UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland said he may give up his title, move to light heavyweight and finish his contract sooner if the promotion does not change fighter pay. He said he would then like to box Jake Paul.
Strickland made the comments in a post on X. The American said he believes UFC fighters are paid too little compared with prominent athletes in boxing. He cited Conor McGregor as an example, though the purse figure he mentioned has not been independently confirmed.
Strickland said he was considering moving to the 205-pound division to complete his contract and then fight Paul. He described the idea as appealing but did not announce a decision to relinquish his title or leave the UFC.
UFC records show Strickland reclaimed the middleweight title in May 2026 with a split-decision win over Khamzat Chimaev. He is 35, has competed in the promotion since 2014 and has a professional MMA record of 31 wins and seven losses.
His post comes amid longstanding debate over UFC fighter compensation. The promotion and its leadership had not publicly responded to the statement.