UFC's Dana White Comes Out Swinging for Free Speech

Ultimate Fighting Championship President Dana White defended free speech, denying accusations that he has allowed fighters "a long leash," or any leash, regarding what they are allowed to say and instead wants them to say whatever they want.

During the build-up to the UFC 297 mixed martial arts event in Toronto, Canada, on Saturday, Sean Strickland, the former middleweight champion, made derogatory comments about gay people to reporters and lashed out at Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who supports LGBT rights.

Following the UFC fight, a Canadian reporter observed to White that he gives his fighters "a long leash" and is veering into the territory of homophobia and transphobia.

In response, White said he doesn't give anybody a leash but believes in free speech.

"To control what people say, and to tell people what to believe? I don't f***ing tell any other human being what to say, what to think, and there's no leashes on any of 'em."

"That's ridiculous to say I give somebody a leash," White added. "Free speech, brother. People can say whatever they want, and they can believe whatever they want."

Elon Musk tweeted: "I agree."

Also probably agreeing would be GOP front-runner and former President Donald Trump, who, attended an Ultimate Fighting Championship event in New York, "fist-bumping and waving to the crowd as he entered Madison Square Garden like he was one of the fighters, with an entourage that included the musician Kid Rock, UFC President White, and former Fox News host Tucker Carlson," the AP reported.

Trump has appeared at major sporting events including Saturday's UFC fight in Las Vegas, with appearance videos gaining hundreds of thousands of views across social media, "particularly on nonpolitical outlets, including popular online sports channels and fan sites," AP reported.

"It's a strategy that, aides say, puts him in front of potential voters who may not closely follow politics or engage with traditional news sources," the AP noted. "And it is part of a broader effort to expand Trump's appeal with young people and minority voters, particularly Latino and Black men, that the campaign hopes to win over in greater numbers after gains in 2020. UFC's fanbase in particular is overwhelmingly male."

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