Sean Strickland doesn’t sound like a guy willing to wait around for the UFC to sort out his money.
The middleweight champion was reportedly supposed to headline UFC 335 against Nassourdine Imavov. But when the promotion announced the card over the weekend, it was Charles Oliveira and Diego Lopes getting the top billing instead.
Strickland’s match never made the announcement, and he made it clear on social media why: a contract dispute that’s left him fed up with how the UFC pays its champions.
He took to X to vent his frustration, pointing directly at the pay disparity between UFC athletes and the kind of money a crossover star like Conor McGregor can pull in for far less work.
“I gotta be honest unless things change with the UFC Im kinda over it. McGregor makes 30 million to compete for 30 second and they dont want to pay us a fraction of it. Contemplating just going to 205 knocking out my contract and scrapping with @jakepaul That sounds fun.”
Strickland wasn’t done there. He followed up with a second post laying out the numbers as he sees them, suggesting that leaving his title behind for a crack at Jake Paul might actually be the smarter financial move.
“Its just hard McGregor 30 million. Some lame boxer 15 million. The thought of just giving up my belt going to 205 and speed running my contract to compete against Jake and make what these guys are making sounds pretty damn appealing.”
That “205” reference points to light heavyweight, a jump of a full weight class above his current 185 lbs (84 kg) middleweight limit, up to the 205 lb (93 kg) ceiling. It’s not a jump many would expect from a reigning champion, but Strickland floating the idea of abandoning the belt entirely shows just how serious his frustration has gotten.
Jake Paul didn’t take long to respond, and his reply read less like an invitation and more like a redirect. Paul told Strickland to sort out his standing with the UFC before anything could move forward.
“Sean Strickland I see your texts but are you out of contract? Tell your “promoter” to call MVP”
Rather than backing off, Strickland leaned further into the chaos. He suggested that if his current deal won’t bend, he might just talk his way out of it. He also floated the idea of becoming a loud, unfiltered personality elsewhere.
“It is funny when they say but your contract says….. I think being the new unfiltered face of paramount sounds kinda entertaining. I guess that could be my consolation prize? Any request?”
He capped off the exchange with a post hinting that whatever comes next could be a spectacle unlike anything the sport has seen.
“All I’m saying this could be a once in a life time crash out….. In the entire history of televised combat….”
Whether any of this leads to an actual exit from the UFC remains to be seen, but Strickland has made his frustration with the pay structure impossible to ignore. For now, his middleweight title and his UFC future are both sitting in question. Depending on how the promotion responds, Jake Paul could end up getting the opponent he never expected to be chasing.
