UFC Fighter Sean Strickland Unleashes Sexist, Homophobic Tirade

Strickland attacked Bad Bunny, Ronda Rousey, and women's sports during Paramount+ media event.

Feb. 23, 2026 at 6:47pm

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UFC fighter Sean Strickland went on a bigoted tirade during a Paramount+ and UFC media day event, calling Bad Bunny a 'f—-t' and suggesting women's sports are worthless. He also made inappropriate comments about female fighters Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano.

Why it matters

Strickland's hateful and misogynistic comments reflect a broader issue of sexism and homophobia in the world of professional sports. His remarks undermine efforts to promote diversity, inclusion, and respect for all athletes, regardless of gender or sexual orientation.

The details

During the media event, Strickland called the upcoming Netflix MMA match between Rousey and Carano an 'insane' idea and suggested they should fight 'half naked.' He also joked about Rousey's abusive relationship with her ex-boyfriend. Strickland then said 'no one gives a fuck about women's sports' and that women 'do great things' like 'cook' and 'clean.' He also mocked the NFL for having Bad Bunny perform at the Super Bowl halftime show, calling him a 'fucking f—-t' and lamenting the league's efforts to 'gay it up.'

  • Strickland's comments were made on Wednesday during the Paramount+ and UFC media day event.

The players

Sean Strickland

A UFC fighter who has a history of making controversial and offensive statements.

Ronda Rousey

A former UFC women's bantamweight champion and one of the most prominent female fighters in the sport.

Gina Carano

A former MMA fighter who has also acted in films and TV shows, known for her conservative political views.

Bad Bunny

A Puerto Rican rapper and singer who performed at the Super Bowl LX halftime show.

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What they’re saying

“Ronda Rousey can fight. That bitch can fight... I think she lost a few fights to her ex, but bitchh can fight.”

— Sean Strickland, UFC Fighter

“I like Gina. She's like super conservative. She was hot, you know. I was like a kid when she fought. I may have jerked off to her once or twice back in the day.”

— Sean Strickland, UFC Fighter

“No one gives a fuck about women's sports. There's nothing wrong with women. They do great things. They cook, they clean.”

— Sean Strickland, UFC Fighter

“I think they all get together around a table and say, 'You know what guys, how do we ruin this sport? How do we gay it up?' 'Why don't we bring in a gay foreigner who doesn't speak fucking English and have him perform [the halftime show]?'”

— Sean Strickland, UFC Fighter

What’s next

Paramount+ has not yet responded to requests for comment on Strickland's remarks. It remains to be seen if the UFC or any other organizations will take disciplinary action against Strickland for his offensive and inappropriate comments.

The takeaway

Strickland's tirade highlights the persistent issues of sexism, homophobia, and lack of respect for diversity in the world of professional sports. His remarks undermine efforts to create a more inclusive and welcoming environment for all athletes, regardless of gender or sexual orientation.