Sean Strickland has built a reputation as one of the most unpredictable figures in mixed martial arts, and over the weekend he added another chapter to that story, this time involving U.S. Marshals, Secret Service agents, and a possible disorderly conduct charge at UFC Fan Fest in Washington, D.C.
The UFC middleweight champion, who was not scheduled to compete at UFC Freedom 250 on the White House South Lawn, found himself at the center of controversy after allegedly sneaking into the UFC Fan Fest being held at the Ellipse near the White House.
On Sunday evening, Strickland posted a photo to Instagram showing himself being escorted from the venue by U.S. Marshals and officers with the U.S. Park Police. Never one to sound particularly concerned about consequences, Strickland paired the image with a caption that immediately grabbed attention.
“I may have been charged with disorderly conduct. I don’t know what that is but it sounds cool,” he wrote.
The post quickly spread across social media, with fans reacting to the latest headline involving one of the UFC’s most outspoken champions.
Video from the event reportedly showed members of the U.S. Secret Service approaching Strickland before he was removed from the premises. According to reports, Strickland managed to gain access to the fan event despite not being authorized to attend. He even made his way into a WWE ring set up for entertainment purposes before security intervened.
According to MMA Fighting, Strickland was not arrested during the incident. However, he could potentially face a disorderly conduct charge. In Washington, D.C., disorderly conduct is classified as a Class B misdemeanor and can carry penalties of up to 90 days in jail, a fine of up to $500, or both.
The incident comes after weeks of public disagreement regarding Strickland’s status at UFC Freedom 250. Earlier this month, the champion claimed he had been banned from the historic event due to his criticism of President Trump and comments regarding the conflict involving Iran.
Those claims were quickly challenged by UFC President Dana White, who publicly denied that Strickland had been banned. White explained that seating for the event was extremely limited and that many individuals, including fighters and UFC personalities, could not be accommodated.
According to White, Strickland’s absence had nothing to do with politics and everything to do with capacity restrictions.
That explanation did little to stop speculation among fans, many of whom continued debating whether Strickland was being excluded for reasons beyond simple logistics. Strickland, meanwhile, appeared determined to attend the festivities regardless of whether his name appeared on the guest list.
If that was his plan, he certainly succeeded in getting attention.
Instead of watching the event quietly from the sidelines, Strickland once again became a headline himself. For a fighter known as much for his antics outside the cage as his performances inside it, Sunday’s episode felt entirely on brand.
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