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“That Is the American Way” – After Getting Called Out for Her Bold National Anthem Stance, WNBA Star Brittney Griner Receives Warm Welcome From UFC Veteran

Published 12/15/2022, 3:20 PM EST

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Tim Kennedy is a well-known name among MMA fans. The former martial artist is currently an American Special Forces Operator. Kennedy also holds the honor of defeating some of the best in the Octagon; including the noted Michael Bisping. ‘The Master Sergeant’ is also known for his affinity towards social media; with Twitter being his go-to platform. He tweets quite regularly and even posts multiple tweets in a day sometimes. Recently, Kennedy used his Twitter once more to express his views on the successful homecoming of the famed WNBA star, Brittney Griner.

Kennedy expressed his support for the decision to bring Griner back to her homeland, America. They detained the Phoenix Mercury athlete in Russia after she was accused of smuggling cannabis oil.

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Kennedy labeled the successful prisoner swap of Griner as The American Way

Kennedy‘s tweet expressed his pleasure at the homecoming of his fellow American citizen, Griner. He also intended that each and every countryman of his carries immense value to him.

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His tweet read, “I am very happy we were able to get an American citizen back home. I will assign more value to any American. We fight for each other and support each other. That is the American way. #BrittneyGriner #GrinerFree”.

According to Kennedy, the decision to return a Russian prisoner in exchange for Griner was a decision that represented the true American mentality. Hence, he also labeled it “the American way”.

Why was Brittney Griner imprisoned in Russia?

Griner was arrested by the Federal Customs Service of Russia on February 17, 2022, when she was found carrying vaporizer cartridges containing hash oil. Charges of smuggling were placed on her and they detained her till trial.

It’s pertinent to note that she had been prescribed the usage of medical cannabis in Arizona; which led her to carry the vaporizer cartridges. But, those were illegal in Russia, and hence she was subjected to detainment.

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On 4 August 2022, Griner was sentenced to nine years in prison as a consequence. On 27 July 2022, U.S. President Joe Biden had begun talks for a prisoner exchange. Russia had asked for the arms dealer, Viktor Bout, to be handed over them in exchange for Griner. Those talks finally saw daylight on December 8.

Despite Kennedy offering his full support to this decision, it was criticized by a number of other people. Some members of the Congress and Federal law enforcement implied that these types of prisoner swap deal only hinder the security of Americans in foreign states.

Others called this decision a complete waste since they marked Griner as a disrespectful American; due to her words about the National Anthem being played before the WNBA matches. She stated, “I’m not going to be out there for the national anthem. If the league continues to want to play it, that’s fine. It will be all season long, I’ll not be out there“; to which many had taken offense and called it a disrespect for the country.

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Watch this Story – Everything To Know About Million Jake Paul Vs Paddy Pimblett Sparring Session

They showcase a method that adversary nations can follow to gain leverage over the United States. What is your opinion about this prisoner swap deal to bring Brittney Griner home?

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Written by:

Souvik Roy

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Souvik Roy is currently a UFC writer at EssentiallySports. An avid UFC follower, Souvik combined his love for the sport and his passion for words to turn his interest into his Livelihood. A Diploma holder in Electrical Engineering, Souvik has worked as a Freelance Link Builder and Content Writer previously and wrote for various clients and businesses.
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Edited by:

Vineet Nandwana