UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland has revealed that he is considering vacating his title and moving up to the light heavyweight division due to dissatisfaction with the promotion's fighter pay structure.
As reported by İdman.Biz, the American fighter expressed frustration over his relationship with the UFC and suggested that he could complete his remaining contractual obligations before exploring opportunities outside the organization.
"If nothing changes with the UFC, I'm getting tired of this. McGregor gets $30 million for 30 seconds of fighting, while they don't even want to pay us a fraction of that amount," Strickland wrote on his X account.
"I'm thinking about just moving up to 205 pounds, finishing my contract and fighting Jake Paul. Sounds fun," he added.
A move to light heavyweight would see Strickland compete in the 205-pound (93 kg) division, one weight class above his current middleweight category, which has a limit of 185 pounds (84 kg).
The possibility of facing Jake Paul would also represent a significant change in direction for Strickland. Paul, who rose to prominence as a social media personality before entering professional boxing, has attracted considerable attention through high-profile fights and lucrative events.
Strickland's comments come after a major achievement in his UFC career. In his most recent appearance, the American handed Khamzat Chimaev the first defeat of his professional MMA career and captured the UFC middleweight championship.
Despite regaining the title, Strickland's latest remarks have raised questions about his future in the promotion and whether he intends to continue defending the middleweight belt.
