Former UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland set social media ablaze on Wednesday following his comments about the NFL and the Super Bowl halftime show featuring world-renowned artist Bad Bunny.
Strickland (29-7 MMA, 16-7 UFC) headlines UFC Fight Night 267 (Paramount+) against Anthony Hernandez at Toyota Center in Houston. When the fight was announced, Strickland posted a racially insensitive meme depicting himself as an ICE agent, next to the Mexican-American Hernandez (15-2 MMA, 9-2 UFC), wearing a sombrero and a poncho.
During media day on Wednesday, Strickland's bigotry took center stage once again in an unprompted tirade about the NFL and Bad Bunny – and that was only one portion of a session filled with unsavory remarks.
"Look at the NFL, dude. I don't even want to say the f*ggot's name because it's just like, what – somebody give me his name," Strickland said. "Come say his name, I don't want to say it. You know what I'm talking about, the halftime show guy. The Puerto Rican, right? Puerto Rican?"
A reporter offered Bad Bunny's name, which set him off.
"Yeah, that f*cking f*ggot," Strickland said. "It's so crazy that this is America now. Like, back in the day dude, the NFL was the f*cking standard of being a f*cking man, and now every f*cking year, the NFL, I think they all get together around a table and say, 'You know what, guys? How do we f*cking ruin this sport? How do we gay it up? How do we f*cking ruin it? Well, I'll tell you what. Why don't we bring a gay foreigner who doesn't speak f*cking English and have him perform it?'"
A video clip of Strickland's comments went viral, prompting plenty of reaction and reaching far outside the MMA bubble, which is unfortunately used to these unhinged rants from Strickland due to the UFC's lack of accountability.
Below are a few reactions on social media:
Dear @paramountplus, stop this shit. This is unacceptable. pic.twitter.com/ZRjadBkfJI
— devon sawa (@DevonESawa) February 19, 2026
Sean Strickland got hit so hard by a foreigner that he forgot Puerto Ricans are US citizens. Not to mention that this misogynistic cry baby would get tossed like salad if he ever stepped foot on a football field in the NFL. Worry about not getting knocked out in your next fight. https://t.co/zyi5cCxsHcpic.twitter.com/Foqyjsj9Ap
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) February 19, 2026
You know what’s really cool about the NFL now? That it’s full of a lot of thoughtful, socially-conscious and emotionally intelligent men who may come from different backgrounds and may not agree on everything, but wouldn’t stand for this kind of hatred in their locker rooms. https://t.co/ZLjFjzxXhU
— JennaLaineESPN (@JennaLaineESPN) February 19, 2026
He talkin bout the dude from the U.S territory that used to date Kendall Jenner that was on Hot Ones?! He play football too? How he ruining the sport?! Seems to be a funny guy to me. https://t.co/rvS0p3hCTipic.twitter.com/EVbbqFV9dW
— O’Shea Jackson Jr (@OsheaJacksonJr) February 18, 2026
Paramounts media team watching Strickland on the mic: https://t.co/8Eegx3V68Gpic.twitter.com/dgzqML8nDX
— Spinnin Backfist (@SpinninBackfist) February 19, 2026
Knew it was coming he's so basic just like his fans 🤡 https://t.co/rgZxrKrSVkpic.twitter.com/kEuspcwGK2
— Rob Nakamura🤙🏼 (@JspecTheHost) February 18, 2026
Bad Bunny "f*ggot" https://t.co/OZnW4d5csRpic.twitter.com/bVjK1m5ZwE
— Wu Tang is for the Children (@WUTangKids) February 19, 2026
every time he speaks it becomes more and more evident how harmful it is to be punched in the head repeatedly https://t.co/RbSeQ3SQGm
— danisha carter (@danishacarterr) February 19, 2026
Check his phone. Check his hard drive. Check on his wife/girlfriend. Check his closet. Check his testosterone levels. Angry and bitter over brown queer joy. We love to see it! 😂💀💅🏾🌈 https://t.co/zg1eQVq1ST
— Lushious Massacr (@LushiousMassacr) February 19, 2026
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Social media reacts to former UFC champ's bigoted Bad Bunny, NFL rant