On April 22 2025, former UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland took on YouTuber Nick Nayersina in a sparring session at Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas. The matchup turned heads when Nayersina posted a clip on Twitter, showing Strickland landing heavy punches, kicks, knees, and elbows. Nayersina had called out Strickland days before, using harsh words to challenge him. Strickland accepted and invited Nayersina to spar during his Vegas visit. Despite the one-sided beatdown, Nayersina showed grit by staying in the fight.
Strickland’s Pattern of Sparring Influencers Draws Attention
This is not Strickland’s first time sparring an influencer. He previously faced streamer Sneako at the UFC Performance Institute, delivering a brutal session that UFC veteran Forrest Griffin had to stop. Fans have mixed thoughts about these matchups.
I’m a man of my word, I said I would show up and I did. Thank you @SStricklandMMA for your time! When should I drop the full YouTube video? pic.twitter.com/WBvwZr7FhW
— Nick Nayersina (@nicknayersina) April 22, 2025
Why does Sean love beating up on people that have never fought?
He’s a simple man, he just enjoys punching people in the face.
Notice how Sean Strickland spars all these guys yet never spared Jake Paul when he got called out 😭
He is a pussy and he thinks he is teaching these kids a lesson.
He loves beating up influencers.
Strickland’s career has seen ups and downs recently. In February 2025, he lost a title fight to Dricus du Plessis at UFC 312 in Sydney by unanimous decision, a fight his coach called uninspired. Now ranked number two in the UFC middleweight division, Strickland aims to reclaim his spot at the top. Rumors suggest a rematch with Israel Adesanya, whom he beat in a 2023 upset at UFC 293. Adesanya has shown interest in the fight, which could settle their rivalry.
This viral sparring session with Nayersina keeps Strickland in the spotlight. It shows his no-mercy attitude, whether in the gym or octagon. While some fans admire his intensity, others question if sparring influencers helps his career. As he prepares for his next fight, Strickland remains a fighter to watch.
