His tirade shines a highlight on free speech within the UFC as soon as once more following a variety of antisemitic, homophobic and transphobic feedback made by American featherweight Bryce Mitchell last week.
Mitchell mentioned Adolf Hitler was a “good man” and that “the Holocaust ain’t actual”, prompting UFC president Dana White to sentence the feedback as “past disgusting”.
White mentioned the UFC wouldn’t punish Mitchell, nevertheless, including that whereas what he mentioned “was one of many dumbest issues I’ve ever heard”, his feedback could be protected by free speech.
In an interview with Piers Morgan, White defined why Mitchell wouldn’t be reprimanded by the UFC.
“I feel in all probability crucial free speech to guard is hate speech,” White mentioned.
“As a result of when a authorities or a sure individual can come out and decide saying ‘that is hate speech’, it is a very slippery slope and it is harmful, for my part.”
Hate speech is punishable beneath Australian legislation and this week lawmakers passed a series of amendments to hate crime legal guidelines in Australia, together with making hate symbols and terror offences punishable with obligatory jail phrases starting from one to 6 years.
Strickland’s bout with Du Plessis is a rematch of their battle final January, which the South African won via split decision.
Strickland additionally made homophobic and transphobic feedback within the build-up to that battle, with White including the American was exercising his “free speech” on the post-fight information convention.
