Sean Strickland revealed that he was threatened with jail time if he broke his UFC suspension to attend tonight’s event. The former middleweight champion, who lives in Las Vegas, was expected to support his Extreme Couture teammate Mansoor Abdul Malik at UFC 323. However, after being suspended for six months due to an incident while working as a cornerman in June, Strickland was barred from appearing. In a series of now-deleted tweets, he expressed frustration, stating UFC executives warned him about potential jail time and advised him to delete his posts. Strickland also mentioned being told to stay silent for two weeks until a deal was finalized and joked about UFC leadership enjoying winter sports due to their privileged status.

Fan Take: This news highlights the strict enforcement of UFC’s disciplinary measures, underscoring the organization’s commitment to maintaining order but also raising questions about the extent of their control over fighters’ outside actions. For fans, it reflects ongoing tensions between fighters and UFC management, which could influence future athlete relations and the sport’s atmosphere.