Sean Strickland at the centre of sexist row at Sydney UFC event

Controversial fighter Sean Strickland hasn’t held back since he arrived Down Under and his sexist remarks have threatened to overshadow the event.

The NSW government has been forced to defend its sponsorship of a controversial Ultimate Fighter Championship event in Sydney after a star athlete made a string of sexist remarks.

Taxpayers funded the event to the tune of $16 million with NSW Ministers forced to quickly condemn middleweight fighter Sean Strickland after he made the comments to reporters during a pre-fight press conference.

Among Strickland’s highly offensive remarks this week was the comment, “women need to stay home and raise a family”.

“Women don’t need to work,” he said.

Sean Strickland in action.

He also added he would turn “cannibal” and lose the will to live if there were no women on the planet to look after him.

“I’ve got to make my own food, fold my own laundry, what is the f***ing point?” he asked.

It wasn’t just women who were the target.

Strickland also claimed he punched a man in the stomach after he “insulted him” ahead of a fight against middleweight champion Israel Adesanya on Sunday. 

He wrote on Twitter: “I’m in Sydney and I thought I’m going to be surrounded by dirty liberals (sic), Gay and trans flags everywhere … Literally zero … maybe America is the problem lmao!”

NSW Premier Chris Minns described Strickland’s comments as “appalling” but maintained that the fighter’s views should not tarnish the UFC event. 

“One fighter … shouldn’t tarnish all UFC fans ... There’s millions of people that like the sport, that love the sport, that follow it, that don’t hold those views at all,” he said.

Strickland has gained a reputation for his unfiltered and at times controversial views. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Sports Minister Steve Kamper told the ABC this week UFC was “not everyone’s cup of tea” but was a legitimate sport, adding “you can’t taint the whole sport because of one or two people”.

“The NSW government does not endorse any disrespectful or offensive commentary whether it be from a UFC competitor, a footballer or a musician,” Mr Kamper said.

Not the first time

Strickland has gained a reputation for his unfiltered, controversial view on women, minorities and LGBTQI rights.

Earlier this year Strickland made headlines after highly inappropriate remarks about YouTuber and comedian Nina-Marie Daniele.

Sean Strickland is on the path to ‘repentance’ he said.

Strickland said, according to the New York Post, the only reason he was doing an interview with her was “because she has 1.3 million followers on Instagram and her t**ties hang out”.

“You know what makes this more awkward for you guys?” he said. “She intentionally makes her t**ties hang out for me, and her boyfriend is holding a camera while I’m trying not to look at her f**kin t**ties.”

Born dirt poor, the 31-year-old American was raised by an abusive father and a “white supremacist” grandfather. 

Strickland has admitted to being a neo-Nazi during his youth and said he was a rage-filled and confused teenager until he discovered MMA saying he is on a path to “repentance”.

He has stated previously: “If I wasn’t in the UFC, I’d probably be cooking meth in a trailer”.

A professional competitor since 2008, Strickland is the former King of the Cage Middleweight Champion and currently ranked 5 in the UFC middleweight rankings.

– with Brendan Bradford

Originally published as Sean Strickland at the centre of sexist row at Sydney UFC event