Sean Strickland’s ongoing contract dispute with the UFC could also be getting even messier.
Strickland, the present UFC middleweight champion and a two-time titleholder, was anticipated to defend his belt in opposition to prime contenderNassourdine Imavov to shut out 2026, nevertheless these plans in the end fell by way of after Strickland and the promotion had been unable to conform to phrases over the champion’s pay. Consequently, s in a BMF title bout to headline UFC 335 on Dec. 12.
Strickland, 35, has been open about his ongoing negotiations with the UFC, typically divulging his frustrations over his pay on social media. On Wednesday, these frustrations appeared to hit a boiling level, with Strickland writing that he was “over” the connection “until issues change with the UFC.”
The middleweight champ bemoaned the “insulting” paydays of fellow UFC star Conor McGregor and boxer Conor Benn — the latter of whom inked a reported $15 million with Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing regardless of by no means profitable a world title — and indicated that he could vacate his UFC title, transfer as much as mild heavyweight and “speed-run” the reminder of his UFC contract, with an finish purpose of boxing Jake Paul for a hefty sum as soon as free.
Strickland’s full feedback:
I gotta be sincere until issues change with the UFC Im kinda over it.
McGregor makes 30 million to struggle for 30 second and so they dont need to pay us a fraction of it.
Considering simply going to 205 knocking out my contract and scrapping with l
That sounds enjoyable.
— Sean Strickland (@SStricklandMMA) 6
Its simply arduous McGregor 30 million
Some lame boxer 15 millionThe considered simply giving up my belt going to 205 and pace working my contract to struggle Jake and make what these guys are making sounds fairly rattling interesting
— Sean Strickland (@SStricklandMMA) 6
Its additionally simply insulting how a lot McGregor and a few lame boxer made…. I can sit right here and grind at center weight and kill myself to make 185 or simply transfer up get pleasure from it knock out my contract and get a bag struggle paul… sorry beating the breaks off paul
— Sean Strickland (@SStricklandMMA) 6
I gotta be sincere until issues change with the UFC Im kinda over it.
McGregor makes 30 million to struggle for 30 second and so they dont need to pay us a fraction of it.
Considering simply going to 205 knocking out my contract and scrapping with @jakepaul
That sounds enjoyable.
Its simply arduous McGregor 30 million
Some lame boxer 15 million
The considered simply giving up my belt going to 205 and pace working my contract to struggle Jake and make what these guys are making sounds fairly rattling interesting
Regardless of his numerous outside-of-the-cage controversies, Strickland stands as one of many UFC’s largest names — and few American stars — in its present local weather.
He shocked the MMA world in Could by v to reclaim the middleweight title at UFC 328. The victory got here almost three years after Strickland’s first gorgeous championship win, when he dominated Israel Adesanya as a large underdog to steal away the belt in September 2023 at UFC 293.
Strickland beforehand defeated Imavov through unanimous determination in a lightweight heavyweight bout in 2023. It stays to be seen whether or not the 2 will rematch in early 2027 — and in mild of his newest feedback, whether or not Strickland will stay the UFC middleweight champion.