Sean Strickland, unhappy with UFC, says Jake Paul fight sounds fun

Sean Strickland versus Jake Paul in the cage, anyone?

Strickland, UFC middleweight champion, mused about that possibility along with threatening to leave the UFC.

“I gotta be honest unless things change with the UFC Im kinda over it,’’ Strickland wrote Wednesday, Oct. 7 on his  Twitter account. “McGregor makes 30 million to fight for 30 second and they dont want to pay us a fraction of it. Contemplating just going to 205 (pounds, the light heavyweight division) knocking out my contract and scrapping with @jakepaul.’’

That sounds fun.”

Paul, 29  has expressed interest in fighting in MMA and has said he expects it to happen in 2027. But he has not resumed training since he suffered a broken jaw in a knockout loss to Anthony Joshua Dec. 19.

Strickland, 35, indicated he could meet Paul at 205 pounds.

“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,’’ Strickland wrote on X.

Paul appeared to respond when on X he wrote, "If you want your fair share call MVP when you are free.'' Paul is co-founder of Most Valuable Promotions, which recently merged with the MMA Professional Fighters League.

In citing 30 million, Strickland was referring to McGregor’s comeback fight July 11, when MMA superstar tore ligaments in his right knee early in the fight. The bout lasted 69 seconds before the referee halted the fight because it appeared McGregor could not continue.

In September, when asked on X if Nassourdine Imavov would be his next opponent, Strickland responded, “We're discussing pay now. Once that detail is squared, it's locked in. The issue is no one cares about the fake Frenchman. We're almost there."

But Strickland’s comments on X indicate he’s unhappy with the financial terms for a fight with Imavov, who Strickland beat by unanimous decision in 2023.

Strickland fought last on May 9, when he defeated Khamzat Chimaev by split decision and won the UFC middleweight crown.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Sean Strickland, unhappy with UFC, says Jake Paul fight sounds fun