Controversial American Sean Strickland has been a surprise ‘no show’ at the first big event of UFC 293 fight week – a spectacular Welcome to Country at Barangaroo Reserve — fueling suggestions the NSW Government wants him doing nothing to embarrass their $16 million splurge on MMA.
The UFC roadshow returns to Sydney this Sunday when Strickland challenges reigning UFC middleweight king Israel Adesanya at a sold out Qudos Bank Arena.
While Adesanya attended Tuesday’s event along with several other fighters, Strickland was nowhere to be seen despite their being huge interest in what he will do – and more specifically, say – this week.
Order UFC 293 Sydney: Adesanya v Strickland, Tuivasa v Volkov. Sun 10 Sept. Main Event on Kayo Sports
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The American has become famous for sprouting all sorts of comments, both during interviews and on social media – including that he was a former white supremacist, wanted to kill someone, and once urged his old man to pull the trigger on a gun pointed at his own head.
There have been whispers the State Government, who have outlaid a reported $16 million to bring the UFC to the Harbour City over the next three years, were concerned about Strickland attending events this week.
Adesanya also suggested recently that UFC executives had required convincing to even book the fight because they were concerned what the American “idiot” might say.
Back in August, NSW Sports Minister Stephen Kamper was grilled during Question Time about Strickland’s comments by member for Port Macquarie Leslie Williams.
Williams asked whether he would support the government spending $16 million to host the event if Strickland, who at that stage had not been confirmed as a headliner, participates.
“The UFC is an internationally recognised, extremely popular sport. Just like boxing, just like wrestling,” Mr Kamper said.
“No one’s supporting the comments of one individual, but whatever the case UFC has got an enormous following across the world. It’s not my call whether Mr Strickland participates, but we support the UFC and we’re looking forward to the UFC.”
Order UFC 293 Sydney: Adesanya v Strickland, Tuivasa v Volkov. Sun 10 Sept. Main Event on Kayo Sports
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Adesanya stressed Strickland was lucky to even get the fight, saying: “He should thank me for actually making the fight happen, because without me, he wouldn’t have actually got the fight.
“I pushed for him to get the fight, because he was the next logical guy.
“I’ve beaten all the top five — some of them twice — so you can’t punish us for being great, so yeah, I pushed for him to get the fight.
“He’s an idiot. I can’t say too much about that. He’s an idiot, so he just has to behave himself and actually show up and just fight.”
Adesanya hinted that Strickland’s persona was an obstacle in making the fight happen, adding: “Like I said, he’s an idiot, and the UFC don’t want him embarrassing the company.
“But that’s all I’ll say about that.
“He should really thank me for actually making him get the fight … I pushed for it, and I’m glad the UFC trusted me to listen to me.”