Sean Strickland Fan Rushes Stage To Shake UFC Champion's Hand

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Current UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland made some waves this week with his comments about gay people, transgender ideology and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

During a media event on Wednesday, a Canadian reporter took issue with social media posts Strickland made in the past about how he would feel if he had a gay son. Strickland wrote that would mean he failed as a man.

The Canadian reporter, a self-described "ally of the community," wanted answers on a tweet that was over two years old.

Strickland is in Toronto for UFC 297, which he headlines this weekend. Dricus Du Plessis is vying to take Strickland's championship belt.

Sean Strickland on stage during the UFC 297 press conference in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Sean Strickland on stage during the UFC 297 press conference in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

But, all the attention right now is on Strickland's commentary more than his fighting ability. A Dan Le Batard producer, for example, went on a rant about the need to silence Strickland for his "revolting" "hate speech."

Whether or not you agree with Strickland is irrelevant. He is free to say what he wants to say. However, the thought and moral police are out for blood.

One group of people who don't seem bothered by Strickland? UFC fans.

During a fan event on Thursday, Strickland entered the auditorium to raucous applause. There was a smattering of boos, too, but the reception was mostly positive.

Strickland emerged in a t-shirt adorned with the Canadian Maple Leaf and a slogan that read, "Make Canada Great Again."

One fan was so excited to meet Sean Strickland that he ran up to the stage. Security quickly closed in on the man, but he reached the UFC champion and engaged him before he was escorted away.

Strickland shook the man's hand and as security carried the fan away, the mixed-martial artist raised his hand in the air and shouted, "Let's go!"

Strickland, realizing that many of the Canadians agree with his comments about the current state of their government, went right back into bashing their dictatorial style.

Strickland isn't making any friends within the Canadian government during his trip up north.

My assumption is that's the point.

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Dan began his sports media career at ESPN, where he survived for nearly a decade. Once the Stockholm Syndrome cleared, he made his way to Outkick. He is secure enough in his masculinity to admit he is a cat-enthusiast with three cats, one of which is named “Brady” because his wife wishes she were married to Tom instead of him.