Former UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland is the newest massive star to query Dana White’s present ardour for combined martial arts.
Sean Strickland will look to regain the UFC middleweight title when he takes on undefeated Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 328 in Newark subsequent month. Forward of UFC 328, Strickland and Chimaev have exchanged private assaults, and the battle week is predicted to be as eventful as ever between the 2 longtime adversaries.
Chimaev vs. Strickland is likely one of the largest fights in latest UFC middleweight historical past after the previous coaching companions not too long ago threatened one another in separate media appearances. UFC CEO Dana White has promised heavy safety in Newark forward of UFC 328 to maintain each rivals away from one another.
However White’s ardour for combined martial arts has been known as into query in latest weeks by Israel Adesanya, Matt Brown and different prime fighters. As some followers, consultants and fighters have seen since launching Zuffa Boxing earlier this 12 months, White’s ardour for selling upcoming bouts seems to lack the fervour he as soon as had.
Add Strickland to the listing of individuals questioning White’s present position as a promoter. He questioned the longtime UFC chief in his normal colourful methods.
Sean Strickland punches Dana White simply earlier than his return towards Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 328
Throughout a latest media scrum on the UFC Efficiency Institute, Strickland was requested concerning the notion that White had “stepped again” from selling the martial arts big.
“The UFC is simply doing this,” Strickland mentioned of White’s present promotional technique.
“They go discover these folks in third world nations. Do they actually take into consideration French individuals who do not even declare to be French? Do they actually wish to see Imavov take off his prayer rug and go battle after Imavov? No, I do not wish to see that, brother. The UFC is ruining the game. The UFC is ruining the game.”
“When Dana White goes, Dana White makes some huge cash,” Strickland continued. “All of the yachts, the whole lot… However this man created one thing that we will die for (UFC belts)… chasing like this pretend. I am grateful to battle for what it’s. It is given me this chance, this chance. However I am not going to frolic over a bit of steel that is going to make anyone wealthy. What number of extra yachts do we’d like?”h/t Bloody Elbow)
Strickland will not be alone in questioning White’s position in latest weeks. Jake Paul, a longtime critic of White, blamed UFC leaders for the perceived decline in fan curiosity within the occasion, which dates to 2026.
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