UFC middleweight Sean Strickland has announced that he will not fight for a championship again in Australia, citing the government's disdain for him and the country's lack of free speech.
Strickland last fought under the belt for the middleweight title in 2023, defeating New Zealand's Israel Adesanya. UFC 293. Prior to the fight, Mr Strickland had made it his business to criticize Australia's laws surrounding speech, guns and more.
Strickland has since lost his middleweight title to South Africa's Doricus du Plessis, but is fighting his way back to being the No. 1 contender for a rematch.
However, the Anaheim, California, native recently announced that he has no intention of competing for the belt in Australia.
“I'm not fighting in Australia. I was thinking about Las Vegas in March,” the fighter wrote on his blog. X page.
“I love Australians but I don't think the government likes me…I take this as a compliment!! Hate speech is not real and I will always speak up for my fellow kangaroos. I’m going to raise it,” Strickland continued. , adding all caps calls for freedom.
Mr Strickland responded to several fan comments, including one who claimed Australians were “too liberal”.
The fighter used this opportunity to make it clear that his problem was with the state, not the people.
“The government [too liberal]. The people who live there are as much Trump supporters as we are,” Strickland said. answered.
Mr Strickland has been a strong critic of Australia's policies since the coronavirus lockdown, when federal authorities forced people into isolation camps.
“Go to Australia and post something negative about coronavirus. They can break into your house and take you to jail,” Mr Strickland said. 2021.
Heading into the fight in 2023, Mr Strickland's outlook was to figuratively liberate Australia by speaking out on gun control.
“Women can't own guns… or knives… or pepper spray… oh my! I'm coming to save Australia,” says former champion I wrote.
Later the same day, Mr Strickland said: “It seems like my going to Australia is now becoming a humanitarian mission.” said Reply to post about gun licenses.
The fighter's outlook appears to have changed from freedom to fear that the government will not welcome him back.
Political commentator Candace Owens recently Denial of entry To an island country.
Australia's immigration minister said Mr Owens had the “capacity to incite discord” and should not be allowed to enter Australia.
The minister claimed that Owens' comments about the Holocaust and the Islamic slave trade “have the potential to cause discord in almost every direction.”
Strickland has said he plans to fight just once to prove he deserves a rematch for the middleweight title, and after defeating Brazil's Paulo Costa in June, he plans to wait until the opportunity presents itself. .
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