“He Won’t Be Punching People in the Stomach Anymore…”: Dana White Reveals the Extreme Step the UFC Took Following Sean Strickland’s Assault on an Australian Citizen Ahead of UFC 293

UFC middleweight contender Sean Strickland has always been known for his unfiltered persona, both inside and outside the octagon. Currently in Australia for his upcoming fight against middleweight champion Israel Adesanya at UFC 293 in Sydney, Strickland found himself involved in a peculiar incident.

According to a report by Fox Sports Australia, the incident occurred on a Sunday morning when an enthusiastic Israel Adesanya fan approached Strickland, engaging in some trash talk. In response, Strickland swiftly delivered a punch to the fan’s stomach before walking away. The media questioned UFC president Dana White regarding the incident. And he revealed a unique solution for the Strickland dilemma that the UFC has come up with!

Sean Strickland has the UFC on its toes

Following this unexpected altercation, reporters questioned UFC president Dana White about the incident involving Strickland. White revealed that Sean Strickland himself had publicized the incident, exaggerating its significance for humorous purposes. White clarified that the fan and Strickland have reconciled and are on amicable terms.

White also shared insight into the precautions taken by the UFC to prevent such incidents in the future. He stated, “Going into this, I knew, I knew, what this week was going to be like. Yes, we are prepared for it, and yes, we have people around him now. So he won’t be punching people in the stomach anymore. For fun, or not for fun.”

It remains to be seen if the UFC counter-measures will slow ‘Tarzan’ down. Nevertheless, this incident adds to the number of strange events that have happened in Australia before major UFC cards in the country!

Australia and bizarre occurrences before UFC events

Interestingly, strange incidents before major fights in Australia are not unprecedented. Long-time MMA enthusiasts may recall a peculiar incident from 2017 involving Colby Covington and Fabricio Werdum. The two fighters engaged in a heated verbal confrontation on the streets of Sydney, with conflicting accounts of the aftermath. Reports claimed that the confrontation happened due to Covington making disrespectful remarks about Brazilians and Werdum.

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However, the most bizarre part of the altercation was captured in a video by UFC fighter Dan Hooker, showing Werdum throwing a souvenir boomerang at Covington! The clip went viral among the online MMA community and remains one of the most unusual fighter interactions ever recorded on camera.

As Sean Strickland prepares for his showdown with Israel Adesanya, there is anticipation regarding whether he can make it to the main event without any further incidents. Dana White’s assurance that the UFC has taken necessary steps to address the situation adds a layer of confidence.

The question remains: Can Strickland dethrone Adesanya’s reign as the middleweight champion? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

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