UFC star Sean Strickland has come under fire for appearing to instruct a young, female fan to make an ‘inappropriate’ gesture while posing for a photo together.
Strickland, who is one of the most controversial combat sport stars in the world, was posing for photos with fans at a UFC event on April 2 when the incident occurred.
In a clip which has since gone viral on social media, Strickland was asked by the young fan for a photo, before the UFC star stood side-by-side and began posing.
As the pictures were being taken, Strickland put his arm round the fan and put up a middle finger, before looking at her and suggesting she should copy his pose.
The young, female fan appeared confused by Strickland’s request and refused to do it, before the UFC star doubled down and put both of his middle fingers up in an attempt to persuade the fan.
Despite his best efforts, the fan refused to do it and, instead, held up a ‘peace’ sign with her hand, while Strickland put his middle finger down and his hand in his pocket.
UFC star Sean Strickland has come under fire for appearing to instruct a young, female fan to make an ‘inappropriate’ gesture while posing for a photo together
It didn’t take long for the video to go viral on social media, with many fans calling out the ‘weird’ and ‘inappropriate’ behavior from the UFC middleweight star.
‘Proud of this young person, way to stand on your principles,’ one user wrote on X.
‘It was one thing to ask once but he was like insisting on it,’ another said on the platform.
‘Trying to teach a little girl to give the middle finger? Strickland, that’s a bit outrageous… Luckily she didn’t listen to you, the peace sign is perfect!’ one wrote.
Another said: ‘I love how the little girl didn’t oblige. She stood for what she believes in. She has been raised well.’
‘Inappropriate. With that said, he doesn’t understand this because of his upbringing. Just because he was raised by animals doesn’t mean this child was,’ another said.
Back in February, Strickland once again ignited fury with a misogynistic and homophobic rant at a press conference in the build-up to one of his UFC fights.
The 35-year-old went on an unprompted rant about the NFL and Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime show at Super Bowl LX, refusing to mention the rapper’s name.
‘Look at the NFL, dude. I don’t even want to say the f****t’s name because it’s just like, what, somebody give me his name,’ he said, calling out to reporters.
Strickland has become one of the most controversial combat sport stars
‘Come say his name, I don’t want to say it. You know what I’m talking about, the halftime show guy. The Puerto Rican, right? Puerto Rican.’
When someone eventually replied with Bad Bunny’s name, Strickland continued.
‘Yeah, that f***ing f****t. It’s so crazy that this is America now. Like, back in the day dude, the NFL was the f***ing standard of being a f***ing man.
And now every f***ing year, the NFL, I think they all get together around a table and say, ‘You know what, guys? How do we f***ing ruin this sport? How do we gay it up? How do we f***ing ruin it?
‘Well, I’ll tell you what. Why don’t we bring a gay foreigner who doesn’t speak f***ing English and have him perform it?’
He was promptly ripped on social media by former NFL quarterback Robert Griffin III. Sharing a clip of Strickland getting punched on the chin, he wrote: ‘Sean Strickland got hit so hard by a foreigner that he forgot Puerto Ricans are US citizens.
‘Not to mention that this misogynistic cry baby would get tossed like salad if he ever stepped foot on a football field in the NFL. Worry about not getting knocked out in your next fight.’
