Sean Strickland Signed a 6-Fight UFC Deal Before Facing Khamzat Chimaev in May

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Sean Strickland vs. Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 328
Photo Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect | Source: Lastwordonsports.com - Kshitiz Kumar Singh

New developments have emerged in the ongoing Sean Strickland-UFC pay dispute. The middleweight champion’s 1st title defence was reportedly scheduled for UFC 335 against Nassourdine Imavov, the last numbered event of the year. But the negotiations are in limbo, at least for now, because Strickland and the UFC couldn’t agree on the monetary terms.

Lately, the middleweight kingpin has been very vocal about not being happy with the pay he’s getting for this next title fight and has even clearly said that he would vacate the belt, finish his contract with the UFC, and go box Jake Paul to get the big payday he deserves.

 

There was a rumour circulating on X that Strickland was being offered $400k to show and $400k to win for his next bout, and now for his upcoming title fight, he’s asking for a million bucks. But now we know that those numbers are incorrect, thanks to MMA Junkie reporter Mike Bohn.

Sean Strickland Earned Over A Million Dollars Fighting Khamzat Chimaev

In a video on his YouTube channel, Mike Bohn revealed that Sean Strickland had signed a brand new 6-fight deal with the UFC right before fighting Khamzat at UFC 328. Additionally, he earned more than $1,000,000 for that fight alone.

There are many speculations on the internet about why Sean would ask for more money after recently signing a new deal. Brendan Schaub, a former UFC fighter, had his own analysis regarding this situation; he said, “Remember, Sean Strickland has already beat Imavov. It’s not a sexy fight. It’s not a big fight. UFC wants him to fight Imavov, they’re offering him (expletive) pay, so he’s like, ‘I’ll fight this guy, I’ve already beat him, but I’m not getting paid like I should.'”

Strickland has been pretty articulately expressing his plans for the future. The idea of earning big money while boxing instead of earning less while competing in MMA is very appealing for the American right now.

 

When asked on X why he signed the contract if the terms weren’t right, the reigning champion said that the UFC enjoys undisputed power over fighters and their contracts.

What’s The Best Path For Sean Strickland?

Sean Strickland is one of the UFC’s biggest stars, but his unfiltered personality and unpredictable behavior inside and outside the Octagon also make him a potentially risky asset for the promotion.

The 35-year-old has further cemented his legacy by defeating previously undefeated Khamzat Chimaev to capture UFC gold for the second time. After 38 professional fights, multiple title wins, and several serious injuries, Strickland has every reason to demand the money he believes he deserves. If the UFC cannot meet his financial expectations, his reluctance to continue fighting in MMA would be understandable.

Strickland could also explore boxing, potentially facing Jake Paul in a matchup that would likely be less demanding than taking on elite UFC contenders such as Chimaev, Nassourdine Imavov, or Dricus Du Plessis. More importantly, a boxing match against the YouTuber-turned-boxer could reportedly offer him three to four times the payday he might receive for a UFC fight.

While Strickland’s next opponent and return date remain uncertain, one thing is clear: he cannot simply walk away from his UFC contract to pursue a boxing match. He would need to fulfill his contractual obligations or secure the promotion’s approval, potentially through a special arrangement similar to the one Conor McGregor received to face Floyd Mayweather in 2017.

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