Sean Strickland has threatened to relinquish his UFC middleweight title, move up to the 205-pound light heavyweight division, and pursue a boxing match with Jake Paul amid an escalating financial dispute with the promotion. The reigning champion expressed open frustration on social media over fighter pay discrepancies, contrasting his current contract with multi-million dollar payouts reported for Conor McGregor and Conor Benn.
Financial Disputes Stall Strickland Imavov Title Defense
The friction stems from negotiations for a prospective title defense against Nassourdine Imavov at UFC 335. The matchup failed to materialize after financial terms stalled. When an Instagram user asked Strickland about speculation that he sought a higher purse, the champion responded with “bingo lol.” Imavov subsequently offered to pay Strickland $500,000 out of his own pocket to meet an alleged $1 million asking price, while reported UFC offers stood at $400,000 to show and $400,000 to win.
Taking to X, Strickland voiced his discontent directly. I gotta be honest, unless things change with the UFC Im kinda over it,
he wrote. He pointed to Conor McGregor allegedly being paid $30 million for his disastrous return at UFC 329, which lasted just over a minute. Strickland added, McGregor makes 30 million to fight for 30 seconds, 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.
| Athlete / Event | Reported / Alleged Payout | Context / Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Conor McGregor | $30 Million | UFC 329 return appearance (69 seconds) |
| Conor Benn | $15 Million | Zuffa Boxing signing |
| Sean Strickland (UFC Offer) | $400,000 to show / $400,000 to win | Proposed middleweight title defense |
Strickland Considers Moving to 205 Pounds
Beyond the financial figures, Strickland highlighted the physical toll required to make the 185-pound middleweight limit. He noted that the extreme dieting and grueling weight management process do not match the financial rewards, especially when observing significantly higher purses across boxing circuits. In another post, he criticized McGregor while bringing up Conor Benn’s reported $15 million payday after leaving Eddie Hearn to sign with Zuffa Boxing, writing, It's 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 fight Jake and make what these guys are making sounds pretty damn appealing.
He also warned that his rant could turn into a once-in-a-lifetime crashout
and tagged Paramount+ while asking for a pay bump, adding, It's 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?
Strickland most recently competed at UFC 328 in May, defeating Khamzat Chimaev by split decision to reclaim the middleweight championship for his second reign. While recovering from a lingering shoulder issue, his future in the division remains clouded by his ultimatum. He reiterated that speed-running the remainder of his UFC contract at light heavyweight to eventually box Jake Paul remains a viable alternative if terms are not revised.
