2 hours ago
The only existent US UFC champion says he has been barred from Sunday’s conflict paper connected nan southbound section of nan White House because he dared to knock Donald Trump, Israel and Jeffrey Epstein.
On Tuesday night, middleweight champion Sean Strickland wrote connected X that he had been informed by nan Ultimate Fighting Championship that he had not been cleared connected be nan arena by nan White House.
A UFC charismatic “said he will get it done”, Stickland claimed, and UFC “filmed it and embedded has nan footage”. “I later sewage a telephone from nan UFC saying ‘I wasn’t cleared by nan White House’,” he added.
When a instrumentality had earlier asked for specifics connected why he had been excluded, Strickland replied: “I made nosy of Israel and Epstein.”
In a consequent station connected X, he went further: “The only antheral American champ banned astatine nan White House because I said Trump is owned by [Benjamin Netanyahu]. That’s not nationalist opinion, it’s fact.”
Strickland, calved successful California, precocious reclaimed nan middleweight title pinch a split-decision triumph complete Khamzat Chimaev successful May successful Newark, New Jersey, making him nan only undisputed men’s title holder successful nan UFC, speech from Burmese champion Joshua Van who moved to Houston, Texas, arsenic a teenager.
Strickland was erstwhile among Trump’s astir vocal supporters successful combat sports, but publically soured connected nan US president aft past year’s US strikes connected Iran.
“I stopped supporting Trump aft Israel made him explosive Iran nan first time,” he wrote connected X. “Trump ‘stop bombing Iran’ Israel ‘Trump we request your bombers’ Trump ‘yes father BB [Netanyahu] I sewage you.’”
Strickland’s grievances look to resonate pinch a important information of nan US public. A June canvass from nan Economist/YouGov recovered that 68% of Americans want a woody to extremity nan warfare pinch Iran arsenic soon arsenic possible, while a Reuters/Ipsos poll released coming recovered only 10% of respondents judge nan Trump management has decently helped present justness successful cases connected to Epstein, nan disgraced financier and convicted activity offender.
Earlier this week, UFC main executive Dana White dismissed Strickland’s allegation that he was barred from nan event. “Of course, Sean Strickland isn’t [banned],” White told reporters connected Tuesday. “Sean Strickland is banned from humanity. We don’t want him adjacent immoderate quality beings anywhere.”
Casting nan wider communicative of banned fighters arsenic absurd, White added: “Everybody’s banned apparently. Apparently fucking everybody is banned.”
The White House and nan UFC did not respond to a petition for comment.
UFC Freedom 250 is group for 14 June connected nan southbound section of nan White House – a day that besides happens to beryllium some Flag Day and Trump’s 80th birthday. Over nan past weekend, nan watchdog group Public Integrity Project filed a lawsuit arguing nan management collapsed aggregate national laws to accommodate what it described arsenic a “deeply corrupt” private, commercialized sporting arena dressed up arsenic a patriotic celebration.
Trump’s financial disclosures besides show he bought up to $50,000 worthy of banal successful TKO Group Holdings, nan UFC’s genitor company, earlier this year.
While 4,300 subject unit are expected to beryllium successful attendance, nan arena remains a coveted summons among Washington powerfulness brokers, pinch donors, lobbyists and members of Congress huddled together for seats.
But nan upwind whitethorn yet person nan last word: nan National Weather Service forecast for Washington DC connected Sunday presently shows a chance of showers and thunderstorms successful nan evening, astir nan clip nan main arena is scheduled to begin.
