Add UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland to the ever-growing list of people that were not fans of Saturday night’s Brand Risk 14 card.
Strickland, who ended up being a guest commentator for one of the fights, attended the event at the Meta APEX headlined by ex-NFL quarterback Johnny Manziel and social media personality Bob Menery. The lineup featured influencer fights promoted by streamer Adin Ross — some boxing, some MMA — and was not critically acclaimed by any stretch of the imagination.
Strickland admitted he had to get out of there early, and was actually ashamed of himself for going.
“I’ve never been a part of anything so shameful in my life and I hate myself,” Strickland said on his Instagram Stories. “And I feel like less of a man after being here. Oh, God, why did I agree to this? …
“I had to get the f*ck out of there, man. … I like Adin, but I’m like sick to my f*cking stomach. That is f*cked up. This is the most f*cked up thing I’ve ever witnessed in my f*cking life. I’m ready to go home and look myself in the mirror after, I’ve never done anything so shameful in my life being a part of this. Sorry, guys. Was just trying to say hi to a friend, next thing you know, your dignity is gone.”
On top of the weirdness, UFC CEO Dana White was one of the loudest supporters of the event, and allowed it to happen at the UFC’s home base, which led to the UFC and MMA community scratching their heads around the globe.
Strickland’s fallout thoughts from the card stemmed from fear for the future of the United States due to the streaming culture being as big as it is.
“You know what it is guys? There was some good boxing and then shit got all f*cking weird,” Strickland said. “But I think what sucks is you take these streamers and they have this like massive following, and you just know that their the next generations of Americans.
“It’s so f*cking sad to think that the streamer community is going to inherit America. It’s so bad. I just want it all to stop. It’s so bad, you guys. It’s so bad.”
