Newly released footage shows the UFC calling an emergency PR meeting after an explosive Sean Strickland rant.
Notorious for his ‘no-filter’ approach when speaking to the media, Strickland never hides what is on his mind. None are more familiar with this than the UFC PR department who prepare themselves every time he touches a microphone.
Whether you agree with him or not, Strickland sells his fights with his words. Often crossing lines when discussing controversial and sensitive topics that most wouldn’t dare comment on.
Though many take the opportunity of a UFC press conference to discuss their upcoming fight, Strickland says what he wants. Regardless of the question Sean often guides it back to topics such as politics, gender, and race.
When Strickland says, “Here’s the thing guys,” the UFC PR team ready themselves.
UFC Call PR Meeting After Sean Strickland’s Pre-Fight Rant
The latest clip to emerge from episode 2 of Fight Inc.’s new series, ‘Inside the UFC’, shows what happens behind the scenes when Sean Strickland speaks. The clip in question was before Israel Adesanya vs Sean Strickland at UFC 293.
Within the press conference, Strickland spent the majority of it ignoring the questions and focusing on his opponent. Repeatedly accusing Adesanya of inappropriately touching his pet dog.
Whilst pre-fight trash talk is common, many felt he went too far, and the UFC PR team should have intervened. Not only discussing his opponent but claiming that women should not have the right to vote.
In the clip we see the PR team discussing, in their own words, “26 minutes of unadulterated Sean”. Focusing on his unsavoury words about Germans and “D*rty Brazilians” as they prepared for the media storm kicked up by the former champion.
Despite his relentless spews of offensive language, it seems any press is good press to the UFC as they did not seem to be phased. He is yet to be silenced by the UFC, largely down to the views of UFC president Dana White.
White famously believes in freedom of speech for his fighters. Whether positive or negative, Strickland undoubtedly spoke his way to being one of the more popular fighters in the division.
Though just a short clip of the PR meeting, it was not the first and certainly won’t be the last surrounding UFC anti-hero Strickland.
It was an interesting look behind the veil of the UFC at what happens when handling controversial fighter comments.
Featured image credit to Embed from Getty Images
