UFC middleweight star Sean Strickland has built a reputation as one of the most polarizing figures in the sport, both inside and outside the Octagon. Known for his unfiltered opinions, he has often sparked controversy—whether by taking derogatory jabs at female athletes or making bold remarks about celebrities like Megan Fox. However, his antics reached a new level in February of last year when he viciously assaulted social media influencer and streamer Sneako during a speaking session at the UFC Performance Institute in Las Vegas, leaving the 25-year-old bloodied.

The shocking altercation quickly went viral, drawing widespread backlash from fans, analysts like Joe Rogan and fellow fighters alike. Among the most vocal critics was Israel Adesanya, who condemned Sean Strickland’s actions, calling him “mentally unhealthy” for attacking a much smaller opponent inside the cage. At the time, ‘Tarzan’ had been open on social media about his personal struggles, but his behavior continued to fuel heated debate among fans.

Now, a year later, the incident resurfaced during an episode of the Jaxxon Podcast, where UFC legend and Vice President of Athlete Development at the UFC PI, Forrest Griffin, joined veteran fighter Quinton “Rampage” Jackson. During their conversation, Jackson revisited the controversy, bluntly asking, “Why did you let that guy beat up Sneako like that?”

Caught off guard, Griffin quickly responded, “I don’t know who Sneako is. I don’t know this guy.” After Jackson clarified that Sneako is a streamer, Griffin shared his firsthand account of the chaotic moment: “I was filming a Celebrity Sweat episode, training—oh God, what’s his name? RG3. So, RG3 and I were doing boxing drills, working with some cool people. Then, I heard a commotion about 30 feet away from the Octagon. People were yelling, ‘Stop!’ or something like that,” Griffin explained.

“I looked up, and sure enough, Sean Strickland was just beating the shit out of this kid. I was like—anybody? Anybody?—I was like, ‘Oh, f**k!’ That’s when I ran in. I thought, ‘I work here; I should do something.’ So I ran in there and stopped him.”

Although it has been a year since Sean Strickland’s beatdown of Sneako, their rivalry remains very much alive. This was underscored recently at UFC 312, where the former champion fell short in his bid to reclaim the middleweight title from reigning champion Dricus du Plessis. As the fight’s result was announced, Sneako, who was watching the pay-per-view while live streaming from home, didn’t hold back his celebration of Strickland’s defeat.

Throwback: when Senako revealed why Sean Strickland unleashed his wrath on him

Sneako’s sparring session with former UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland last year turned him into one of the most talked-about figures in the fight world. Strickland’s aggressive actions left people divided—some believed he lost his temper and attacked Sneako without cause, while others argued that Sneako provoked him, leading to the brutal exchange that left him with a bloody nose. Later, during an interview last year on the YouTube channel ‘Champ,’ Sneako was asked if he had said anything to trigger Strickland’s reaction.

In response, he firmly denied provoking the UFC fighter and instead placed the blame on Strickland, portraying him as someone naturally drawn to violence. Furthermore, Sneako pointed out that Strickland himself had admitted he would likely be in jail if not for MMA. He elaborated on this, saying, “No, I never said anything bad. I think he’s a perpetually angry person. I think he’s the type of guy where if he wasn’t fighting, he would probably be in jail. And I don’t mean that as an insult. I just mean that. And I think he would agree. I think he’s the type of person, without the UFC, like, it would be bad. So, he’s just that type of guy. And he likes to hurt people. He enjoys it. I think that he would, he’s very close to being a serial killer,” Sneako explained.

What’s your take on Sean Strickland’s attitude? Do you believe his ongoing controversies and abrasive comments will keep him in the spotlight, or could they eventually backfire? Share your thoughts below