Charles Radtke is on a mission when he heads into enemy territory this Saturday.
The Illinois native fights Mike Malott in a welterweight bout at UFC 315 in Montreal, the lone matchup on the cardboard pitting an American towards a Canadian. Given current political rigidity between the neighboring international locations within the wake of President Donald Trump’s tariff warfare, Radtke was requested about how he’s feeling concerning the present local weather as he heads into his conflict with Malott.
The query particularly put to Radtke at Wednesday’s media day involved his ideas on Workforce Canada’s win over Workforce U.S.A. within the NHL’s 4 Nations Face-Off closing this previous February (a match by which the groups met twice, with the primary match preceded by an aggressive gesture whereby Canadians booed the U.S. nationwide anthem) and whether or not that rivalry is of any significance to him.
“I don’t give a shit about hockey,” Radtke stated. “That’s not my gig. However what I do maintain pricey is I grew up on a bison ranch with my grandfather, who’s a Sergeant Main within the Marine Corps, and once you all booed the nationwide anthem, anyone’s going to must pay for that. Any individual had stated, ‘Oh, properly you booed them the week after.’ Doesn’t make it proper.
“So inevitably I take that to coronary heart as a result of yearly I’d change 50 flags going up our driveway, so that you’re going to see the outcomes of it.”
Radtke was prompted to problem a message to all of the Canadians attending Bell Centre this Saturday and he stored it brief.
“Mainly, f*ck you,” Radtke stated.
Radtke is not any stranger to damaging crowd reactions. Following his UFC debut win over Blood Diamond at UFC 293 in Sydney, Radtke was booed by the group who had been largely in assist of New Zealand’s Diamond. “Chuck Buffalo” responded with a homophobic slur, an action that he later apologized for.
Given Malott’s recognition up north, it’s seemingly Radtke will obtain an equally chilly response from the Montreal crowd. He welcomes it.
“I feel I’m going to be actual nervous,” Radtke stated with mock nervousness. “I feel I’m going to be actual scared coming in there. I feel that’s what it is likely to be. Is that what you anticipate? That’s what you hope, proper? That’s not going to occur.”
