UFC Champion Strickland Says He’s Standing Up for Canadians’ Freedom

Sean Strickland, left, UFC middleweight champion and Dricus Du Plessis, right, hold a press conference ahead of UFC 297 in Toronto on Jan. 18, 2024. The pay-per-view card, the first in Toronto since UFC 231 in December 2018, features nine Canadians and two world title fights. Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press

UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland caught attention before his main event fight on Jan. 20 in Toronto as he sparred with journalists, criticized the prime minister, and told Canadians he’s standing up for their freedom.

The American mixed martial artist told a rowdy crowd at the event’s press conference on Jan. 18 that he would continue to “stick up for you [expletive] guys.”