Talk met action in a Friday sparring match between former UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland and influencer Sneako. The match came about as the result of a dare from the 26-8 Strickland, and offered few surprises. Strickland took the approach of giving Sneako the first shot, and a whole lot more after that, as he spent about the first three minutes swatting away whatever Sneako threw at him. <p style="text-align: center;"><em><strong>WARNING: The following posts contain language that some may find offensive.</strong></em></p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Sneako spars former UFC champ Sean Strickland <a href="https://t.co/NYGDs6q8oJ">pic.twitter.com/NYGDs6q8oJ</a></p> — AISNEAKIO (@AISneakio) <a href="https://twitter.com/AISneakio/status/1756046310736638271?">February 9, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> Once Strickland decided it was his turn, he stalked Sneako with virtually no opposition until finally Strickland was restrained to stop Sneako’s pummeling. After the match was over, a video <a href="https://twitter.com/AISneakio/status/1756065136903680108?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">posted to X</a> showed the two men posing for photos and acting in a more companionable and far less combative manner. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Post fight interview <a href="https://t.co/4Z5fxPVGRD">https://t.co/4Z5fxPVGRD</a></p> — AISNEAKIO (@AISneakio) <a href="https://twitter.com/AISneakio/status/1756065136903680108?">February 9, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> “I would still like to do a podcast if you want to,” Sneako said. Later on, he commented, “I think the laughing cancels out the punches that I got.” In another video <a href="https://twitter.com/fouchard_clips/status/1756061769959870524?s=46" target="_blank" rel="noopener">posted to X,</a> Strickland gave Sneako some praise. “The fact that you did not fall down, bro, that’s impressive,” Strickland said. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Sean Strickland gives SNEAKO PROPS and admits he couldn't knock him out... ?? <a href="https://t.co/SlwqH0W6ut">pic.twitter.com/SlwqH0W6ut</a></p> — Fouchard.Clips (@FOUCHARD_CLIPS) <a href="https://twitter.com/FOUCHARD_CLIPS/status/1756061769959870524?">February 9, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> “You were trying to make me fall?” Sneako asked in response. ”I was trying to,” Strickland said after a fist bump with Sneako. “All you had to do was fall and I would have stopped,” he said. Former UFC fighter Jake Shields, who served as Sneako's trainer, said Sneako knew the experience of sparring with Strickland would not be a picnic. "I told him that was a bad idea but he had already committed and all a man has is his word ," he <a href="https://twitter.com/jakeshieldsajj/status/1756085237497667875?s=46" target="_blank" rel="noopener">posted on X</a>. "Strickland beat Sneako senseless but he never quit and never complained I told him to take 30 min to recover but he wanted to start our workout right away while still covered in blood I dont know him well but he showed he has massive heart," he wrote. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">This morning I went to train <a href="https://twitter.com/sneako?">@sneako</a> and he informed me he was gonna spar with Sean Strickland</p> I told him that was a bad idea but he had already committed and all a man has is his word Strickland beat Sneako senseless but he never quit and never complained I told him to take… — Jake Shields (@jakeshieldsajj) <a href="https://twitter.com/jakeshieldsajj/status/1756085237497667875?">February 9, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <span class="css-1qaijid r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0 r-poiln3">"I see a lot of people hating on </span><span class="r-18u37iz">@SStricklandMMA </span>for beating up <span class="r-18u37iz">@sneako </span>but he’s a man and knew what he was getting into. I was very clear to Sneako that If he [sparred] Sean he was gonna get f***ed up and he choose to do it regardless," he wrote. "While personally I never try and KO a new fighter (unless he does something to piss me off) everyone knows Strickland f***s up his sparring partners," Shields wrote in a <a href="https://twitter.com/jakeshieldsajj/status/1756096309059272815?s=46" target="_blank" rel="noopener">post on X</a>. <hr /> This article appeared originally on <a href="https://www.westernjournal.com/">The Western Journal</a>.