Explore Randy Couture’s perspective on the potential fight between UFC’s Sean Strickland and Jake Paul. Discover UFC’s stance, Strickland’s desire to box, and Couture’s take on the matchup’s feasibility.
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- The former UFC middleweight champion is keen on boxing Jake Paul but faces contractual barriers with the UFC.
- UFC’s chief business officer dismissed the idea, citing Paul’s lack of fight sales as a reason.
- Couture supports the fight but acknowledges the slim chances of it happening due to UFC’s policies.
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Sean Strickland’s Wish to Fight Jake Paul
A former middleweight champion, Sean Strickland, recently expressed his desire to face Jake Paul in a boxing ring. However, his current UFC’s contractual obligations make this matchup seem impossible.
The UFC’s Stance
Strickland’s interest in fighting Paul, who has a boxing record of 8-1, sparked following a sparring match where Strickland dominated a social influencer named Sneako. This caught Paul’s attention, leading him to offer Strickland $1 million to come to his training camp in Puerto Rico. However, the UFC, particularly Chief Business Officer Hunter Campbell, denied Strickland permission to accept Paul’s challenge, citing that Paul “sells no fights.”
Couture’s Perspective
Randy Couture, a UFC legend known for his disputes with the organization, expressed his wish for UFC to consider the match. However, he acknowledged it’s unlikely due to the organization’s stringent policies. He mentioned that UFC is not expected to approve unless Strickland could negotiate a deal similar to Conor McGregor’s in 2017 with Floyd Mayweather, which was highly lucrative for all parties involved.
Matchup Analysis
Couture believes that with his extensive combat sports experience, Strickland could present a strong challenge to Paul, especially with a dedicated boxing training camp. He appreciates Paul’s skills and acknowledges his victories but sees Strickland’s striking background as a significant asset. Couture highlighted differences in physicality and technique that could make the fight intriguing, contrasting Strickland’s potential with that of other fighters like Nate Diaz and Anderson Silva.
Sparring Session Controversy
Couture also commented on the controversial sparring session between Strickland and Sneako, which occurred in his gym. He defended Strickland’s actions, arguing that the social influencer’s lack of experience was a factor, but Strickland was not excessively aggressive. Couture dismissed criticism regarding Strickland’s inability to knock down Sneako, suggesting Strickland was more interested in teaching a lesson than achieving a knockout.
Strickland’s Response to Criticism
As of now, there has been no direct response from Strickland regarding the criticisms or the UFC’s refusal to allow the fight with Jake Paul. The MMA community remains divided on the potential matchup, with discussions primarily focusing on the contractual obligations of fighters and the UFC’s control over such high-profile fights.
