Overview
- On Sunday, Sean Strickland told a livestream audience he wants the UFC to release him so he can fight Jake Paul, saying even a fraction of Paul’s reported earnings would outpace his UFC pay.
- Forbes placed Jake Paul at No. 23 on its 2026 highest-paid athletes list with estimated total earnings of $70 million, a ranking cited by multiple outlets that reignited pay comparisons between boxing and MMA.
- Social-media reporting estimated Strickland’s UFC career payouts at roughly $8 million before his recent fights, and he has previously criticized UFC compensation as predatory in interviews.
- Other top fighters are exploring exits and crossover routes, with Jon Jones reported to be seeking legal avenues to pursue boxing and promoters under Zuffa/TKO shown to have paid large one-off deals, such as the reported $15 million for Conor Benn.
- The public call highlights a growing tension that could prompt more contract disputes and selective high‑pay crossover matches, and it pressures the UFC and affiliated promoters to weigh targeted payouts or tighter retention strategies.