Latest news with #CharlesRadtke
Globe and Mail
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Globe and Mail
U.S.-Canadian political tensions play out at UFC's Malott-Radtke fight in Montreal
The air smelled of belligerence, beer and body odour when Ontario-born Mike Malott knocked down the American Charles Radtke with a sharp left hook in front of 20,000 roaring UFC fans at Montreal's Centre Bell arena Saturday night. The fight was early in the UFC 315 pay-per-view event card, but it was one of the most anticipated: an American versus a Canadian on home soil, in the wake of mounting political tensions between the two countries. This wasn't the first time U.S.-Canadian politics played out in the sports world since President Donald Trump's talks of a 51st state. In February, the 4 Nations Face-Off hockey championship game between Canada and the U.S. saw three fist fights within the first nine seconds – and the U.S. national anthem was booed. So the stakes were high for the first UFC event in Canada since Mr. Trump's re-election. And the Quebec setting felt even more significant: The province voted largely Liberal in the federal election, a sign that voters may be more concerned about facing down Mr. Trump than about independence interests. At the prefight news conference, Mr. Radtke made it known he would make Canada 'pay' for booing The Star-Spangled Banner. But by the second round, the American was grounded and being pummelled by Mr. Malott to the riotous approval of the crowd. Minutes after his win, with a Canadian flag wrapped around him, Mr. Malott addressed the arena, 'When it comes to defending this country, know one thing Canada: I stand on guard for thee.' Just outside the caged Octagon, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre – joined by his wife and a host of security guards – was waiting to congratulate the fighter. In his postfight news conference, Mr. Malott told reporters he 'didn't mean to take a firm political stand' by greeting Mr. Poilievre, but 'I appreciate people who are trying to make our country a better place.' Political undertones aren't a new thing in the UFC, one of the biggest mixed martial arts organizations in the world, worth about US$11-billion. In the 2000s, Mr. Trump gave the UFC an early push by allowing fights at the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City when other venues shut out the sport, which at the time was called 'human cockfighting' by Senator John McCain. These days, the President is regularly seen cageside, often next to UFC CEO Dana White, and treated as a prized fighter by the crowd. Mr. White, in turn, has publicly endorsed Mr. Trump, and spoken at the 2016, 2020 and 2024 National Republican Conventions. Similarly, podcaster Joe Rogan, a regular UFC Fight Night broadcaster, endorsed Mr. Trump just one day before the 2024 U.S. election. While Mr. Rogan didn't turn up in Montreal Saturday night – saying on his podcast that he'd 'rather go to Russia' than come to Canada – thousands of Canadian fans were there to celebrate the UFC's first return to the city in a decade. And with six Canadian fighters on a 12-fight card, there was an abundance of patriotic energy to go around. Not all attendees are bothered by Mr. Trump's close ties with the UFC, even if they were here to see the Canadian fighters dominate the night. For these die-hard MMA fans, the love of the fight transcends politics. 'It sucks that it's getting more political,' said Emille Cooren, who wore a Canadian flag as a cape as he headed towards the arena. But for him and friends Felix Burt and Henry Large, the fighting is just too good to let politics get in the way. 'Look at the NHL, they have Trump supporters there too,' said Mr. Burt, adding that the UFC gets disproportionate scrutiny. Do he and his friends take the idea of the 51st state seriously? Not at all. To them, it's no different than the trash talk between fighters. 'It's just characters,' said Mr. Burt, comparing politicians and UFC fighters. Trash talk is a tenet of fighting sports in general, and the UFC is home to some huge characters. Irish fighter turned political candidate Conor McGregor – who in 2024 was found liable for sexual assault and this year was accused of sexual battery – catapulted the organization into the mainstream with his brazen aggression. Other fighters have found cheekier ways to make a name for themselves. In March, Brazilian fighter Jean Silva brought out a globe at a news conference ahead of his fight against American opponent Bryce Mitchell, a known flat-earther. In the stands at Bell Centre, loud, bold personalities loomed large: Guttural screams, men flexing their biceps for selfies, and both men and women wolf-whistling the Octagon Girls who signalled the start of each round. When a fight lulled, calls for more brutality echoed across the arena. UFC pay-per-view events, which typically occur monthly with a championship belt on the line, can last eight hours as the Octagon canvas get bloodier with each round. The main fight of the night saw Palestinian Belal Muhammad lose his welterweight belt to Australian Jack Della Maddalena, but it was arguably the Canadian fighters who stole the show. Quebec's Georges St-Pierre, considered one of the best UFC fighters in history and now retired, helped coach Montreal's Aiemann Zahabi to victory. Flyweight Jasmine Jasudavicius won by submitting Brazilian fighter Jéssica Andrade in the first round. And Mr. Malott's win sent the crowd into a frenzy that spilled out onto the streets after the fight. Elsewhere in the arena, Gail Bouchard drew stares wherever he walked: His entire upper body was chalked in the Quebec Fleurdelisé flag. To him, the night was a historic moment for Quebec – a chance for the province to show its fighting potential. Still, the political leanings of the UFC bothered Mr. Bouchard a bit, particularly since it took away from the beauty of the sport. 'I'm a simple guy,' he said. 'I love MMA, I love my country.'
