UFC Houston’s media day on Wednesday.
Advertisement
This time, though, it appeared the UFC had enough.
Strickland, undeterred, continued to field questions and admonished UFC public relations staff with a “Relax, UFC motherf***er,” before ranting further about a fight against Chimaev.
On the UFC’s live press conference feed, none of Strickland’s remarks could be heard.
Strickland’s victory over Hernandez at UFC Houston puts the former champ at 2-2 over his past four Octagon appearances.
He entered the bout as the promotion’s No. 3-ranked middleweight, meaning that despite the controversies that continue to follow him, Strickland will likely be in line for a big fight next.
