Sean Strickland speaks out on Cain Velasquez’s prison release, hits out at US justice

Strickland rarely goes a fight week without speaking his mind, and this week’s build-up to UFC Houston has been no different.

In the days leading up to his main event bout against Anthony Hernandez, the 34-year-old American has already sounded off on fighter pay in the UFC, criticised Bad Bunny and the NFL over their halftime show decisions, and dismissed Ronda Rousey’s MMA return against Gina Carano.

This time, his focus turned to those responsible for Velasquez’s prison sentence.

Speaking with Complex ahead of his main event clash with Hernandez, Strickland called Velasquez’s incarceration a “stain” on the country.

“Yeah dude, hell yeah,” Strickland said when asked about Velasquez being back home. “The fact that he went to jail…that’s the problem.”

“Back in the (day), man…it would make you a hero. Now it makes you go to jail for what? I think he did over a year.

“It’s a stain on this country.”

Heavyweight division struggles for momentum after Cain Velasquez’s release

Velasquez did not miss much during his time away, especially in the heavyweight scene he once dominated.

The division has lost much of its shine compared to the era when Velasquez and other big names were at the top.

Since his sentence, there has been only one title fight, and it hardly went smoothly.

Tom Aspinall suffered eye injuries from Ciryl Gane’s pokes during his first title defence, requiring double eye surgery.