“Derek, you’re a scumbag, you prey on broke fighters, and everybody knows it.” BOOM! SEAN STRICKLAND JUST SAID THAT IN PUBLIC! He called out the mega-rich wealth coach, Derek Moneyberg, ON CAMERA for the entire world to see. And Moneyberg’s response was even crazier!
“I’m suing you for every penny you’ve got.”
THIS IS INSANE! This isn’t just a simple argument; this one fight could actually bankrupt one of the biggest UFC stars on the planet. Today, we’re breaking down every single detail of how this one video turned into a multi-million-dollar court battle!
Watch the full video before it’s gone!
Derek Moneyberg & Sean Strickland: Who Are These Guys?
Okay, so who are the two people in this unbelievable story?
First, you have Sean Strickland. In the UFC, this man is an absolute animal. He’s a former champion, a machine in a cage, and he is literally famous for saying whatever he wants, whenever he wants. With Strickland, there are ZERO filters. His entire brand is being 100% real, even when it gets him into huge trouble.
And then you have this guy, Derek Moneyberg. His real name is actually Dale Buczkowski, and he’s WAY harder to figure out. He sells thousand-dollar online courses that promise to make you rich.
But to get credibility in the fight world, Derek Moneyberg did something that has the entire community talking: he got a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt in just 3.5 years—a process that takes most dedicated people over a decade.
Anf then, Moneyberg uses that black belt, which he was awarded by MMA veteran Jake Shields, to promote himself all over the MMA and grappling community, trying to look like an insider. His fans think he’s a genius who can master anything. But his critics? They say he’s a total scammer.
Derek Moneyberg vs Sean Strickland: The Instagram War!
This beef had been simmering for MONTHS, but Strickland’s video was like pouring gasoline on a bonfire. This video EXPLODED, getting more than 160,000 views overnight. The next day, every single MMA and grappling page on the internet had reposted it. It was everywhere.
It didn’t take long for Moneyberg to go on Instagram and threaten Strickland. He wrote:
“I don’t recall ever meeting someone so insincere as Strickland seems to be. I’ve been a gentleman to this guy in every way. I’ve informed him and others have informed him that he is maliciously spreading lies and false information about me and my business. He has had numerous opportunities to stop and apologize. He continues to spread lies however, so now we will go to court, and Sean will reimburse me for the damages he has created. Unfortunately that is now the reality of the situation.”
But Strickland’s reply was furious:
“Well I’ll tell you what buddy… when you sue me and we call in Jake Shields and in a room full of people we put him in a deposition where he said ‘he’s good but I mean he paid me over half a million’ how do you think I know you exist?! Fighters who you paid to peddle your bs sent me your page. These are guys you paid lol… and that being said you’re in Vegas all the time. Roll through, sign a waiver.”
Then Moneyberg replied again, trying to position himself as the calm businessman:
“To those saying things like: ‘put your money where your mouth is and fight him’. I’m a professional businessman, not a professional fighter. I train MMA for fitness and self-defense. Sean is a former UFC champion, and seems to know very little about business or legal matters. This is very simple: Sean said numerous false and malicious statements about me and my business. He will now be made to PUT HIS MONEY WHERE HIS MOUTH IS and reimburse me for the damages done… After our legal matters are resolved some months or years in the future. I’m open-minded about revisiting a public grappling match with him… I don’t believe I’d beat him in a UFC rules fight, and I don’t believe he could submit me in a 5-minute grappling match. But first I will collect the damages I’m owed and invest it wisely.”
These Instagram posts went mega-viral, with thousands of people commenting, trolling Moneyberg, and flooding the internet with their opinions.
Derek Moneyberg Sean Strickland Lawsuit Drops!
Only two days later, the real bomb dropped. On August 30th, Derek Moneyberg filed a real lawsuit. The caption was crazy: “Defendant Strickland maliciously spread lies, causing irreparable harm to my personal and professional reputation. I am seeking compensatory and punitive damages.”
Derek Moneyberg is suing Sean Strickland, the former UFC Middleweight Champion. This is wild!
And you know what! This is not the first time Moneyberg has been in a legal fight like this. In 2021, he sued a YouTuber named Spencer Cornelia, who exposes fake gurus. But this wasn’t some quick settlement. It turned into a brutal, multi-year court battle that cost Cornelia hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal fees. In the end, Cornelia actually WON the case when a judge threw out the lawsuit, ruling Moneyberg was a public figure and there was no evidence of malice.
But here’s the crazy part: the judge denied Cornelia’s request to have Moneyberg pay his massive attorney fees.
Now, both sides are appealing. You know Strickland’s lawyers are going to use this. They’ll say it proves Moneyberg has a history of using expensive lawsuits just to financially drain his critics.
Moneyberg’s team will argue the old case has nothing to do with this one. But if a judge allows it, it could show the jury that Moneyberg is a litigious person who uses the legal system to try and silence people.
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Moneyberg Strickland Lawsuit: How It Will Escalate?
Now we get to the heart of the matter, how this legal battle will unfold. Strickland’s secret weapon is the anti-SLAPP defense. This legal strategy is designed to protect individuals from lawsuits that aim to silence free speech, particularly in public discourse.
California and Nevada have special laws to stop people from filing huge lawsuits just to silence critics. If Strickland’s lawyers can successfully argue that his statements were opinions rather than malicious lies, they could have the entire case dismissed.
Strickland lives in Nevada, which is a huge deal. If they win, not only does the case get thrown out, but Moneyberg might have to pay for all of Strickland’s lawyer fees. The whole thing could flip on him. Lawyers are scrutinizing everything Strickland said for phrases like, “I think,” or, “In my opinion,” as these are protected forms of speech.
However, it’s not a guaranteed win for Strickland. The credibility of both parties will be crucial. Moneyberg’s Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt is under scrutiny as well. He received it in 2021, but critics point out that he never competed at higher belt levels, raising questions about the legitimacy of his BJJ rank.
Strickland has accused him of McDojo economics. Pay the rent, get the belt. This could resonate with a jury, as they may understand the difference between earning a rank and buying it. If Strickland can convince the jury that Moneyberg purchased his black belt, it could severely damage Moneyberg’s credibility.
For Sean Strickland, the stakes could not be higher. If he loses and faces a $10 million judgment, he could be financially ruined. We’re talking about his entire life’s earnings gone. He could go bankrupt, lose his ranch, and see his sponsors vanish.
But if he wins, it would be bigger than any UFC championship. He would become a legend who took on the fake guru industry and triumphed. A poll showed that 73% of voters are already on Team Strickland. However, a jury isn’t Twitter. They’re everyday people who might be swayed by a coach lamenting his ruined reputation. Strickland’s unfiltered personality could backfire in a courtroom.
Closing!
This case is a huge moment that will help decide the line between free speech and defamation for the entire creator economy. So, as we wrap this up, we’re left with one huge question: Is Sean Strickland a reckless maniac who is about to lose all of his money, or is he a hero who’s risking everything to stand up for other people?
