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NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - MAY 09: Sean Strickland reacts after the UFC middleweight championship fight against Khamzat Chimaev of Russia during the UFC 328 event at Prudential Center on May 09, 2026 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)
UFC Middleweight champion Sean Strickland has arrived in Washington, D.C. for the UFC White House festivities.
Though Strickland initially claimed he was banned from the event, UFC CEO Dana White recently clarified that Strickland was allowed to attend … though it didn’t sound like there would be a comped ticket for the sole US-born male UFC champion. “Tarzan” must have heard that message as an invite, because he was live in attendance for the pre-fight press conference on Friday.
Strickland’s attendance in the crowd proved quite a spectacle for local fight fans. In the compilation of clips below, Strickland can be seen posing for photos and chatting before eventually being forced to literally flee the scene as crazed fans chase after him. Though Strickland didn’t go too deep into the details, Strickland claims he “almost died” in the resulting chaos.
“I had my face covered, literally sitting there watching the press conference,” Strickland explained. “These cops come up to me and are like, ‘Hey, you gotta take off your hoodie.’ I’m the Middleweight champion, if I take my hoodie off, it’s gonna be f—king bad, I can’t do it. Bro, I cannot take off my hoodie. If I take off my hoodie, we’re all f—ked.
“The guy says, ‘No, you have to do it.’ I pull [my hoodie down] and I’m like just f—king Google me. He’s like, ‘you gotta do it.’ So I’m like alright, you better stay, keep me safe, and protect me. They’re like yeah, I’ll do it. I take off my hoodie and he shines a flashlight in my face, and the crowd just loses it — and these cops take the f—k off! I didn’t want that to happen.“
In the final clip, Strickland concludes, “Guys, the boys in blue just saved my life. We’re out there doing the right things, and we almost died.”
Strickland’s presence at the White House event remains a matter of some controversy. Though initially a supporter of President Donald Trump, Strickland has been openly critical of his alleged ties to Jeffrey Epstein and various stances in the Middle East. Because of those vocal criticisms, Strickland has not received a red carpet rollout … or the protection of the UFC staff.
Will Strickland be in attendance for the weigh-ins or fights themselves? Time will tell, but it feels unlikely he flew out just for the presser.
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