"More cartoonish WWE" - Influencer goes nuclear on UFC and Dana White over Justin Gaethje vs. Paddy Pimblett booking

Dana White (pictured) on stage during the UFC 297 press conference. [Image courtesy: Getty Images]
Dana White (pictured) on stage during the UFC 297 press conference. [Image courtesy: Getty Images]

The UFC 324 main event hasn't really struck the right chords in the MMA community, with many criticizing Dana White and the matchmakers for once again snubbing No.1 lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan from a consequential matchup.

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Now, a polarizing social media star has joined the chorus, going nuclear on White and the promotional brass over booking Justin Gaethje vs. Paddy Pimblett for the interim lightweight title.

During a recent stream on Party.com, influencer Nicolas Kenn De Balinthazy, popularly known as Sneako, went scorched earth on the world's premier MMA promotion, accusing it of becoming more like WWE:

"I'm super disappointed. Message to Dana White and the UFC - Arman Tsarukyan, 100% deserves the title shot, and UFC is becoming a more cartoonish WWE. It's embarrassing."
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Sneako added:

"Paddy f**king Pimblett? He hasn't fought anybody under the age of 39 since like 2021... You're going to put Paddy Pimblett in the Top 5?... That's the biggest industry plant rise to the top I've ever seen. You obviously are trying to get another Conor McGregor... Dana White loves to brag about how much better the UFC is than the PFL... then have the matchmaking represent the rankings, and right now it's not at all."
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Check out Sneako's accusations against Dana White and the UFC brass below:

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The 27-year-old also took issue with UFC 325, disputing the decision to grant Diego Lopes a second featherweight title shot against Alexander Volkanovski. As the social media icon sees it, the undefeated Movsar Evloev is the more deserving candidate.


When Sean Strickland's beatdown of Sneako led to a major UFC PI rule change

Earlier in 2024, footage of Sean Strickland delivering a thorough beatdown on Sneako at the UFC Performance Institute went viral. Interestingly, the infamous incident has since led to a major rule change.

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Strickland allegedly tricked promotional legend and VP of Athlete Development Forrest Griffin into thinking that he was about to spar a pro boxer. Once he realized that wasn't the case, the 46-year-old immediately put an end to it and implemented a crucial rule change.

Speaking on the JAXXON podcast about the incident, Griffin said:

"He says, 'Yeah, I'm going to spar with a pro boxer', he books the octagon...I see it, and I was like, 'I don't know, this doesn't look right'... I look up and sure enough, Sean Strickland's just beating the s**t out of this kid...so I run in there and stop him...I got some phone calls that night too. Like, 'Forrest, what are you doing?' Alright, we’ll lock it down. No video. You can video your sparring to watch back later, but there’s no need to bring a camera crew."

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Edited by Ujwal Jain
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