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
U.S. Welterweight Bashes Canada, Then Guess What Happens vs. Canadian In UFC Bout
U.S. welterweight Charles Radtke talked smack about Canada, then got smacked silly by Canadian Mike Malott in their UFC bout in Montreal on Saturday. (Watch the videos below.) Malott (12-2-1) floored Radtke (10-5) with a left hook in the second round and rained punches on the American as he lay on his back before the referee stopped the bout. MIKE MALOTT GETS IT DONE IN ROUND 2 🇨🇦 # — ESPN MMA (@espnmma) May 11, 2025 With tensions between the U.S. and Canada at perhaps an all-time high due to President Donald Trump's tariffs and talk of annexing Canada, Radtke ratcheted up the adversarial hype during a prefight press conference. He referenced Canadian hockey fans who booed the 'Star-Spangled Banner' before the Americans played in the same arena during the 4 Nations Face-Off in February. 'I don't give a shit about hockey,' Radtke said. 'That's not my gig. But what I do hold dear is I grew up on a bison ranch with my grandfather, who's a sergeant major in the Marine Corps, and when you all booed the national anthem, somebody's going to have to pay for that.' "When y'all boo the [U.S.] national anthem, someone's going to have to pay for that."Charles Radtke doesn't plan to hold back against Canadian Mike Malott at UFC — OutKick (@Outkick) May 9, 2025 The American also refused to shake Malott's hand at one point. Huge ovation for Canada's own Mike Malott after Charles Radtke refuses to shake his hand 🇨🇦 # — Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 9, 2025 But the victor took the high road when boos erupted for his opponent in the post-fight interview. (Fans repeatedly chanted 'fuck you, Radtke' during the bout.) 'Hey, no, don't boo him,' Malott said. 'We're celebrating now. That's done. We're cheering. This is our time. No negativity, just positivity, baby. And when it comes to defending this country in the octagon, know one thing, Canada: I stand on guard for thee.' Malott's tailoring of a line from 'O Canada' was a knockout. Boxer Dry Humps Opponent On Tyson-Paul Undercard. Fans Aghast. Mike Tyson's Naked Butt Makes Surprising Pre-Fight Appearance Jake Paul Wins Decision Over Mike Tyson
USA Today
12-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Mike Malott kept emotions in check all week vs. Charles Radtke at UFC 315, and it paid off
Mike Malott kept emotions in check all week vs. Charles Radtke at UFC 315, and it paid off Show Caption Hide Caption Mike Malott emotional after KO of Charles Radtke iat UFC 315 UFC 315 winner Mike Malott spoke to MMA Junkie and reporters post-fight after his second-round knockout of Charles Radtke in Montreal. MONTREAL – Mike Malott met the media Saturday after his first-round brutal knockout win over Charles Radtke at UFC 315. Malott (12-2-1 MMA, 5-1 UFC) endured some ridiculous pre-fight trash talk from Radtke (10-5 MMA, 3-2 UFC) and pledged to defend the honor of his home country of Canada against the American. That, he did, and with authority when he viciously knocked him out early in the second round – with a handful of extras for good measure. "Some people maybe need that heated intensity to come out and feel like a cornered animal and need to do that to perform," Malott said at his post-fight news conference. "I don't think that's me. If it comes down to something like that, if something getrs emotional, all right. But I felt just staying focused and calculated on the task at hand was the way to do it. I felt pretty genuine all week. Everything could have gotten to me or anyone. You can let stuff get to you. But I'm the one in control here. This guy's not in control of my emotions. This guy's not in control of what I'm going to think about or what I'm going to focus on." It paid off in a big way. Malott said he had a sense of calmness on fight day, and it even carried over post-fight. Check out Malott's post-fight news conference in the video above.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Charles Radtke Vows Revenge Against Mike Malott After Anthem Controversy at UFC 315
