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The Independent
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Independent
UFC star Sean Strickland storms cage to attack teammate's opponent
Sean Strickland stormed the cage at an MMA event on Sunday, striking a fighter who beat the UFC star's teammate. At a Tuff-N-Uff fight card in Las Vegas, Strickland's teammate Miles Hunsinger suffered a second-round submission loss to Luis Hernandez, who won via standing guillotine choke. Hernandez immediately celebrated by looking through the cage fence at Strickland and Chris Curtis – another UFC fighter and teammate of Strickland – and sticking out his tongue while gesturing to his crotch. That led Strickland and Curtis to rush into the cage to confront Hernandez, with Strickland punching the 28-year-old twice. Curtis in fact separated the pair, seemingly trying to prevent Strickland from striking Hernandez again. Yet when Hernandez appeared to goad Curtis at point-blank range, the latter seemed to offer some stern words before being dragged away by the referee. All the while, the cage filled up with other officials and people trying to defuse the situation. Later, the unbeaten Hernandez told journalist Ariel Helwani: 'We were in the fight, and they were talking in the fight. And listen, there's only so much we can take. 'This is entertainment, right, [but] he said some things, and then I said some things back, and I guess he didn't like what I said back. 'He was talking s***, saying I was tired, he was making fun of me, I think he called me fat. I don't take that lightly. 'Me? I said, 'F*** you, Sean Strickland.' Yeah, he punched me, he did [connect], but I'm still standing – still smiling.' Strickland is one of the most divisive fighters in the UFC. The American, 34, pulled off an all-time MMA upset in 2023, when he outpointed Israel Adesanya to win the UFC middleweight title, though he lost it to Dricus Du Plessis in his first defence. But he is equally known for his views on various political and social matters, having once claimed he wanted to kill an opponent in the cage. Strickland has also criticised women's MMA, and insulted Australia before fighting there in February. Strickland, who previously fought in Australia when he won the middleweight title, said: 'It's a really beautiful country. I would consider Australians as English white trash. Some Irish, too; you know they sent the lot here. As an American white trash, I feel like I have a lot in common with you f***ers.' Referencing Australia's introduction of gun laws, after the Port Arthur massacre in 1996, Strickland added: 'You had one mass shooting and gave up all your guns, that was kind of pathetic. 'It's the lack of freedom, dude. How insane is it that we're in a modern country and hate speech is a thing? [...] We're in a modern country with running water, and you guys know: it's real bad […] real f***ing bad, dude.' Strickland's views were even featured on the front page of the Australian Daily Telegraph 'ssports section. The paper branded him the 'UFC's biggest imbecile' and called for 'someone [to] please knock this guy out'. In a strange move, the UFC shared the front page on its social-media accounts.
USA Today
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
UFC's Brad Tavares still sees importance of 'The Ultimate Fighter' to modern MMA
UFC's Brad Tavares still sees importance of 'The Ultimate Fighter' to modern MMA Brad Tavares explains why there's still a place for TUF despite Contender Series' massive success. "The Ultimate Fighter" likely saved the UFC from bankruptcy and maybe even the entire sport of mixed martial arts. The success of the UFC's reality series, which launched in 2004 under Spike TV, has been evident through the years. From creating a generation of MMA fans to multiple UFC champions, TUF has been an important part of UFC history, especially in its early days when it was still fighting for public approval. Fast-forward 20 years and 32 seasons later, and "TUF" doesn't the same cache it did back in the day. With the success of Dana White's Contender Series in recent years, which has appeared to overshadow "TUF," many have questioned if the show has run its course. Brad Tavares, a cast-member of Season 11 of "TUF," thinks there's a place for both series and believes "TUF" can still serve an important purpose. "I think there's a lane for both of them," Tavares told MMA Junkie. "What I see in the Contender Series, granted they do make it younger up-and-coming fighters, but I do notice about those guys fighting that they have some experience. They might not have a bunch of fights, but they have that experience, and they might've had a couple of big fights in LFA or Tuff N Uff or whatever feeder shows they have. When I think of 'TUF,' I think of myself. I had four fights. I was 22 years old. I was a baby. I spent my life, a big portion of my life, in the UFC. My fighting career, I grew up in the UFC. I feel like that's better for those younger guys, like it's kind of stages. I'd say for the younger green guys, where you can see the talent there, but they still have to evolve and form into a more complete fighter, I think 'TUF' is great for them. With the guys that are already kind of past that, I think Contender Series." "The Ultimate Fighter 33" premiered Tuesday, celebrating 20 years of the show's history. Tavares, who is now on the tail end of his UFC career, is thankful for the show's existence. He strongly believes his appearance has significantly influenced his career for the better. "I've been in the UFC for 15 years now, and I literally wouldn't be here without 'TUF,'" Tavares said. "That was my foot in the door. I feel like I would've eventually gotten to the UFC. It was always a goal I was chasing. But to get in at such an early age, and to have that platform to show the nation who I was, just this kid from a little island in the Pacific Ocean, not a lot of people knew who I was. ... It paved the way for me and for so many fighters."
