Sean Strickland says his heart is no longer in MMA, and the UFC middleweight champion plans to talk to the UFC about what Zuffa Boxing has to offer. Strickland posted on X early Thursday that boxing pays more and is “significantly easier,” citing a groin tear and an AC joint separation.
“Yall I think Im just frustrated because my body is crashing because MMA training is brutal,” Strickland wrote. “My heart just isnt in MMA anymore. Groin tear, AC joint separation.”
He followed with: “I just dont think my heart is in MMA anymore. Boxing there is more money and its significantly easier.” Replying to a fan who told him to “go get the bag,” Strickland answered: “Thanks man. Lets make boxing great again. Gonna talk to the UFC tomorrow and see what Zuffa boxing has to offer.”
How Jake Paul got pulled in
The posts followed a Wednesday outburst in which Strickland said “unless things change with the UFC Im kinda over it.” He argued the UFC won’t pay its fighters “a fraction” of what Conor McGregor makes, and floated moving up to 205 pounds, “knocking out” his contract and fighting Jake Paul. In a second post he set McGregor’s $30 million against $15 million for “some lame boxer,” an apparent reference to Conor Benn, who lost to Ryan Garcia at a Zuffa Boxing event in Las Vegas in September.
Paul answered quickly. “Sean Strickland I see your texts but are you out of contract? Tell your ‘promoter’ to call MVP,” he wrote. Strickland replied that he hasn’t decided whether he wants to “nuke my contract,” but that “putting hands on you sounds way better than the UFC right now.”
The timing is notable. Strickland is one of the names on the wish list Paul posted Wednesday night, and Most Valuable Promotions co-founder Nakisa Bidarian announced Thursday that Paul has been cleared to return to the ring.
The contract problem
Strickland remains under UFC contract, so he can’t simply book a boxing fight elsewhere, and no bout with Paul or anyone else in boxing has been announced. Pointing at Zuffa Boxing instead of MVP would keep him within the UFC’s orbit. He hasn’t said what he expects the UFC to offer, and whether the posts are a genuine pivot or pressure in a pay dispute is unclear.
Strickland didn’t say when the groin tear happened, and the injuries are his own account. He reclaimed the middleweight title at UFC 328 in May with a split decision win over Khamzat Chimaev, but his first defense against Nassourdine Imavov still isn’t official. Imavov has offered $500,000 of his own money to get the fight made in January and asked the UFC to strip Strickland if he refuses.
