Sean Strickland threatens to leave UFC, ponders fight with Jake Paul
Sean Strickland versus Jake Paul, 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.
Jake Paul cleared for boxing
Paul has been cleared to return to the boxing ring, according to Nakisa Bidardian, co-founder of MVP. He has been unable to train since suffering a broken jaw in a sixth-round knockout loss to Anthony Joshua Dec. 19.
Paul said he needed two surgeries to repair his jaw.
Paul on Thursday, Oct. 19 also included on X what appeared to be a wish-list of opponents and included Canelo Alvarez, Francis Ngannou, Conor McGregor (Boxing & MMA), Darren Till, Ryan Garcia, KSI, Chris Eubank, Edgar Berlanga, Tom Aspinall (Boxing), Deontay Wilder, Nate Diaz (MMA) and Strickland.
Strickland offers more clarity
On Thursday, Strickland shift the focus from compensation to injuries for his waning interest in MMA.
"I crashed out a little,'' he wrote on social media. "Let me explain my frustration.
"I think Im just over MMA..My body is wrecked from 21 years of training. ...Boxing is easier and just way more fun
"I've always been a boxer who does MMA.. Just ready for boxing. My heart isnt in MMA anymore.''
Strickland encounters angry Imavov
Strickland almost had a chance to use his boxing skills Wednesday when a feisty Imavov confronted him at the UFC Performance Institute in Las Vegas, as chronicled by MMA Junkie.
(This story was updated with new information.)
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Sean Strickland threatens to leave UFC, ponders fight with Jake Paul