Dana White Admits UFC Star Sean Strickland Said ‘Horrible’ Things in Viral Rant – But ‘He’s Allowed to Say What He Wants’

While acknowledging that middleweight fighter Sean Strickland said “horrible” things in a recent rant, UFC president Dana White maintains it’s his right to say them.

Days before his championship fight against South African middleweight Dricus Du Plessis, Strickland went on a fiery rant attacking the LGBTQ community. He specifically singled out gay and trans people, even going as far as calling a report an “enemy” for his support of those groups.

Strickland also briefly touched on the women’s co-main event at UFC 297 between Raquel Pennington and Mayra Bueno Silva. The 32-year-old revealed he has no interest in women’s MMA – or women’s athletics in general – because he doesn’t want to see “two little cats fighting.”

UFC champ Sean Strickland says he has no time for women’s MMA.

“I don’t want to see two little cats fight. I want to see lions fight.” pic.twitter.com/elvMPBh6oY

— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) January 18, 2024

After the fight, White was pressed by a reporter on Strickland’s comments. The UFC president’s response was simply, “Free speech, brother,” and he explained how he doesn’t prevent any of his fighters from saying whatever they want.

On Wednesday’s episode of The Pat McAfee Show, it was clear his opinion remained the same despite backlash from female fighters.

“Obviously, the two girls that were in the co-main event, he said horrible things about them,” White said. “There’s no need for that. They’ve never done anything to him, but this is what he does. But at the end of the day, he’s entitled to his own opinion and he can say whatever he wants to say. You can agree with him or not agree with him, but he’s allowed to say what he wants.”

Watch above via ESPN