Sean Strickland escorted from UFC fan festival after crowd surge

WASHINGTON: UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland was escorted away from the UFC Freedom 250 fan festival in Washington after an unexpected appearance drew a surge of fans, despite him not being part of the fight card.

The incident took place at The Ellipse on Sunday evening, roughly two hours before the start of the main card.

According to the United States Park Police, Strickland’s presence quickly drew significant attention and led to disorder among attendees, prompting authorities to intervene for safety reasons.

Multiple agencies, including the US Marshals Service and US Park Police, were involved in managing the situation and removing him from the area in a controlled manner.

Officials said the decision was taken to protect both the fighter and members of the public as crowds gathered around him.

"The unplanned presence of Sean Strickland drew significant attention from attendees, resulting in disorder," the Park Police said.

"Due to concerns for Strickland's safety and the safety of event patrons, personnel from the U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Park Police, and other assisting agencies evacuated him safely from the area."

Fan Jaclyn Cruz, 26, who witnessed the scene, described the moment as surreal after seeing the champion being escorted away.

"After I saw that, I was shaking," Cruz said. "It was like, 'Oh my God, I'm living like a fever dream right now.'"

Strickland later posted on Instagram, thanking supporters for engaging with him during fight week and suggesting he might have been cited for disorderly conduct.

However, authorities later clarified: "Strickland was neither cited nor arrested in connection with the incident," adding that he was advised not to return to the venue for safety reasons. He was transported back to his hotel without further issue.