UFC 297: Sean Strickland launches tirade at journalist ahead of Dricus du Plessis fight

For better or worse, there were always going to be fireworks during Sean Strickland’s press conference - this time it was the nation of Canada in the firebrands sights.

Sean Strickland has launched an expletive laden-tirade at a journalist during his UFC 297 press conference in Toronto, calling the media member “an infection” and “the enemy”.

The controversial American, who was a fan favourite when he fought in Sydney last year, also told this masthead that he doesn’t think he’ll be allowed back into Australia again, before calling for a revolution after the country’s strict Covid lockdown laws.

Starting this weekend, Main Event on Kayo Sports and Foxtel will be the exclusive home of UFC Pay-Per-View events in Australia.

Just days ahead of his middleweight title defence against Dricus du Plessis this weekend, Strickland promised to be on his best behaviour at his media opportunity, but didn’t take long to criticise Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, women’s MMA and UFC welterweight Ian Garry.

"You ask me some stupid sh*t like that? Go f*ck yourself."

Sean Strickland went off on a reporter who pressed him on past comments about the LGBTQ community at #UFC297 media day. pic.twitter.com/wyTEcUZLbv

— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) January 17, 2024

But it was a question from a Canadian journalist about old comments Strickland made regarding the LGBTQI+ community that set him off on a vicious personal attack.

“The fact that you have no backbone, and as he (Trudeau) shut down your country and seized peoples’ bank accounts, you ask me some stupid shit like that, go f**k yourself,” he seethed.

“You are an infection. You are the definition of weakness. Everything that is wrong in the world is because of you. The world is not buying it. The world’s not buying your bulls**t.

“This guy is the enemy. You want to look at the enemy to our world, it’s that guy right there, asking me stupid questions.

“I like gay people, it’s called freedom, we still have it in America. I don’t care what you do in life. Don’t push your agenda, don’t try to brainwash people.”

Strickland is undoubtedly the most outspoken fighter in the UFC. Picture: Mark Evans/Getty Images

Strickland caused a similar stir ahead of his fight with Israel Adesanya in Sydney in September too.

His comments about women in the workplace made it all the way to the New South Wales parliament, and forced the state government to defend bringing the UFC to Sydney.

Four months on, and Strickland flat out refused to fight in Australia ever again, before saying the country needs an American-style revolution.

“No way. Getting in the country is too hard, and I don’t even know if I can get in the country again,” he told this masthead in another typically wild interview. “I think parliament talked about me when I was making fun of the women.

“So, I’d need to get a visa approved, and the people of Australia are great, but the government took your nuts.

“I watched videos of a pregnant lady getting arrested, people walking through parks getting arrested.

“You guys need a 1776, the blood of tyrants. You need to look at that. You guys need a revolution, you need some guns.”

Strickland with the middleweight belt and the Akubra he wore during fight week in Sydney. Picture: Mike Roach/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Despite some of his more extreme comments, Strickland – who wore a Crocodile Dundee hat all week, because “Crocodile Dundee is the man, dude” – became an instant favourite with Aussie fans last year, getting loud cheers at every fight week event.

He’s even changed his tune on the man he sucker punched in Bondi.

“This guy just said Izzy was gonna beat me up, and I punched him in the stomach,” he said. “But that guy was the real hero of the day.

“He could have very easily came out and said, ‘I’m the guy he hit’ but he didn’t. We need to find that guy and give him a T-shirt.”

For the record, the T-shirt in question, which Strickland was wearing with pride, read: “A woman in every kitchen, a gun in every hand.”

Strickland’s win over Adesanya was one of the biggest upsets in UFC history. Picture: Mark Evans/Getty Images

Strickland and du Plessis have engaged in a heated back-and-forth over the past month, with the pair exchanging slurs, threats and even punches after Strickland attacked ‘Still Knocks’ at UFC 296 in December.

With the fight just days away, Strickland played down the bad blood between them.

“At the end of the day, it’s the fight game, and I go over the line so much,” he told this masthead. “I go so hard.

“So I expect nothing less. S**t happens, we’re fighting and we’re gonna have a death match.

“Sometimes when you say something you must act on it, so be careful what you say.”

Strickland and du Plessis go face-to-face during what has been a heated build-up. Picture: Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Strickland and du Plessis both rank inside the top three for most strikes landed per minute for middleweights, and the champ is predicting fireworks this weekend.

“It’s gonna be a war,” he said. “Dricus likes to come forward, he likes to fight.

“One of us is gonna get clipped, or it’s gonna be a five round war. We’re just gonna be in the pocket fighting, but I’m ready for a five-round war.”

Originally published as UFC 297: Sean Strickland launches tirade at journalist ahead of Dricus du Plessis fight