Fight week buzz is heating up ahead of UFC 315, and while the main card is packed with competitive matchups, it's the undercard that just took a dramatic turn. With tensions already high, one rising welterweight is heading into his bout with more than just a win on the line—he's looking for retribution. What was once just another preliminary scrap is now charged with emotion and controversy, setting the stage for a heated showdown this weekend. Charles Radtke recently made waves with a string of comments that struck a nerve with fans north of the border. The interview, which was shared by MMAFightingOnSBN, featured Radtke being asked directly how he felt about the 20,000 Canadian fans who are expected to boo him at UFC 315. The reporter referenced an earlier hockey game this year in which Canada defeated the United States, further highlighting the brewing national tension. Radtke fired off a passionate response: 'So, I don't give a f*** about hockey, right? That's not my gig. But what I do hold dear is—I grew up on a bison ranch with my grandfather who's a sergeant major in the Marine Corps.' He continued, 'And when y'all boo the national anthem, somebody's going to have to pay for that.' So inevitably, I take that to heart because every year I would change 50 flags going up our driveway. So yeah, you're going to see the results of it.' This stems from an incident in February 2025, when the U.S. national anthem was booed by Canadian fans during the NHL's 4 Nations Face-Off in Montreal. That reaction clearly left a mark on Radtke, who now sees Saturday's fight as an opportunity for symbolic payback. UFC Middleweight Champion Chris WeidmanGetty Images Radtke will face Canadian Mike Malott in what promises to be a charged welterweight bout. Radtke enters the cage with just one loss in the UFC—a defeat to Carlos Prates—but rebounded impressively with a first-round knockout against Matthew Semelsberger. Malott finds himself in a similar position. After suffering a loss to veteran Neil Magny, he responded with a dominant unanimous decision win over Trevin Giles. Advertisement Now, with national pride in the air and emotions running high, this UFC 315 undercard battle carries more than just rankings—it carries a message. Related: Ian Machado Garry Sends Strong Message to the UFC: 'I Won't Accept' Related: UFC Cuts Once Promising Heavyweight KO Artist Following Five-Year Rollercoaster Run
Daily Mail
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
American UFC star issues threat to Canada
By Published: | Updated: UFC star Charles Radtke has insisted 'somebody's going to have to pay' for Canadian hockey fans booing the US national anthem during the Four Nations Face-Off in February. Amid President Trump's tariffs on America's northern neighbors - and his suggestions that Canada could even be annexed by the US - Canadian hockey fans loudly booed 'The Star-Spangled Banner' when it was performed in Montreal ahead of a US-Canada matchup. Radtke is now set to fight Canadian Mike Mallott at UFC 315 in Montreal this Saturday, and he hasn't forgotten about the US national anthem being jeered. 'I don't give a [expletive] about hockey,' he said at a press conference before the fight. 'That's not my gig. 'But what I do hold dear is I grew up on a bison ranch with my grandfather, who's a Sergeant Major in the Marine Corps, and when you all booed the national anthem, somebody's going to have to pay for that. Somebody had said, 'Oh, well you booed them the week after.' Doesn't make it right," he continued, referencing how 'O Canada' was booed before the final in Boston. Mallott, meanwhile, resisted making the fight into a sort of national rivalry like Radtke. 'If he wants to build that extra pressure for himself or you know if that's what he needs to do to motivate himself go for it,' Mallott said. 'I'm focused on the task at hand which is a fight in the Octagon. I'm not focused on all the outside things that you can possibly focus on.' The Canadian hockey fans met the US national anthem with anger in February after President Trump ordered 25 percent tariffs on Canadian and Mexican imports. That led to the anthem being booed in Montreal, before the Americans beat Canada in the round-robin round. US fans later returned the favor before the final in Boston, as a controversial rendition of 'O Canada' from singer Chantal Kreviazuk was booed as well. Amid Trump's hostile rhetoric about the country, the singer changed the line 'in all of us command' to 'that only us command.' Ultimately, the Canadians had the last laugh as they won the final 3-2 in overtime. Radtke, who has a 3-1 UFC record, will look to earn a win for America this weekend. Want more stories like this from the Daily Mail? Visit our profile page and hit the follow button above for more of the news you need.
