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Sean Strickland’s recent sparring session with popular streamer Sneako didn’t go down well with the public, but arguably the strongest reaction came from Jake Paul.

‘The Problem Child’ was angered to see Strickland’s antics against the influencer and offered a $ 1 million deal to the former UFC middleweight champion. The proposal would see the pair box on camera and if Jake were to lose, the enormous prize fund would be handed over to the MMA star.

Sean Strickland wasted no time in responding to Jake Paul. In a social media post, Strickland reminded Jake of his loss to ‘part-time boxer’ Tommy Fury.

“You lost to a part-time boxer,” Strickland said in response to Jake Paul’s call out. “Don’t forget that.”

You lost to a part time boxer….. lmao……… don't forget that… https://t.co/5fDBF6KhZv

— Sean Strickland (@SStricklandMMA) February 9, 2024

Strickland continued, insisting he would happily take Jake Paul’s life and issued a challenge of his own.

“Real talk, jokes aside. Jake Paul is an utter f***ing joke. You box small retired old MMA fighters and you sell sugar water to kids. If it were legal, I’d take your f***ing life with a smile on my face.”

“Actually Jake, I’ll make you a better deal because money can’t buy happiness and you have plenty of it and you’re still a cunt. No cameras, me and you in a desert. That would buy my happiness.”

“No Instagram, no likes, no games. Just you, that’s what I want.”

Real talk… jokes aside.. Jake Paul is an utter fucking joke….. You box small retired old mma fighters and you sell sugar water to kids.. If it were legal I'd take your fucking life with a smile on my face. Is there any place on this earth I can take this man's life and walk?

— Sean Strickland (@SStricklandMMA) February 9, 2024

Actually Jake I'll make you a better deal because money can't buy happiness and you have plenty of it and youre still a cunt……. No cameras, me and you in a desert…. That would buy my happiness… No Instagram, no likes, no games…. Just you that's what I want…….

— Sean Strickland (@SStricklandMMA) February 9, 2024

However, Jake Paul didn’t remain silent throughout Strickland’s rant. The YouTube standout spoke of his hatred for bullies and later claimed the UFC fighter refused his call out.

“I hate bullies. I was bullied and then was the bully sometimes in my YouTuber days. But now all my energy is focused on boxing bullies… When I see someone like Strickland constantly bullying people, it’s time to bully back.”

“Thanks for admitting I would make easy work of you in the boxing ring and ducking the offer… Just like Paddy [Pimblett]. Now I will let you continue your meltdown.”

I hate bullies. I was bullied and then was the bully sometimes in my YouTuber days. But now all my energy is focused on Boxing Bullies @Boxingbullies and helping the youth.

But when I see someone like Strickland constantly bullying people, it’s time to bully back.

— Jake Paul (@jakepaul) February 9, 2024

Thanks for admitting I would make easy work of you in the boxing ring and ducking the offer… just like paddy…

Now I will let you continue your meltdown.

— Jake Paul (@jakepaul) February 9, 2024

Related: Sean Strickland beats down social media influencer in sparring

Sean Strickland brought an end to the back-and-forth with one final message to Jake. 

“I want to conclude this, I want you all to understand the phenomenon that is Jake. You’re a professional troll, you fight retired small MMA fighters because you’re a troll but the worst part of it all is that you’re a cancer.”

“You inspire people to accomplish nothing, to be nothing. You inspire people to be trolls because you were successful at it. Jake Paul, you might be rich but you’re not a man.”

“Your trolls will rally around you and be inspired to be like you but understand one thing, you and your troll army are not my equals. Enjoy your virtual world with the understanding that you’re a cancer on this country. Money will never buy you dignity. Enjoy.”

I want to conclude this, I want you all to understand the phenomenon that is Jake. You're a professional troll, you fight retired small MMA fighters because you're a troll but the worst part of it all is that you're a cancer. You inspire people to accomplish nothing, to be…

— Sean Strickland (@SStricklandMMA) February 10, 2024

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UFC

UFC Vegas 86 went down last night (Sat., Feb. 10, 2024), which featured a Middleweight showdown that saw Jack Hermansson defeat Joe Pyfer via unanimous decision. In the co-featured bout, Dan Ige stunned Andre Fili in the very first round, knocking him out rather viciously to earn another post-fight bonus award.

Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Winner: Jack Hermansson

Who He Should Face Next: Nassourdine Imavov

Hermansson got back in the win column with an impressive win over Joe Pyfer, and he could very well crack the Top 10 come next week. As far as what could be next for “Joker,” perhaps a showdown against is in order. I know I previously suggested Imavov face off against the winner of Brendan Allen and Marvin Vettori, but this one makes more sense. Imavov is coming off a big win over Roman Dolidze just last week, so their turnaround times would sync up.

Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Winner: Dan Ige

Who He Should Face Next: Sodiq Yusuff vs Diego Lopes winner

Ige bounced back nicely from his tough loss to Bryce Mitchell by securing a first-round knockout win over Andre Fili, putting him at 3-1 over his last four fights. It remains to be seen if he will move up the three spots needs to crack the Top 10, but Ige reminded the 145-pound weight class just how dangerous he can be when he is on point. Sodiq Yusuff and Diego Lopes are set to throw down at UFC 300, and the winner of the bout makes sense for “50K.”

Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Winner: Ihor Potieria

Who He Should Face Next: Albert Duraev

Potieria snapped his two-fight losing streak by defeating Robert Bryczek via unanimous decision. Potieria is just 2-3 inside the Octagon, so he really needs to start string more wins together. As for Duraev, he was supposed to face Bryczek at this event before he was pulled due to visa issues. He is coming off a tough submission loss at the hands Jun Yong Park, so he is hungry for a big win.

Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Winner: Gregory Rodrigues

Who He Should Face Next: Anthony Hernandez

Rodrigues scoed a huge knockout win over Brad Tavares, and now “RoboCop” has his sights set on a title run. After all he is 6-2 in his first eight fights with the promotion, so it isn’t too farfetched to believe he can make a run towards the strap. He should be in the Top 15 following his big win, so he is making the right strides. A fight against Hernandez (No. 14) sounds like a good matchup. Hernandez was supposed to face Ikram Aliskerov at UFC 298 but was forced out of the event with an illness. Once he ready and able. Rodrigues should be the one to welcome him back.

Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Winner: Michael Johnson

Who He Should Face Next: Drew Dober

Johnson was able to get back on track and back in the win column be defeating Darrius Flowers via unanimous decision. After fighting for UFC for over 14 years now, there aren’t too many people “The Menace” has yet to face. One man he has yet to face, however, is Drew Dober. The leader in UFC knockouts suffered a tough loss at the hands of Renato Moicano just last week, so a pairing with Johnson would make sense. Both men love to stand and bang, so there is a big chance for one man to collect a highlight reel finish.

Photo by Mike Roach/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Winner: Rodolfo Vieira

Who He Should Face Next: Jun Yong Park

Vieira earned his second straight win by defeating Armen Petrosyan via arm-triangle choke, his second straight win. He improves to 5-2 inside the Octagon. Up next, I’m feeling a showdown against Park, who recently saw his four-fight win streak come to an end at the hands of Andre Muniz, losing via razor-thin split-decision.

For complete UFC Vegas 86: “Hermansson vs. Pyfer” results and play-by-play, click HERE!

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MMA: Mixed Martial Arts

Israel Adesanya remains on a self-imposed hiatus from fighting, but he’s been keeping busy in the meantime.

According to a report by Stuff, Adesanya has built an impressive real estate portfolio in New Zealand, with the latest addition being a build-to-rent subdivision in Palmerston North on North Island. The subdivision is called “Adesanya Close,” named after the two-time UFC middleweight champion.

Stuff spoke to property manager Wade Thompson, who said the Adesanya Close listing received 3000 views this past December and that three of seven units have already been purchased. The article also cites property records that estimate Adesanya’s real estate investments to be valued at north of $ 20 million.

Adesanya’s business savvy should come as no surprise to those who have followed the dealings of the UFC superstar. In February 2022, ahead of his UFC 271 rematch with Robert Whittaker, Adesanya’s manager said that the fighter signed a contract that is “one of the most lucrative multi-fight deals in company history,” making him “one of the top paid athletes in the history of mixed martial arts.”

Thompson added that Adesanya likely owns well over 19 properties “from Auckland to Dunedin.”

Adesanya has become known for juggling multiple projects, including signing a deal with sports apparel brand Puma in 2020 and promoting a documentary about his life title Stylebender, which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival last June.

He recently announced that he is taking a break from competition following a title fight loss to Sean Strickland at UFC 293 this past September. However, Adesanya has hinted in subsequent interviews that his hiatus could end sooner than expected.

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The ongoing saga of Conor McGregor’s long-awaited return to the Octagon knows no end.

First, the Irishman was supposed to return at the end of 2023 for UFC 296 in Madison Square Garden. When that didn’t happen, rumors ran rampant that he would headline the promotion’s next big landmark event on April 13. And while that still hasn’t been entirely ruled out, it’s looking less and less likely as we sit roughly eight weeks away from UFC 300.

