Sean Strickland Turned Down UFC 335 Main Event Due to Major Pay Cut
Sean Strickland Rejects UFC 335 Main Event Over Significant Salary Reduction
For months, fans expected Sean Strickland to defend his middleweight championship against third-ranked Nassourdine Imavov at UFC 335, the final numbered event of the year. Strickland had just pulled off an upset victory over Khamzat Chimaev, while Imavov was riding a five-fight winning streak, including wins over top contenders like Jared Cannonier, Brendan Allen, Israel Adesanya, and Caio Borralho.
However, when the UFC announced the UFC 335 lineup during the broadcast of UFC 332, that fight was missing. Instead, the card was centered around Charles Oliveira versus Diego Lopes for the BMF title and Alex Pereira against Sergei Pavlovich in the co-main event, leaving many wondering why Strickland was absent.
Compensation Dispute Causes Breakdown in Negotiations
Some initially thought Strickland's absence was due to injuries from a recent off-road vehicle accident. It turned out the real problem was money. Strickland confirmed ongoing talks with the UFC about his pay before the fight could be officially scheduled. In response to a tweet on September 27, he said, "We're discussing pay now. Once that detail is squared, it's locked in." He also dismissed Imavov, calling him a "fake Frenchman" and implied the deal was close but stalled.
Details of Proposed Pay Cut Revealed
Champions usually hold strong leverage right after winning titles, but Strickland was reportedly offered a large pay cut compared to his payout for the victory over Chimaev. At UFC 328, Strickland earned $1,082,000. For the proposed UFC 335 bout, reports say he was offered $400,000 to show and another $400,000 to win—a figure less than half what he previously made.
Strickland reportedly sought a guaranteed $1 million payday, reflecting his status and achievements, including capturing the UFC middleweight title twice. Only seventeen fighters have reclaimed championship belts in their divisions within the UFC, with Petr Yan and Strickland being the latest to do so.
Future Fight Possibilities and Imavov’s Challenge
The UFC likely plans to reschedule the fight, possibly early in 2027, but Imavov has grown impatient. He publicly challenged Strickland by offering to bet $500,000 of his own money on the fight happening in January and questioned whether the champion truly wants the matchup.
"If it's really about money, I'll put $500k of my own money on the line if you beat me in January [Sean Strickland], putting this on record," Imavov wrote on X. "If you still don't take it, then you're just scared. I'll handle you outside. UFC, THIS is your champ? Come on, STRIP HIM."
There is no sign the UFC is considering such a wager, but they remain hopeful to finalize terms with Strickland soon for his first title defense.
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