‘Pay the man’... UFC fans back Sean Strickland amid financial dispute with Dana White
The champion has refused to fight until his contract pay changes, and the UFC has not booked the Imavov title rematch.
- On Monday, UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland publicly attacked journalist Ariel Helwani on X, calling him a "pathetic MMA leech" amid his ongoing pay dispute with the promotion.
- Strickland signed a six-fight deal in May, but has since refused to defend his 185-pound title, claiming he was strong-armed into the agreement by the UFC.
- Responding on Tuesday, Helwani claimed Strickland suffers from "Israel Derangement Syndrome," while UFC CEO Dana White maintained the fighter signed a valid contract earlier this year.
- At UFC Vegas 122 on Saturday, fighter Brendan Allen backed the champion, admitting that athletes "are underpaid" while expressing concern about potential repercussions for speaking out.
- The middleweight title will remain undefended throughout 2026 due to the ongoing dispute, as Strickland threatens to vacate his belt despite contractual restrictions preventing him from competing elsewhere.
14 Articles
14 Articles
Dana White breaks silence on Sean Strickland's UFC pay gap criticism - Here's what UFC CEO said
Dana White recently responded to Sean Strickland's complaints about pay disparities among UFC fighters, following some pointed criticisms. White disputed Strickland's points while underscoring a contract signed earlier this year. Strickland's dissatisfaction arises from comparisons with top earners like Conor McGregor, who rake in impressive sums. The discussion around Strickland's next title defense is muddied by these grievances, raising quest…
Dana White Calls Out Sean Strickland for Lying About His UFC Pay
Dana White has asked Sean Strickland to stop complaining about his UFC pay, and he didn’t exactly hold back! With ‘Tarzan’ unhappy with his paycheck and pushing for a bigger payday, the UFC boss has fired back, questioning the middleweight champion’s complaints and pointing to his May deal. And judging by White’s reaction, he’s not […]
'He doesn't live in reality': MMA reporter Ariel Helwani does not hold back on Sean Strickland
On Tuesday, the veteran MMA reporter Ariel Helwani used his show to respond to UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland, who called him a “leach” and “the most biased weak man on the internet” earlier this week. Helwani didn’t hold back. He took aim at Strickland’s online persona, his politics, and the contract that has him…
Sean Strickland Praised as 'Hardest Working Guy' by UFC Veteran
Long-time UFC veteran Beneil Dariush praised UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland as the “hardest working guy” he’s ever met.Strickland, who is currently involved in a pay dispute with the UFC, is a staple at Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas, though he came up training and fighting on the California regional scene.Dariush, a former training partner […]
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