Controversial entrepreneur and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt Derek Moneyberg has made a bold claim regarding former UFC champion Sean Strickland.
In a recent interview, Moneyberg issued a direct challenge, stating he doesn’t believe Strickland could submit him within five minutes in a grappling match.
The tension between Moneyberg and Strickland escalated after the UFC fighter made disparaging comments about Moneyberg’s black belt credentials and business practices.
“I don’t even think you believe the s**t you’re saying, but if you actually believe that, I’ll do a public match with you,” Moneyberg stated, addressing Strickland directly. “I don’t think you could tap me in five minutes.”
Moneyberg was careful to clarify his position, emphasizing respect for Strickland’s abilities as a complete fighter. “I don’t think I’d beat him in a UFC fight either, by the way. I think he’s 12 years younger than me. He’s very talented and I respect his fight skills. But I don’t think he’s a better grappler than I am. I sincerely don’t believe that.”
The businessman’s confidence stems from his intensive training regimen with elite coaches. Moneyberg earned his black belt in under four years, a timeline that has drawn criticism from traditionalists in the martial arts community. However, he defends his accelerated progression by pointing to the quality and intensity of his training.
“I trained my a** off every day and I brought in the best coaches in the world to help me,” Moneyberg explained. His training partners have included UFC veterans like Michael Chandler, Henry Cejudo, and Jake Shields, along with grappling legends such as Gordon Ryan and instruction from John Danaher’s prestigious gym.
According to Moneyberg, the controversy surrounding his black belt stems from two groups: those who don’t understand how elite coaching can accelerate learning, and traditionalists who believe there’s only one path to mastery. “If you had the best coaches in the world and you put in that amount of effort, you put in the same hours with the best coaches in the world, yeah, you’re going to f**k up plenty of black belts,” he said confidently.
The dispute between Moneyberg and Strickland has now moved into legal territory, with Moneyberg preparing to file his third lawsuit ever.
“When he starts insulting my character and telling lies about my character and lies about my business practice and does that in a malicious way that’s intended to harm me and harm my business, nobody has the right to do that,” Moneyberg stated. “That’s what the legal system is for.”
Before the situation escalated to legal threats, Moneyberg claims he attempted to resolve matters peacefully, inviting Strickland to train together on multiple occasions. “I asked him twice, ‘Hey, come do an interview with me.’ He never did that. After he started talking s**t, I said, ‘Well, if you believe that, then just come train with me.'”
When asked if he thought he could submit the UFC champion, Moneyberg remained measured: “I don’t think that would be easy. I’m not saying that I would tap him, but I’m saying he wouldn’t—what I do feel confident to say is I don’t think he would tap me in five minutes.”
Whether this proposed match will ever materialize remains uncertain, particularly with legal proceedings now in motion.
