SEAN STRICKLAND has claimed the UFC blocked him from accepting Jake Paul’s $1million offer to spar.
Strickland, a controversial and outspoken figure in MMA, was slammed after giving streamer Sneako a beating during a sparring session.
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YouTuber-turned boxer Paul was quick to hit out at the former UFC middleweight champion Strickland.
He posted on X, formerly Twitter: “You’re embarrassing for trying to stop Sneako like that you weren’t even able to drop someone with no experience while going all out.
“You’re a horrid boxer that only picks on inexperienced people.. I’ll fly you to (Puerto Rico) and we can fight on camera… if you win I’ll give you $1 million (half your net worth).
“But if you get dropped you have to get Betr tattooed on you.”
Strickland accepted the offer and a back and forth online ensued between the pair.
But the American then took to his own YouTube channel to say UFC chief Hunter Campbell was against the idea and aimed a dig at Paul.
Strickland said: “I will fight this man. You let Conor McGregor fight (Floyd) Mayweather, this is an easier fight, easier money, can I do that?
“And then Hunter explained to me that [Paul] sells no fights. When they have fights, they give away tickets. He doesn’t make money.
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“His target audience is children — they don’t buy pay-per-views. So, a little depressing.
“Because I thought to myself, ‘You know what? I’ll take a payday beating up this f***ing man, that sounds easy enough.’
“But sadly, Jake Paul is an influencer. He sells to children. Children don’t buy pay-per-views.
“So, I dunno man, get some adults to follow you and we will fight.”
Strickland has gained a reputation for ruthless sparring sessions and has even bragged about wanting to “KILL” opponents in the cage.
And despite pouring cold water on a prizefight with Paul, he challenged him to what appeared to be a brawl on the Las Vegas strip.
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Strickland said: “So here’s the thing, Jake Paul, you clearly know I can’t fight you.
“You know this. The UFC knows this. We all know this, that you and me cannot fight.
“But what we can do, is you can get in your fancy plane, you can fly your ass to Vegas, and we can have a little pow-wow.
“I’ll do it for free. I don’t need a check, I don’t need to live stream it. I will do it for free, sir.”
Strickland stunned Israel Adesanya in September to win the UFC title but recently lost it to Dricus du Plessis via controversial split-decision.
Paul meanwhile has beaten four former UFC stars during his career and returns on March 2 in Puerto Rico against 17-2 boxer Ryan Bourland.