Sean Strickland fought against Dricus Du Plessis for the championship belt and lost, leading the media to swarm Dana White with questions about Strickland’s consistent ability to say something that riles up the crowd and, according to one reporter, may be bad for business for the UFC. In response, Dana White went on one of the most epic televised rants about freedom of speech in sporting history.
White defended Sean Strickland when a reporter asked if the fighter’s words are causing problems for the UFC and their relationship with sponsors. White refused to address specific things that Strickland has said in the past that have made many in sports media upset, especially given the high stature that the UFC has placed him on due to constant wins and solid performances in the Octagon.
So, instead of only addressing the question about Strickland, White went on to explain that he stands for the right to freedom of speech for anyone. All of the fighters under his purview in the world’s most popular mixed martial arts league are given a green light by White to say what is on their mind, with no fear of retribution from the UFC.
In a video that was posted to X by Leading Report, Dana White says, “I don’t f*cking tell any other human being what to say, what to think, and there’s no leashes on any of them…That’s ridiculous to say I give somebody a leash. Free speech, brother. People can say whatever they want. They can believe whatever they want.”
Before this, the reporter had asked about the “long leash” that White gives to his fighters when they hold a microphone at UFC events, implying that White allows the talent to say what is on their mind. This idea, to White, is ridiculous. White made it clear that in his opinion, the right to speech is not something that can be given by a man, but rather something that everyone has.
The fight itself should not be overshadowed by press conferences after. The contest went all five rounds with a decision that has been questioned all over the internet. Even Dana White himself thought that it could have just as easily been Strickland holding the belt at the end of the 25 minutes of combat.
In a quote shared by ESPN, White spoke about the tension going into a fifth round with both fighters clearly so close on the judges’ scorecards. White said, “I had it 2-2 going into the last round and I thought Strickland won the last round. Guys who were sitting at the same table [as me] had it going the other way. … But I’m also a guy who believes you have to take it from the champion.”
This bodes well for the future of the UFC. With fighters able to speak their minds, more and more fans will be interested in press conferences, more clips will go viral, and, therefore, more will turn out to watch the fights. So, while White’s epic freedom of speech rant will go down as one of the greatest in sports, it is also a great business move by the UFC.
Watch White here:
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