The UFC matchmakers are hitting a massive wall right now, and it all comes down to fighter pay. They completely failed to lock in Sean Strickland vs. Nassourdine Imavov for UFC 335 after Strickland demanded more money as he was the lowest paying champion. The same stubbornness killed the dream Islam Makhachev vs. Ilia Topuria fight for the White House card, and Paulo Costa is sitting on the sidelines because he refuses to step in without a bump in pay. Fighters are finally putting their foot down. Ever since that giant $7.7 billion Paramount deal went public, guys know how much cash is coming in and are demanding their fair share. The suits are refusing to break out the checkbook though, leaving huge fights dead in the water.
UFC matchmakers are running into a wall over fighter pay, and it is costing the promotion some of its biggest bouts. Sean Strickland vs. Nassourdine Imavov for UFC 335 could not be finalized after Strickland pushed for more money, arguing he is the lowest-paid champion on the roster. The standoff also reportedly helped sink a proposed Islam Makhachev vs. Ilia Topuria fight for the White House card, while Paulo Costa remains on the sidelines because he will not take a replacement bout without a pay bump.
The pay push comes on the heels of the public disclosure of the UFC's $7.7 billion Paramount deal. Fighters now have a clearer picture of how much revenue is coming in, and several are demanding a bigger share. The promotion, per the report, has been unwilling to open the checkbook.
The fighters at the center
Strickland, 35, is the reigning middleweight champion with a 31-7-0 record. The American out of Xtreme Couture lands 6.04 significant strikes per minute at 42 percent accuracy, and he stands six-foot-one with a 76-inch reach. His complaint is that his champion status has not been matched by his paycheck.
Makhachev, 34, is 29-1-0 and holds the welterweight title. The Russian from Eagles MMA is a grappling-first fighter, averaging 3.22 takedowns per 15 minutes with a 58 percent striking accuracy and 0.9 submission attempts per 15 minutes.
Topuria, 29, is 17-1-0 and sits at number one in the lightweight rankings and number one pound-for-pound. The Spaniard, who trains at Climent Club, lands 4.81 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy and adds 1.96 takedowns and 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- A champion publicly pushing back on pay could set a precedent for others on the roster.
- The collapse of Makhachev vs. Topuria removes a blockbuster pairing of a pound-for-pound ranked star and a two-division champion from the White House card.
- Strickland vs. Imavov falling through leaves the UFC 335 middleweight title picture unsettled.
- With Costa unwilling to step in without more money, matchmakers have fewer replacement options for short-notice bouts.
