UFC CEO Dana White commented on the controversial statements of former league middleweight champion Sean Strickland.
I don’t f***ing tell any other human being what to say, what to think, and no leashes aren’t any of them. That’s ridiculous to say I give somebody a leash. Free speech, brother. People can say whatever they want; they can believe whatever they want.
Dana White
On January 21 in the main event of UFC 297 in Canada, Dricus Du Plessis defeated Strickland by split decision to become the new middleweight division champion. Dricus has 21 wins and two losses. Sean has 28 wins and six losses.
The 32-year-old Strickland previously stepped up for a bout against Israel Adesanya in September 2023 at UFC 293. That fight went the full distance and ended in favor of Sean by unanimous decision of the judges.