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Sean Strickland Goes Off On Ian Garry Ahead of UFC 297, Accuses ‘The Future’ of ‘Hiding Who He Is’

It’s safe to say the rivalry between Sean Strickland and Ian Garry isn’t going away anytime soon. On Saturday…

It’s safe to say the rivalry between Sean Strickland and Ian Garry isn’t going away anytime soon.

On Saturday night (January 20), Strickland is scheduled to defend his middleweight world title for the very first time as he meets South African knockout artist Dricus Du Plessis in the UFC 297 headliner. Hours ahead of their highly anticipated clash, Strickland was speaking with members of the media when Ian Garry’s name unsurprisingly came up.

Strickland and Garry have been jawing at one another since late last year when the 185-pound king targeted the welterweight contender’s unconventional relationship with his wife and TV personality Layla Anna-Lee. Strickland’s biggest issue was the fact that Anna-Lee, who is 14 years older than Garry, wrote a guidebook for older women looking to date young athletes and celebrities. Garry and his wife later came out explaining that the 11-page publication, entitled How to Be a WAG, was meant to be satirical, but that didn’t stop Strickland from levying accusations and dubbing Anna-Lee a “succubus” and a “predator.”

Since then, Garry has made it clear that he plans to move up to middleweight and settle things with Strickland inside the Octagon.

Asked about Garry’s intentions during Wednesday’s press conference, Strickland delivered another profanity-laced rant that targeted ‘The Future’ and his marriage.

“The cuck? Does he really want to fight me,” Strickland asked before getting clarification from a member of the media. Ian Garry is such a f*cking c*nt. When you guys interview him, do you ever ask him, ‘Hey, what are you going to do when she’s 60 and you’re 40? Are you allowed to f*ck other women?’ God, I hate the f*cking guy so f*cking much.

“If Ian Garry was right in front of me, I’d f*cking fight him. Ian Garry is a piece of sh*t. I think we can all agree that Ian Garry is a piece of sh*t.”

Sean Strickland reacts to "f*cking c*nt" Ian Machado Garry saying he wants to fight him.

"He hides who he is." pic.twitter.com/OTLTPAuKvj

— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) January 17, 2024

Ian Garry was expected to make his return to the Octagon last month at UFC 296 against Vicente Luque, but the Irishman was forced to withdraw after coming down with a case of pneumonia days ahead of fight night. He has since been booked for a clash with Geoff Neal at UFC 298 on February 17.

Fighters and fans immediately accused Garry of weaseling his way off the card to avoid the barrage of insults waiting at the event’s pre-fight festivities.

“Ian Garry is a f*cking weak man and that’s what I try to tell people,” Strickland continued. “You meet these c*nts all day long and they smile and they shake your hand, but really their core is f*cking rotten. You look at me, I’m an a**hole. I say hard sh*t. I’m just saying what you’re thinking. Ian Garry is a c*nt and he hides who he is.”

Sean Strickland rips Canadian MMA reporter in vicious tirade ahead of UFC 297 title fight: ‘You are the enemy’

Ahead of his incoming title fight at UFC 297 this weekend in Canada, undisputed middleweight champion, Sean Strickland hit…

Ahead of his incoming title fight at UFC 297 this weekend in Canada, undisputed middleweight champion, Sean Strickland hit out at mixed martial arts reporter, Alexander K. Lee of MMA Fighting – in a foul-mouthed tirade in response to questions of his opinion on the LGBTQ+ community.

Strickland, the current undisputed middleweight champion, is slated to make his return to the Octagon at UFC 297 this weekend in Canada, taking on promotional-perfect contender, Dricus du Plessis in the first attempted defense of his divisional crown.

Sean Strickland unleashes on Canadian reporter ahead of UFC 297

And appearing at today’s media obligations ahead of UFC 297, Strickland was questioned about prior inflammatory comments on the gay and transgender communities, leading to a verbal attack on the aforenoted, Lee.

“The world is not buying the bullsh*t you’re f*cking pedalling,” Sean Strickland shouted at Alexander K. Lee and the assembled media. “The world is not saying, ‘You know what? You’re right. Chicks have d*cks.’ The world is not saying that. The world is saying, ‘No, there are two genders. I don’t want my kids being taught about who they can f*ck in school. I don’t want my kids being taught about their sexual preference.”

"You ask me some stupid sh*t like that? Go f*ck yourself."

