In a fiery exchange during the pre-fight press conference for UFC 297 in Toronto, current middleweight titleholder Shawn Strickland launched a verbal tirade against Canadian journalists.
The confrontation saw Strickland accuse the media and Canadians in general of blindly supporting Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Neil Davidson, a senior sports writer for The Canadian Press, found himself on the receiving end of Strickland's unfiltered criticism.
Strickland's confrontation was filled with provocative questions about the reporter's political leanings.
“Were you a Covid bank account thief too? Were you on board with that? Were you left-wing or right-wing? Were you Trudeau? We've got a f**king communist with the press. We have to find out where this guy stands. Were you unbiased?” Strickland asked.
Watch: (This video contains explicit language. Viewer discretion is advised.)
UFC champion Shawn Strickland body-slammed a Canadian journalist from the top rope:
“Were you a coronavirus bank account thief too? Were you on board with that?… We got a communist… I've got to get over this. He's going to give my bank account information to… pic.twitter.com/tkVD7K5VHf
– Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) January 17, 2024
When another reporter tried to confront Strickland with a controversial tweet in December 2021, the middleweight champion, who was wearing a T-shirt that said “A woman in every kitchen, a gun in every hand,” stood his ground.
Before responding to the tweet, he inquired about the reporter's political affiliations and whether he supported Trudeau, which the reporter refused to answer.
Strickland's response was scathing: “The man says he wouldn't say that. For example, if you ask a mother, 'Did you vote for Biden?' He says, 'Well, I won't say. It's none of your business.' “He voted for King Biden. So, this is what I'm talking about; you guys are enemies of Canada.”
He continued his inflammatory statements, targeting the reporter and accusing him of contributing to political issues within Canada.
“Dude, you're a weak man. Dude, you're part of the f–king problem. You voted for Justin Trudeau when he took over the bank accounts, like you're pathetic. And the fact that you don't have the backbone of a f–king. And he shut down your f—ing country and took over your bank accounts?” You asked me for some stupid shit like that. Go fuck yourself. 'Move, man,' Strickland said.
Addressing his past comments about gays and Bud Light, Strickland doubled down on his stance.
“That's the thing about Bud Light. Ten years ago, what did it mean to be trans? Fucking mental illness. And now, all of a sudden, people like you are making your way into the world. You're an infection. You're the definition of vulnerability. It's all wrong,” Strickland said. In the world is because of you.”
“And the best thing is the world doesn't buy it. The world doesn't buy your fucking bullshit. You're walking around. The world doesn't say: You know what? You're right. Fucking chicks have penises. The world doesn't say that. The world says: No, there are two sexes. I don't want to My kids are taught about who they can have sex with in school. I don't want my kids to be taught about their sexual preferences. Like, dude, this guy is the fucking enemy. You want to look at the fucking enemy of our world? He's the motherfucker asking these stupid questions .
Strickland concluded his speech by clarifying his position on personal freedom.
“I love gays. It's fucking freedom. We still have it in America. We'll let you know about that. You guys don't have freedom of speech, I'm surprised. Maybe I'll get the Canadian government to arrest me. So, I don't give a fuck. I don't care what What you want to do in life, but don't tell the kids about it. Don't teach that shit in fucking school. Don't push your agenda. Don't try to brainwash people. Don't try to get past the parents with all this bullshit and brainwash people.
Watch: (This video contains explicit language. Viewer discretion is advised.)
@SStricklandMMA @JustinTrudeau @cafreeland @Liberal Party #UFC297 #UFC #Peoples_Champion#CanadianChampion #Freedom_Caravan #truckerconvoy
Love her. pic.twitter.com/CkQjwTWSZH– Pierce W/GFN (@GFN8882) January 17, 2024
