UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland was removed from an event. His unplanned appearance at the Freedom 250 fan festival triggered chaos. Strickland spent the entire UFC Freedom 250 fight week attending various events despite not being on the fight card. When he walked into the fan festival at The Ellipse on Sunday evening, however, authorities quickly stepped in.
Sean Strickland removed from Freedom 250 event
The U.S. Park Police confirmed to ESPN that they removed Sean Strickland from the area around 7 p.m., after a surge of fans rushed toward him. This happened roughly two hours before the main card began.
“The unplanned presence of Sean Strickland drew significant attention from attendees, resulting in disorder,” the United States Park Police Public Information Office said in a statement. “Due to concerns for Strickland’s safety and the safety of event patrons, personnel from the U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Park Police, and other assisting agencies evacuated him safely from the area,” it added.
Jaclyn Cruz, a 26-year-old fan from Nashville, Tennessee, witnessed the moment firsthand. She spotted Strickland, filmed a quick video, and tried to say hello before he was escorted out. “After I saw that, I was shaking,” Cruz said. “It was like, ‘Oh my God, I’m living like a fever dream right now,'” she added.
Following the incident, Strickland posted an Instagram story thanking his supporters and suggesting he might have been cited for disorderly conduct. The Park Police clarified that it was not the case.
“Strickland was neither cited nor arrested in connection with the incident,” the Park Police wrote. “However, he was advised not to return to the venue for his own and public safety,” they added. Authorities transported Strickland back to his hotel without further incident.
The two-time UFC Middleweight Champion had been vocal in the lead-up to Freedom 250, claiming he was excluded from the White House event due to his political remarks. He had criticized Donald Trump’s ties to Israel and made comments about Jeffrey Epstein (via Mirror USA). UFC CEO Dana White denied that anyone was formally banned, citing limited seating at the temporary venue (via MMA Fighting).
