UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland is refusing to fight Nassourdine Imavov until his financial situation changes. He has threatened to vacate the 185lb title, fight out his contract at light heavyweight, and move to boxing to face Jake Paul. Reports suggest the UFC is offering $400,000 to show and $400,000 to win, while Strickland wants more. Brendan Allen publicly backed Strickland's stance at UFC Vegas 122, saying fighters are underpaid.
UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland says he will not fight Nassourdine Imavov unless his pay situation improves, and he has threatened to vacate the 185-pound title if it does not.
Strickland, who is 31-7-0 and 35 years old, has laid out a series of options should the standoff continue. He has floated fighting out the remainder of his contract at light heavyweight and moving into boxing for a fight with Jake Paul. Reports suggest the UFC has offered $400,000 to show and $400,000 to win, a figure Strickland is said to want increased.
The Californian-born American, who trains at Xtreme Couture, is an orthodox fighter who stands six-foot-one with a 76-inch reach. He lands 6.04 significant strikes per minute at 42 percent accuracy, a volume-heavy approach that has defined his run at middleweight.
His would-be challenger, Imavov, is ranked third in the division. The 30-year-old Frenchman, who fights out of MMA Factory, is 17-4-0 and stands six-foot-three with a 75-inch reach. He lands 4.28 significant strikes per minute at 54 percent accuracy and averages one submission attempt per 15 minutes.
Strickland also found support from within his own division. Brendan Allen, the fourth-ranked middleweight, publicly backed the champion's stance at UFC Vegas 122, saying fighters are underpaid. Allen is 28-7-0 and 30 years old, and he trains with Kill Cliff FC. He is among the more active grapplers at 185 pounds, averaging 1.63 takedowns and 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- A vacated title would throw the middleweight division into uncertainty, with Imavov and other contenders left waiting.
- A move to light heavyweight or boxing would remove the champion from the 185-pound picture entirely.
- Allen's public comments suggest the pay complaint is not limited to Strickland and could resonate across the roster.
The UFC has not been reported to have changed its offer, leaving the title fight in limbo.
