With the much-anticipated boxing matchup between Jake Paul and Mike Tyson fast approaching, UFC middleweight star Sean Strickland has been outspoken in his criticism of the event. Originally set for the summer, the bout was rescheduled for November 15 after Tyson experienced a health scare—an ulcer flare-up while traveling from Miami to Los Angeles.

Although the fight promises plenty of excitement, it has generated substantial controversy. Many fans and critics, Sean Strickland included, are troubled by the three-decade age gap between the 27-year-old Paul and the 58-year-old Tyson, fearing the match could pose serious risks to the boxing icon.

Recently, Strickland amplified his critique on social media, targeting Paul directly in a string of tweets. In his posts, Strickland accused Paul of irresponsibility for choosing to face an older opponent, writing, “You’re fighting a 60-year-old man who is just trying to make a dollar by risking his life… scumbag. Are you a f-cking idiot? This should be illegal. The man had a medical emergency a month before this because he’s too f-cking old… f-cking clown.”

However, ‘The Problem Child’ had previously dismissed Strickland’s remarks on multiple occasions, labeling him a terrible ‘boxer’ who only faces untested opponents. Paul also challenged Strickland to a boxing sparring match, offering $1 million if Strickland could beat him. Initially, Strickland agreed to the challenge, accepting Paul’s offer to spar in the desert with no cameras or money involved. However, the former middleweight champion later backed out of the deal. This sudden change of plans came as a surprise to one of Paul’s previous opponents.

Mike Perry was shocked by Sean Strickland’s decision

Former UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland has been in the spotlight this year, not for his performances but for his growing banter with his former rival, now sparring partner, Alex Pereira. Pereira had once overwhelmed Strickland in the octagon at UFC 276, but over time, the two fighters have put aside their animosity, focusing on mutual respect. They now support each other, lifting each other up. However, ‘Tarzan’ recently had a scuffle with boxer Jake Paul and then later on account of pulling out of a sparring session against the celebrity boxer.

Recently, BKFC star Mike Perry called out Strickland for turning down Jake Paul’s offer to spar for a million dollars. Speaking to Tim Welch on YouTube, Perry said, “Sean’s powerful, and we’ve seen some videos of him working a lot with Pereira. Sean Strickland’s a little wild, and you know, he throws hammer fists while boxing. We’ve seen sparring videos of him with pro boxers, and he’s clocking them pretty well. Sean’s a tough son of a gun, dude. So I don’t know why he didn’t take that million dollars [to spar Jake Paul].”

What’s your opinion on the Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson matchup? Do you think it’s fair to place all the blame on Jake Paul as suggested by Strickland, or should Tyson share responsibility for making this fight happen, as he is just as invested in it as Paul? Share your thoughts below. What’s your take on this fight?