Sean Strickland went off on a reporter who pressed him on past comments about the LGBTQ community at #UFC297 media day. pic.twitter.com/wyTEcUZLbv

— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) January 17, 2024

“This guy is the f*cking enemy,” Sean Strickland continued. “You want to look at the f*cking enemy to our world, it’s that motherf*cker right there.”

Winning undisputed middleweight gold at UFC 293 back in September, Strickland turned in a shocking upset victory over former two-time champion, Israel Adesanya, landing a shutout unanimous decision win over the City Kickboxing staple.

Meeting du Plessis this weekend in ‘The Great White North’, Strickland engaged in a rather surprising embrace with the South African on Monday of this week, with the two wishing each other the best of luck, and sharing some insight to a series of direct messages shared between the two – amid a high-profile rivalry.

Who wins at UFC 297 this weekend: Sean Strickland or Dricus du Plessis?

Video – Sean Strickland shares surprising embrace with Dricus du Plessis ahead of UFC 297 title fight: ‘Best of luck’

Revealing plans earlier this week to “stab” incoming title challenger, Dricus du Plessis if the South African elected to…

Revealing plans earlier this week to “stab” incoming title challenger, Dricus du Plessis if the South African elected to target his childhood trauma ahead of their UFC 297 championship clash, middleweight titleholder, Sean Strickland shared a cordial – and surprising embrace with the Pretoria native during an encounter in Canada.

Strickland, the current undisputed middleweight champion, is slated to headline UFC 297 this weekend in Canada, taking on surging promotional-perfect challenger, du Plessis in a title clash atop the promotion’s return to ‘The Great White North’.

Winning gold at UFC 293 back in September of last year in Australia, outspoken champion, Sean Strickland landed a stunning upset win over Israel Adesanya, defeating the former two-time gold holder with a unanimous judging win.

As for du Plessis, the surging challenger has been sidelined since he landed a stunning second round TKO win over former titleholder, Robert Whittaker at UFC 290 back in July during International Fight Week.

However, last month, Sean Strickland and Dricus du Plessis were engaging in a tense brawl on fighter row ahead during UFC 296, with the former claiming he bit du Plessis during the fracas, before UFC officials and security corralled the duo.

Claiming he would “stab” du Plessis if the former goaded him for his childhood trauma and issues with his late father this week, Sean Strickland claimed also that he would likely go to jail openly if he got involved physically with the South African during Thursday’s press conference or Friday’s weigh-ins.

Sean Strickland hugs it out with Dricus du Plessis ahead of UFC 297

However, in a surprise cordial encounter today in Canada, Strickland ran into du Plessis and his girlfriend – with the hugging during an embrace, and shaking hands – before both of them wished each other well and best of luck ahead of Saturday’s title fight.

Julianna Peña issues warning to foes ahead of vacant title fight at UFC 297: ‘Don’t worry, mama’s coming home soon’

Former undisputed bantamweight champion, Julianna Peña has issued a warning to both Raquel Pennington and Mayra Bueno Silva –…

Former undisputed bantamweight champion, Julianna Peña has issued a warning to both Raquel Pennington and Mayra Bueno Silva – ahead of the pair’s vacant title outing at UFC 297 this weekend, as well as bizarrely, surging flyweight contender, Maycee Barber.

Peña, the current number one ranked bantamweight contender, has been sidelined from the Octagon since she suffered her title loss in a rematch against former two-division champion, Amanda Nunes at UFC 277 back in July 2022.

Slated to make her comeback in a June title trilogy rubber match against the Brazilian queen last year, Washington native, Peña was forced from the bout due to an injury setback, and was replaced by Mexican challenger, Irene Aldana.

Yet to make her return to active competition in the time since Nunes’ retirement and vacating of the title back in June, Peña missed out on a vacant championship fight in Canada this weekend at UFC 297 – with Pennington taking on the surging, Bueno Silva over the course of five rounds for vacant spoils.

Julianna Peña plots incoming Octagon return

Maintaining she will challenge for spoils in her immediate return, Peña, the first female Ultimate Fighter winner, has sent a warning to the pair – as well as flyweight contender, Barber ahead of the UFC 297 card.

“Don’t worry, mama’s coming home soon,” Julianna Peña posted on her official Instagram account. “#Baddestf*ckingmother #BFMchamp #thepeñapower #ufc.”

