Sean Strickland has never been one to hold back his thoughts. He has a knack for creating controversy, and his continuous bashing of China and its people has caught the eye of a Chinese national. Despite ‘Tarzan’s’ hostile nature, the UFC bantamweight Song Yadong has extended an olive branch rather than firing back with hostility.
Strickland’s controversial remarks about Chinese people during his summer trip to Japan caught the attention of many in the MMA community. It wasn’t his first time making such comments, but this time, they struck a particular nerve. In a recent interview with Helen Yee, Song Yadong, #8 UFC bantamweight, took a surprisingly diplomatic approach to the situation.
“Last time, I saw your interview with Sean and I heard him say a lot of negativity about Chinese people. However, I don’t think he’s been to China before, yet believes Chinese people are a certain way…Yes! If he’s willing to, I can show him around China because there’s good and bad in every country. He’s probably only seen the bad side then talks about it online.”
Song addressed Sean Strickland’s comments with patience rather than responding with anger. He pointed out the simple fact that the UFC middleweight had never actually visited China, making his judgments just because it made him seem cool and the media was all about it.
While Strickland has built quite a reputation for his unfiltered commentary on various topics, he seems unlikely to accept the invitation. But Song Yadong’s response highlights a broader truth about cultural understanding and acceptance.
Song Yadong Had Previously Called Out Sean Strickland For His Racist Remarks
The previous verbal sparring match between Yadong and ‘Tarzan‘ took place back in January of this year. The topic was the same: the former middleweight champion’s controversial comments about China.
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The tension began brewing months ago when Sean Strickland, never one to filter his thoughts, made waves with his social media posts about China. He has posted about “plastic and Covid” being China’s main exports. Song Yadong, however, chose to handle the situation with the kind of grace you’d expect from someone who fights professionally.
“Hey champ, I respect your skills as a fighter, but we should be talking facts, not baseless stereotypes. As athletes, we ought to focus on what we know best and avoid making unfounded comments. Let’s set a good example, alright?”
The bantamweight fighter’s message carries extra weight because he is offering constructive criticism rather than just criticism. Song Yadong’s mature handling of the situation highlights an important truth in combat sports: sometimes, the biggest victories come from knowing when not to escalate a fight.
Also Read: Sean Strickland Warns Alex Pereira Of Moving Back To Middleweight