On New Year’s Day, ‘Mystic Mac’ appeared to finally let the cat out of the bag, claiming he would return on June 29th during the promotion’s International Fight Week festivities in Las Vegas. However, UFC CEO Dana White has now ruled that out, recently stating McGregor’s quote-unquote “greatest comeback in combat sport’s history” would likely happen in the fall of 2024.

“Eventually,” White told The Pat McAfee Show when asked about McGregor vs. Chandler. “Hopefully this year. There is no date. I’m hoping for the fall. [Hopefully] we get it done in the fall.”

In town for Super Bowl LVIII between the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers, Conor McGregor doubled down on his January 1 statement, claiming that he will return to the Octagon this summer despite White’s insistence that it ain’t happening.

“Super Bowl Sunday is one of the biggest sporting days for my friends in the States, second only to the Mac’s return to the octagon this summer! Good luck to the 49ers and the Chiefs, leave something in Vegas for me,” McGregor wrote on X.

Brendan Schaub Offers Interesting Take on the drama surrounding Conor McGregor’s return

It has become increasingly clear that Conor McGregor and the UFC are not on the same page. The reasons why and who is at fault is anyone’s guess, but perhaps Brendan Schaub’s recent assessment of the situation hit the nail on the head.

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UFC

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MMA: Mixed Martial Arts

Boxer Ben Whittaker did not expect to become an overnight sensation.

A 2020 Olympic silver medalist at light heavyweight, Whittaker turned pro in 2022 and quickly racked up five wins with four by knockout. Earlier this month, he added to that hot start with a fifth-round TKO over Khalid Graidia.

But this time, the world stood up and took notice as Whittaker went viral for a flashy style that saw him dance, showboat, and taunt his opponent — all while boxing his ears off.

Speaking on The MMA Hour, Whittaker said the past week has been a wild ride.

“It’s been crazy, if I’m honest,” Whittaker said. “I’ve had the likes of Shaquille O’Neal message me, follow me, send me his number. Odell Beckham, the list goes on. It’s an honor, but I don’t do it for the views, I don’t do it for the likes. It’s my style, and it’s the way I express myself in the ring.

“It’s something I’ve really been trying to get to grips with, because I’ve done it since my debut. I usually go in there, showboat, get the win, go back, eat Five Guys, and wake up like a normal day. I did the exact same routine, except I woke up, and I had about 3,000 more followers. I don’t know what happened.

“It’s ridiculous. But all publicity is good publicity, I suppose.”

While his style is getting him noticed right now, Whittaker said it wasn’t always that way. When he was selected for the Olympic team, he said coaches did not like the way he fought, but he chose to ignore them. It ended up working out.

“When I got on the Olympic team, a lot of people — the English style is very stiff, very strong, very come forward,” Whittaker said. “So that’s kind of the idea from the English boxing style as well, so when I got to the Olympic team, they hated my style. They kind of changed me. They told me it will never work at the high level. Then next thing you know, I got a silver medal representing them. So sometimes you’ve just got to block out the other things and know what’s right for yourself.”

Of course, there is some risk with fighting in such a flashy style. If Whittaker ever does get caught dancing with his hands down, the same people who love his highlights will also laugh at his misfortunes. But Whittaker said that comes with the territory, and he has no intention of changing.

“Definitely not,” Whittaker said when asked if he will tone it down. “Especially being a fighter, you need that risk. When I’ve got that risk, that’s what excites me. That’s what keeps me up, that’s what makes me run in the morning, that’s what makes me go hard in the gym. I like putting myself at that risk and knowing that I could become a meme. I make sure that doesn’t happen.”

Still only 26, the young Englishman has a bright future ahead in the squared circle, but the sudden influx of fame has some people wanting to see that happen sooner rather than later. Whittaker himself is not in a rush, though, saying he wants to climb the ladder correctly before he becomes a champion.

“I’m six fights in, and if you look at Twitter, they want me to start fighting [Dmitry] Bivol next,” Whittaker said. “Give me some time, man! I’m 26. These guys are in their mid-30s. But at the end of the day, that’s a little confidence boost for me, because if I’m six fights in and with those guys already, I’m doing something right.

“But you always see it it. You see these prospects do very well at a certain level, let’s jump to this level, and when they jump to that level, they don’t make it. I want to make sure I go through every phase so when I’m at the top, I stay there. But I’m not far off, skill wise. I believe I’m there already.”

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