UFC fighter Sean Strickland justified his insults towards Ian Machado Garry and his wife Layla, stating that Garry made his wife a significant part of his fight promotions, thus making her a fair target for trash talk.
Sean Strickland isn’t backing off. He’s been hurling insults at Ian Machado Garry and his wife, Layla. Some topics, he says, are off-limits in trash talk. But he’s not applying that rule here.
Why? He spoke out at UFC 297‘s media day. Strickland defended his words, saying Garry made his wife a significant part of his fight promotions. He even mentioned photos of Garry wearing a t-shirt with Geoff Neal‘s mugshot, with Layla by his side.
Strickland’s take? She’s fair game. “You put your wife front and center,” he said. He accused Garry of making her design a shirt and hold their baby while wearing it, all while laughing.
Strickland doesn’t hold back. He admits some backlash might come his way. But his attitude? “It is what it is.”
In a heartfelt interview with comedian Theo Von, Strickland opened up. He talked about his traumatic childhood and a heated altercation with Dricus du Plessis before UFC 297. He said, “you don’t really talk about a man’s wife, kids, or a kid being abused.”
But then, he blasted Garry and Layla on social media and in interviews. He even called her a “sexual predator” due to their age difference (Ian is 26, Layla is 40).
Garry didn’t stay silent. He fired back at Strickland on social media. He even expressed his desire to fight Strickland, saying, “any person who ever talks or mentions me, my wife and my family in that way, I’m gonna get my hands on them.”
Strickland’s response? He’s not worried about a fight with Garry. But he’s not against the idea, especially if Garry gets too close to him in public.
Strickland also criticized Garry for getting upset over insults at his wife. This, after Garry sold a t-shirt featuring Neal’s mugshot. Strickland reached out to Neal afterward to show support, after Garry used his arrest as ammunition.
Strickland doesn’t regret his words. He doesn’t care what’s being said about him. He denies the claim that he can dish it out but can’t take it. He’s been taking low blows when addressing Garry, UFC bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley, and others.
“If one day I wake up and everybody hates me, do you think I give a f***?” Strickland said. He doesn’t care if people hate him. He warns, though, “You better just do it far enough away, because I’ll hit you.”
Strickland is not going to delete his Twitter. He’s not backing down. “You want to go call me whatever you want, have at it. Enjoy. Just do it online.”