Sean Strickland certainly made the most of his trip to Canada. The reigning middleweight champion travelled to the Great White North for UFC Edmonton, where he cornered Canadian fighter Melissa Croden in her preliminary bout against Chelsea Chandler. He also drew plenty of attention from fans, who mobbed him during the ceremonial weigh-ins.
But those were far from the wildest moments of Strickland’s visit. The outspoken American made a surprise appearance outside the Alberta Legislature, sporting a “Republic of Alberta” hoodie while delivering a speech in support of the province’s independence movement.
Sean Strickland just gave a speech at the Alberta Independence rally https://t.co/nVUBIN3HEI
— Happy Punch (@HappyPunch) October 18, 2026
Strickland also found himself in hot water while livestreaming in downtown Edmonton. After filming people experiencing homelessness and open drug use, he was confronted by an angry woman who objected to being recorded. The encounter turned physical, with the woman slapping Strickland before chasing him down the street.
Naturally, Strickland’s eventful Canadian adventure became a talking point at the UFC Edmonton post-fight press conference, where Dana White had a hilarious response to the champion’s antics.
Dana White Addresses Sean Strickland’s UFC Contract Issues Amid Wild Edmonton Antics
During the presser, a reporter asked White whether there were any issues between Strickland and the UFC following the fighter’s public complaints about his contract in recent weeks. White quickly dismissed the suggestion, saying, “There’s absolutely no issues with his contract. He just signed his contract in May.”
The reporter then followed up on Strickland’s claim that he was scheduled to meet with the UFC later that week, asking whether White had already spoken to him. The UFC CEO confirmed that they had yet to cross paths.
White then took a playful jab at Strickland’s latest adventures, questioning how the middleweight champion had even managed to enter Canada in the first place. He said, “I haven’t seen him. How the hell did you guys even let him in this country? I can’t even believe that. If he can get in here, anybody can apparently; that’s good news.”
Dana White doesn’t know how Sean Strickland was allowed to come to Canada
“How the hell did you guys even let him in this country. If he can get in here, anybody can.” 💀 https://t.co/vpx6gLnd09
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) October 18, 2026
Strickland has never been one to stay away from controversy. Back in June, he was escorted out of the UFC Freedom 250 Fan Fest, held on June 14-15, 2026, at The Ellipse near the White House in Washington, D.C.
The reigning champion reportedly entered the high-security event despite not being on the official guest list or receiving an invitation from the UFC. He stepped into an exhibit ring while holding a drink, triggering a surge of fans and causing a commotion.
Officers from the U.S. Park Police, U.S. Marshals Service and Secret Service eventually intervened to calm the situation and escort him out. His trip to Canada, however, did not end with a similar security intervention at the UFC event.
UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland just arrived at the #UFCFreedom250 fan fest and was immediately escorted out by police. 😳
🎥 @theadennicholas #UFCWhiteHouse https://t.co/NLNo2jmaQI
— MMA Orbit (@mma_orbit) June 14, 2026
For context, Strickland last competed in Canada at UFC 297 in Toronto, where he defended his middleweight title against Dricus Du Plessis in a closely contested fight. With his contract dispute with the company still making headlines, the big question now is when fans will see the outspoken champion back inside the Octagon.
Kshitiz Kumar Singh is a UFC Writer at NY Fights with over three years of experience in sports journalism and content creation. Known for his sharp storytelling and passion for combat sports, he has written in-depth features on stars like Brock Lesnar, Randy Couture, and Ilia Topuria. Before joining NY Fights, Kshitiz worked as a UFC Editor at EssentiallySports while currently serving as a WWE Editor at FirstSportz. His admiration for legends like Georges St-Pierre continues to inspire his detailed and engaging MMA coverage. Whether he’s covering the Octagon or the squared circle, Kshitiz is committed to delivering accurate, high-quality content. Outside the world of sports, he’s a dedicated cinephile, often found practicing monologues from his favorite Al Pacino films, combining his love for cinema with storytelling.
