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Sean Strickland finds himself at the center of a whirlwind of controversy. Despite contractual constraints, Sean Strickland elucidates the UFC's refusal to endorse a bout with Jake Paul, offering a free showdown to settle their differences outside the realm of pay-per-view.
The former UFC middleweight champion recently made headlines for his tumultuous exchanges with not just one, but multiple personalities, including the likes of Jake Paul, Machine Gun Kelly, and Bryce Hall. However, it's his thwarted attempt to step into the ring with 'The Problem Child' that has tongues wagging and eyebrows raised.
Jake Paul, the YouTube sensation turned pugilist provocateur, dangled a tantalizing carrot before Strickland's eyes: a cool million dollars to face him in Puerto Rico. Yet, despite Strickland's reputation for fearlessness in combat, one formidable obstacle stood in his path – his UFC contract.
In a candid YouTube exposé, Strickland peeled back the layers of his tumultuous week, shedding light on the UFC's staunch refusal to greenlight the bout against Paul.
"So, Jake Paul offered me a million dollars knowing that it is impossible for me to [fight him]," Strickland revealed. "I actually talked to Hunter [Campbell]... they’re equal, they’re d*mn close, and Hunter explained to me that he sells no fights."
The UFC's reluctance, as conveyed to Strickland by Campbell, stems from doubts about the financial viability of Paul's boxing endeavors. Allegedly, Paul's target audience – predominantly children – doesn't translate into pay-per-view revenue, leaving the promotion skeptical about the potential windfall from such a matchup.
Undeterred by the contractual red tape, Strickland extended a daring olive branch to Paul, offering to settle their differences mano-a-mano, sans cameras, and without the glittering allure of a hefty paycheck.
"What we can do, you can get in your fancy plane, you can fly your a*s to Vegas, and we could have a little powwow," Strickland proposed. "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."
Despite the uncertainty looming over Strickland's Octagon future following his recent title loss, the enigmatic fighter remains undaunted. While the clamor for a rematch reverberates through the MMA community, Strickland's audacious challenge to Paul underscores his unyielding spirit and unorthodox approach to settling scores.