Sean Strickland has unleashed on Matt Mitrione after the heavyweight spoke up in defense of the relationship between Pat Barry and UFC strawweight Rose Namajunas.
Sean Strickland has quickly become one of the most outspoken members of the MMA community. He has been unafraid to tackle any subject, regardless of how taboo the take or subject matter.
This includes the personal relationships of his peers, namely the coach/fighter romantic relationships between Jim West and UFC women’s bantamweight Aspen Ladd and that of Namajunas and Barry.
Strickland has publicly condemned both relationships by classifying them as cases of sexual predators grooming underage girls. Ladd is rumored to have met West when she was 12, and Namajunas reportedly met Barry for the first time when she was 14. More recently, most of Strickland’s attention has been placed on the relationship between Namajunas and Barry.
That attention would increase this week after Barry touched on Strickland’s comments earlier this week in an appearance on The MMA Hour.
While Barry did not offer Strickland’s remarks much of a response, he did state that Strickland has always been friendly with him and Namajunas and also that those closest to them, including family members, understand the true story and all the pertaining facts behind their relationship.
After media outlets began to run Barry’s comments, Strickland would again take aim and fire.
“Here’s the thing guys 99 percent of what I say is usually wrong.. This is not that time.. @rosenamajunas@TheAspenLadd like my post if you need help. I’ll treat Pat Berry and Jim West like they treat minor.. Without consent, although it won’t be behind closed doors lmao!”
Strickland Blasts Matt Mitrione For Defending Barry
Last week, days out from Namajunas’ UFC 274 bout against Carla Esparza, heavyweight MMA veteran Matt Mitrione addressed Strickland’s remarks on a podcast.
Mitrione has been a professional mixed martial artist since 2009. He spent seven years in the UFC, defeating names like Shawn Jordan, Gabriel Gonzaga, and even KO king Derrick Lewis. Mitrione joined Bellator MMA in 2016 and has gone winless in his last five fights.
In the clip below, Mitrione takes a strong tone in personally addressing Strickland, accusing the middleweight of not knowing what he’s talking about.
“I was there. I was at Duke Roufus’ gym when Rose was 17 years old. I was there on her 18th birthday. I was there for the conversation that Rose had with me (and) was like, ‘Hey, how do you think Pat feels about this situation? I’m turning 18 tomorrow and I want to ask him to date. I love who he is, I love his energy, I love how excited he is, I think he’s a great human being.’
“And Rose knew from the jump, from the jump that Pat was gonna be somebody who was in her life forever and ever. So for you to run your mouth, talking about whatever kind of bullshit you’re talking about, calling my good buddy Pat a predator when you don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about, that really kinda bothers me a little bit.”
Days after the podcast episode, it was revealed that Strickland was quite bothered as well. Strickland fired back at Mitrione for what he considered to be defending a predator while also being ignorant of the definition of “grooming.”
“So Matt Mitrione, I heard you had some shit to say about me and how what I said doesn’t sit well with you. Well, let me tell you, Matt: I don’t give a fuck what sits well with you. You’re a fucking can. When’s the last time you won a fucking fight? Aren’t you like 0-8 right now? You’re a fucking loser. Me and you aren’t even in the same fucking category.
“But I’m gonna address what you said about Pat Barry waiting till she was 18. Do you understand what fucking ‘grooming’ means? And mind you, I don’t give a fuck about Rose, I don’t give a fuck about you, I don’t give a fuck about Pat. I’m just stating the facts — that fucking Rose was groomed by Pat Barry. And you defending him, you fucking loser, why don’t we go and fucking check what’s on your fucking laptop, you fucking can?”
For good measure, Strickland would be sure to let Jim West know that he has not forgotten about him, either.
“And Jim West, you’re the same fuckin’ weirdo. And I don’t understand why nobody fuckin’ talks about you, but we all fuckin’ know what you’re doing, too.”
What are your thoughts on Matt Mitrione’s remarks and Sean Strickland’s response?
Continue Reading Strickland Unleashes After Mitrione Defends Barry/Namajunas Relationship at MMA News.