Sean Strickland says he is kind of over it with the UFC unless pay changes

[Margin]

UFC Middleweight Champion Sean Strickland has gone public with complaints about his pay, Fightful reports. Writing on social media, he said that unless things change with the UFC, he is kind of over it. He pointed to Conor McGregor, saying McGregor makes 30 million to fight for 30 seconds while fighters like him get only a fraction of it. As always with Strickland, there was no filter

He floated a surprising alternative. Strickland said he was thinking about moving up to 205 pounds, knocking out his contract and fighting Jake Paul. He called that idea fun. He also compared his pay with a lame boxer making 15 million, which seems aimed at Paul as well

Strickland went further, saying the thought of giving up his belt, going to 205 and speed running his contract to fight Jake Paul and earn what those guys make sounds pretty appealing. Whether he means it or is using it as leverage is the big question. Fighters often go public with pay complaints when negotiations stall. It puts pressure on the promotion in front of the fans

The context matters here. Strickland won the title by split decision at UFC 328. A December defence against Nassourdine Imavov has been planned, but Fightful says that fight is still not official because of a pay dispute between Strickland and the UFC. So this is not just a random rant, it is tied to a real contract stand off

The pay gap between UFC fighters and boxers has been a talking point for years. Champions in the UFC earn good money, but nowhere near the sums the biggest boxing names take home. Jake Paul's success has made that comparison even more painful for MMA fighters. I would not be surprised if more UFC stars start making the same argument

Does Strickland have a point about pay? And would you want to see him fight Jake Paul?

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