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

Sean Strickland has escalated his financial dispute with the UFC, issuing an ultimatum and threatening not to fight amid stalled contract negotiations. The UFC middleweight champion is reportedly seeking higher compensation for a planned title defense against Nassourdine Imavov, which was targeted for UFC 335. Amid the dispute, Strickland has considered leaving the organization and explored potential boxing crossover bouts, including a fight against Jake Paul.

UFC CEO Dana White has pushed back against Strickland's boxing crossover ambitions, including shutting down a request to box Jai Opetaia. Meanwhile, Strickland's stance on fighter pay has drawn public support from several fellow competitors, including Jorge Masvidal and Brendan Allen, as talks between the champion and the promotion remain in limbo.