UFC: Song Yadong offers to show Sean Strickland around China after fighter’s ‘toxic’ slurs
The Chinese bantamweight says the American has probably seen only the ‘bad side’ of his country and the people, wants to change his mind
UFC’s Song Yadong has offered to show MMA rival Sean Strickland around China after the American launched a racist rant against the country and its people.
The 26-year-old opted to take the high road in an interview when asked about Strickland’s recent comments, in which he labelled Chinese people “animals”, “savages” and called them “the worst tourists in the world”.
Speaking with sports journalist Helen Yee – whose mother is Taiwanese and whose father is from mainland China – Song also said Strickland’s comments meant he was no better than “toxic fans”.
“I saw your interview with Sean [and] I heard him say many bad things about China,” Song said. “However, I don’t think he’s ever been to China but he believes Chinese people are a certain way.
“Since he’s talking this way, he’s not different from toxic fans. I believe this is discrimination towards Chinese people. I respect him as a fighter, but what he says is not good.”
Song was born in Heilongjiang in northeast China and made his UFC debut in November 2017. He lives and trains in Sacramento, California and is ranked No 8 in the UFC’s bantamweight division.