Over the course of her tenure with the Dana White-led UFC, Peña has turned in notable victories over the likes of former championship challengers, Jessica Eye, Cat Zingano, and Sara McMann, as well as former undisputed gold holders, Nicco Montaño – and the aforenoted, Nunes in arguably the greatest upset in the antiquity of the Octagon.

Would you like to see Julianna Peña fight for the title after UFC 297?

Israel Adesanya picks Dricus du Plessis to beat Sean Strickland at UFC 297: ‘Does it go the distance? No’

Former two-time undisputed middleweight champion, Israel Adesanya will surely have a keen eye on proceedings at UFC 297 this…

Former two-time undisputed middleweight champion, Israel Adesanya will surely have a keen eye on proceedings at UFC 297 this weekend, and has made a bold prediction that arch-rival, Dricus du Plessis will not just beat – but finish soon-to-be common-opponent, Sean Strickland in Canada.

Adesanya, a former two-time undisputed middleweight titleholder, has been sidelined since he headlined UFC 293 back in September in Australia, dropping his championship belt in a unanimous decision loss to Strickland – with the bout coming as one of the biggest upsets in recent Octagon memory.

As for South African challenger, du Plessis, the Pretoria native has been sidelined since he earned his championship tilt off the back of a stunning second round TKO win over former champion, Robert Whittaker at UFC 290 back in July during International Fight Week.

Israel Adesanya picks Dricus du Plessis to win title at UFC 297

And weighing up the option of fighting Adesanya in his immediate future ahead of UFC 297, promotional-perfect contender, du Plessis has been picked to emerge with the middleweight title in tow by Adesanya.

“I’m gonna go with Dricus [du Plessis] (to beat Sean Strickland at UFC 297), “Israel Adesanya said on his YouTube channel. “Does it go the distance? I’m gonna say no. Not that I don’t respect Sean (Strickland) or his skills, the guy beat me, so, of course I respect his skills.”

Himself sidelined through an undisclosed injury in the time since his championship fight loss to Strickland, Adesanya claimed he would not be able to return to training full time until potentially the end of February – amid continued links to a return to the Octagon at UFC 300 in April.

Do you agree with Israel Adesanya’s prediction for the UFC 297 main event?

Khamzat Chimaev backed as ‘Number one option’ to fight for title after UFC 297: ‘He’s got a ton of hype’

Unbeaten middleweight contender, Khamzat Chimaev has been mooted as the next likeliest to fight for undisputed gold after UFC…

Unbeaten middleweight contender, Khamzat Chimaev has been mooted as the next likeliest to fight for undisputed gold after UFC 297 this weekend according to Hall of Fame star, Michael Bisping – who points to the Chechen’s recent uptake in “hype”.

Chimaev, the current number nine ranked middleweight contender, has been sidelined since he co-headlined UFC 294 back in October of last year in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

Landing his thirteenth consecutive professional victory, the AllStars MMA staple scored a close, majority decision win over former undisputed welterweight champion, Kamaru Usman in the pair’s short-notice – billed title-eliminator.

And sidelined through injury after a surgical procedure on his hand to address a ligament issue, Chimaev has claimed he’s been “guaranteed” a shot at either Sean Strickland or Dricus du Plessis after UFC 297.

Khamzat Chimaev receives backing to fight for gold after UFC 297

According to Manchester native, Bisping, Chimaev is most likely next to fight for middleweight gold, despite distinct reservations from Strickland, and most notably, du Plessis.

“I feel like I talked about this recently: Dricus du Plessis, if he does become the champion, there’s a lot of options for him right, but number one option is probably Khamzat Chimaev,” Michael Bisping said on his YouTube channel. “Yes, Israel Adesanya, there is beef there. They’ve squared off in the Octagon, they’ve went back and forth, they’re both claiming to be the real Adrican and all this type of stuff.”

“…Chimaev is ranked number nine, okay? And that’s probably another reason why Dricus says that he doesn’t deserve it,” Bisping explained. “Okay, fair enough, He’s ranked number nine, but he’s got a ton of hype. He just beat Kamaru Usman, who yes, was a welterweight, but he was the pound-for-pound number one. He was a longtime welterweight champion for many defenses and on top of that Dana said, whoever wins, Kamaru or Khamzat, they get to fight for the belt, so there it is there.”

Do you want Khamzat Chimaev to fight for gold in his return to the Octagon?