Charles Radtke is approaching his upcoming fight in Montreal as a mission into what he considers “enemy territory.”
The fighter from Illinois is set to face Canada`s own Mike Malott in a welterweight bout at UFC 315 this Saturday. This particular fight is the only one on the card that pits an American against a Canadian. With recent political tensions between the two neighboring countries in mind, particularly after trade disputes during President Donald Trump`s administration, Radtke was asked about his feelings regarding the current atmosphere as he prepares for his clash with Malott.
Specifically, during Wednesday`s media day, Radtke was questioned about his thoughts on Team Canada`s victory over Team U.S.A. in the NHL’s 4 Nations Face-Off final back in February. This question referenced an earlier game in that tournament where Canadians had reportedly booed the U.S. national anthem, and the interviewer asked if this incident or the broader rivalry held any significance for him.
Radtke`s response was direct and dismissive of the hockey aspect:
“I don’t give a shit about hockey,” Radtke stated. “That’s not my gig.”
However, he quickly emphasized a deeper, personal connection to the national anthem incident:
“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, linking his upbringing to his current mindset: “So inevitably I take that to heart because every year I would change 50 flags going up our driveway, so you’re going to see the results of it.”
When prompted to send a message specifically to the Canadian fans attending the event at the Bell Centre this Saturday, Radtke kept his message notably brief.
“Basically, f*ck you,” Radtke said.
Radtke is no stranger to negative crowd reactions. In his UFC debut fight against Blood Diamond at UFC 293 in Sydney, Radtke faced boos from the audience, who were predominantly supporting his opponent from New Zealand. Following that victory, Radtke, known by the nickname “Chuck Buffalo,” used a homophobic slur in his post-fight comments, an action for which he later issued an apology.
Given Mike Malott`s considerable popularity in Canada, it is widely expected that Radtke will experience a similarly cold reception from the Montreal crowd this weekend. Despite this, Radtke indicated he is prepared for and even welcomes the hostile environment.
He addressed the expectation of nervousness with mock apprehension:
“I think I’m going to be real nervous,” Radtke said with feigned concern. “I think I’m going to be real scared coming in there. I think that’s what it might be. Is that what you expect? That’s what you hope, right? That’s not going to happen.”
