Sean Strickland is one of the most controversial fighters in the UFC. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram/UFC Brazil
Sean Strickland has sparked new controversy outside the Octagon. The former UFC middleweight champion (up to 83,9 kg) tried a plate of fried chicken from Popeyes. The seemingly relaxed comment was interpreted as a reference to racist stereotypes that associate African-Americans with eating the food – a historical connection loaded with prejudice in the United States.
“Time to experience what a black man experiences. Okay, this chicken is pretty good. Maybe I’ll become a chicken believer,” the fighter said.
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The connection between fried chicken and black Americans dates back to the post-Civil War period. After the abolition of slavery, freed black women, many of them former enslaved cooks (stereotyped as “Mammys”), supported themselves by selling fried chicken to train passengers in the South. Their economic success, however, was distorted by racist caricatures depicting them as “brutish” or “untamed,” which were widespread in newspapers and on household objects throughout the 20th century.
Despite its negative connotation, the food has also become a symbol of cultural resistance. Part of soul food – a cuisine that celebrates African-American heritage – fried chicken is a source of pride for communities that have reinterpreted their history as a form of struggle.
Sean Strickland try out Popeyes fried chicken
“Time to experience what a black man experiences…
…Alright, that's some damn good chicken. I might be a chicken believer.”
@SStricklandMMA #UFC #MMA pic.twitter.com/Z5aPDf56cm
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) March 26, 2025
Negative repercussion for Sean Strickland on social media
The repercussion was immediate. On social media, users criticized the comment. The profile @zayy707 wrote: “Stereotypical and racist bum”, while @OGICEY ironized: “He is following the path of Brendan Schaub and becoming a terrible comedian because his career is only going downhill from here on out.” User @luv4jazlyn asked: “Isn’t this racist?”
Strickland is no stranger to making controversial statements. In previous interviews, the Californian has admitted to being influenced by neo-Nazi ideas as a teenager.
“My grandfather preached racial supremacy. I drew swastikas and had violent thoughts,” he revealed in 2022, adding that he rejected these views after he turned 20.
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