Sean Strickland Considers Leaving UFC Over Pay Dispute
Sean Strickland has threatened to leave the UFC amid ongoing negotiations for his first title defense, expressing dissatisfaction with the pay offered compared to Conor McGregor's earnings. Strickland, the middleweight champion, is reportedly seeking a portion of McGregor's substantial purse from UFC 329, where McGregor earned around $30 million.
Strickland's frustration stems from a failed agreement for his fight against Nassourdine Imavov, which was supposed to headline UFC 335 in December. The UFC's offer of $400,000 to show and $400,000 to win did not meet Strickland's reported demand of $1 million, leading to the cancellation of his planned title defense.
Despite the significant pay gap between him and McGregor, Strickland believes that his popularity as a champion warrants better compensation. He has previously voiced similar concerns about UFC pay and has even considered boxing Jake Paul as an alternative. Meanwhile, Imavov has expressed willingness to fight Strickland and offered $500,000 from his own funds to facilitate the matchup.
