Sean Strickland Declines UFC 335 Main Event Over Major Pay Cut

Sean Strickland Walks Away from UFC 335 Main Event Due to Pay Dispute

For months, fans anticipated UFC Middleweight Champion Sean Strickland to defend his title against the No. 3 contender, Nassourdine Imavov, at the year-end UFC 335 event. Strickland, fresh off an unexpected victory over Khamzat Chimaev, was expected to headline the card. Meanwhile, Imavov boasts a five-fight winning streak with wins over top middleweights like Jared Cannonier, Brendan Allen, Israel Adesanya, and Caio Borralho.

When UFC 335 was announced during UFC 332’s live broadcast, the anticipated Strickland vs. Imavov bout was missing. Instead, the headline featured Charles Oliveira versus Diego Lopes for the BMF title, with Alex Pereira facing Sergei Pavlovich as co-main event. This left many wondering about Strickland's absence from the card.

Pay Negotiations Lead to Stalemate

Initially, some speculated Strickland’s recent off-road accident caused the delay. But the real issue turned out to be money. Strickland confirmed on September 27 that pay talks were still underway, saying, "We're discussing pay now. Once that's finalized, it's locked in." He added a dismissive comment about the challenger, calling him a "fake Frenchman." Unfortunately, negotiations did not reach an agreement.

Details of the Proposed Pay Cut Surface

Strickland made $1,082,000 after his split decision win over Chimaev at UFC 328. Reports indicate the UFC proposed less than half that amount for his next fight: around $400,000 to show and another $400,000 to win against Imavov. Strickland reportedly sought a guaranteed $1 million purse, reflecting his status as a two-time middleweight champion and his impressive resume.

Only seventeen fighters have reclaimed UFC championship gold, with Petr Yan and Strickland among the latest. This makes Strickland’s demand understandable given his achievements.

Future of the Fight and Imavov's Challenge

The UFC might try to reschedule the matchup for early 2027. However, Imavov has publicly expressed impatience, upping the stakes by offering $500,000 of his own money to prove the champion’s commitment. On social media, Imavov challenged Strickland directly, writing, "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. If you still don't take it, then you're just scared." He also called on the UFC to strip Strickland if he refuses to fight.

There is no sign the UFC will accept such a wager, but they remain hopeful to finalize a deal with Strickland for his first title defense soon.

• Fight: Sean Strickland vs. Nassourdine Imavov
• Strickland's UFC 328 Earnings: $1,082,000
• Proposed UFC 335 Offer: $400,000 to show, $400,000 to win
• Strickland's Demand: $1,000,000 guaranteed
• Imavov's Record: 17-4, 9-2-1 UFC
• Imavov's Winning Streak: 5 fights