UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland has threatened to leave mixed martial arts over a fighter pay dispute, citing Conor McGregor’s reported $30 million payday as he seeks to pursue boxing and fight Jake Paul.
Sean Strickland wants out of his UFC contract. The 35-year-old champion reclaimed the 185-pound belt by defeating Khamzat Chimaev via split decision at UFC 328 in May, but now faces a standoff with the promotion over compensation, legacy, and physical wear.
Strickland blasted the promotion’s business model on social media, contrasting his earnings with those of top stars.
McGregor makes 30 million to fight for 30 seconds and they don’t want to pay us a fraction of it.
Sean Strickland, UFC Middleweight Champion
He also pointed to a reported $15 million one-fight deal for Some lame boxer
Conor Benn with Zuffa Boxing—the promotion co-founded by UFC supremo Dana White—to highlight the gap in MMA compensation.
Injuries and Legacy Push Strickland From MMA
Strickland admitted that his heart just isn’t in MMA anymore
after 21 years of training. His body carries a heavy load of injuries: a groin tear, a Type 2 AC joint separation, an extended Type 5 SLAP tear, and a partial rotator cuff tear suffered during sparring in fight week.
He holds wins over Israel Adesanya and Khamzat Chimaev, as well as current contenders Nassourdine Imavov and Anthony Hernandez.
In a social media video, Strickland argued that fighters are forced to compete long past their prime because they cannot retire securely.
Let me tell you something about the UFC – I’m going to say the quiet part out loud that nobody says. You watch these champions, they run the division and they take [a loss], and then they come back and they fight three or four times and get flatlined.
Sean Strickland, UFC Middleweight Champion
Strickland said fighters return to the cage simply to make ends meet. You’re like, ‘Dude, what happened to you?’ And you realise the UFC happened. They just don’t care anymore,
he said. They don’t pay you enough money to walk away. The UFC builds a legacy and they don’t pay you enough. So you have to come back and ruin your legacy. I don’t want to do that.
Strickland Targets Jake Paul Amid Contract Deadlock
Negotiations for a title defense against Nassourdine Imavov stalled over compensation, despite Strickland previously stating the bout would be locked in once pay details were squared. The two previously clashed at the UFC facility in Las Vegas before security separated them, with Imavov questioning him about the unsigned contract.
Strickland suggested vacating his belt and moving up to 205 pounds to speed run
his existing contract to clear a path for boxing.
I want to box. I want to put a boxing title on my mantle. I deserve it. I will put hands on any boxer. Jake Paul, who wants to give me a big ‘ole bag to fight him. I’m under contract. Fine, I’ll go to Zuffa and beat your cruiserweight champ. Easy.
Sean Strickland, UFC Middleweight Champion
Jake Paul, co-founder of Most Valuable Promotions, responded via social media to gauge the champion’s availability. Paul has built his pay-per-view headlining fights largely around aging ex-UFC fighters and listed a wish list of opponents including McGregor, Canelo Alvarez, Francis Ngannou, and Tom Aspinall.
If you want your fair share call MVP when you are free
Jake Paul, Most Valuable Promotions Co-Founder
Paul later asked directly about Strickland’s legal obligations: Sean Strickland I see your texts but are you out of contract? Tell your ‘promoter’ to call MVP.
Strickland responded that putting hands on Paul sounds way better than the UFC right now,
though he has not yet decided whether to nuke his contract. An Imavov rematch would not take place until January at the earliest.
More on Sean Strickland
Related reading
