UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland was removed from a White House fan festival by the US Secret Service on Saturday, after attending despite claiming he had been banned from the event. The 35-year-old American, one of the sport’s most divisive figures, filmed himself walking through the festival at the Ellipse in Washington DC before being mobbed by fans and subsequently escorted off the grounds.
In the weeks leading up to UFC Freedom 250 – a fight card culminating in seven bouts on the South Lawn on Sunday – Strickland had stated publicly that he was not permitted to attend the press conference at the Lincoln Memorial, the weigh-in, or the main event. Despite this, he appeared at the fan festival on Saturday, telling supporters to keep their excitement down as they recognised him. Within minutes, he was photographed being led away by Secret Service agents.
In a later video posted from what appeared to be a high-security vehicle, Strickland said: “I’m pretty sure I didn’t break a law, like I’m pretty sure. But we might be going to jail, but I’m pretty sure we didn’t break no laws.” Shortly after his removal, the UFC Freedom 250 broadcast began, with US President Donald Trump and UFC president Dana White filmed walking through the White House together.
The event featured two title fights: Alex Pereira versus Ciryl Gane for the interim heavyweight belt, and Ilia Topuria against Justin Gaethje in a lightweight unification bout. Strickland, who last fought in May, outpointed former teammate Khamzat Chimaev in a major upset to become a two-time middleweight champion. He has a history of controversial statements, including once saying he wished to kill an opponent in the cage, and drew fierce criticism from Australian media before fighting in the country after insulting its people.
The incident raises questions about security protocols at high-profile White House events and the UFC’s relationship with its most outspoken champion. Source: MMA Fighting