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Dana White Says Sean Strickland’s UFC Pay Claim Is “Not True”
Dana White has answered Sean Strickland’s complaints about his UFC paycheck, and his response comes down to the paperwork. The UFC CEO says his middleweight champion signed a new contract in May and disputes the earnings figure being discussed publicly. What White did not provide was an alternative number.
Speaking after the October 13 Dana White’s Contender Series finale in Las Vegas, White said he had not personally spoken to Strickland about the dispute. His opening response suggested the champion’s latest complaints had not caught him off guard. I’ve just heard through social media and stuff, but when isn’t Sean Strickland upset about something or doesn’t have something to say?” White told reporters.
White then repeatedly pointed to the timing of Strickland’s agreement. “Sean Strickland just signed a new contract in May,” he said. “He signed a new deal. And from what I hear, the number he’s putting out there, it’s not true. The number that he claimed he made is not true.” White did not explain which payment or component of Strickland’s compensation he was challenging.
Dana White Pushes Back on Sean Strickland’s UFC Pay Complaints: “He Just Signed a New Deal”
The distinction, for White, was between a fighter seeking changes to an old agreement and someone who had recently accepted new terms. “If we were in a situation where he’d been under the same contract for a year, two years, he just signed a contract in May,” he said. “He got a whole new deal in May. So it is what it is.”
Dana White reacts to Sean Strickland’s UFC pay dispute:
“When isn’t Sean Strickland upset about something? Sean Strickland just signed a new contract in May.
From what I hear, the number he’s putting out there is not true… It is what it is.” pic.twitter.com/UW7gprSUK4
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) October 14, 2026
Strickland’s argument has gone beyond the purse for one fight. He has complained that UFC fighters cannot earn enough to retire on their own terms, comparing his income with the $30 million he claimed Conor McGregor earned for his last appearance and boxer Conor Benn making $15 million from Zuffa Boxing.
The disagreement has also complicated discussions about a title defense against Nassourdine Imavov. Strickland has said he will not defend the belt until his financial concerns are settled and has floated vacating the championship, finishing his contract and pursuing boxing.
Sean Strickland Wants Out of UFC, But Former UFC Double Champ Doesn’t Want To See “Tarzan” Leave. (Photo by Mike Roach/Zuffa LLC)
Despite White’s reference to a disputed number, Strickland’s public complaints have not included a complete breakdown of his UFC earnings. Imavov, meanwhile, has tried putting his own cash into the conversation. He offered $500,000 if Strickland beats him in a proposed January matchup and called for the UFC to strip the champion if he refuses. That offer remains a public challenge rather than an announced contractual arrangement.
Strickland’s pay dispute gathered pace after talks for a title defense against Nassourdine Imavov at UFC 335 failed to produce an agreement. He questioned why Conor McGregor could reportedly earn $30 million and boxer Conor Benn could secure a reported $15 million Zuffa Boxing deal while the UFC would not pay him “a fraction of it.” He floated vacating his middleweight belt, completing his remaining UFC fights at light heavyweight and pursuing a boxing match with Jake Paul, before declaring on October 9: “I will not fight or sign any contract until I get this figured out.”
Strickland has since drawn a line on further negotiations, saying he “will not fight or sign any contract” until the issue is resolved. White’s response confirmed neither a revised offer nor a scheduled title defense, and the terms of the May agreement remain undisclosed.