Sean Strickland Declines UFC 335 Main Event Over Significant Pay Cut

For months, fans anticipated UFC Middleweight Champion Sean Strickland would defend his title against top contender Nassourdine Imavov at the year-end event UFC 335. Strickland came off a surprising victory over Khamzat Chimaev, while Imavov rode a five-fight winning streak, including wins over Jared Cannonier, Brendan Allen, Israel Adesanya, and Caio Borralho.

When the UFC 335 card was revealed during the UFC 332 broadcast, the much-anticipated matchup was missing. Instead, the main event featured Charles Oliveira vs. Diego Lopes for the BMF title, with Alex Pereira facing Sergei Pavlovich in the co-main. Fans were left wondering why Strickland-Imavov was absent.

Pay Negotiations Stall Fight Agreement

Initially, speculation pointed toward Strickland's recent off-road vehicle accident as the cause for the delay. The truth seems to lie elsewhere. Strickland confirmed that negotiations about his fight purse were ongoing, telling fans on September 27, "We're discussing pay now... Once that's locked in, the fight is official." He also dismissed Imavov by calling him a "fake Frenchman," suggesting the issue involved more than just health.

Unfortunately, talks broke down, and reports surfaced revealing the UFC offered Strickland significantly less money than he earned in his title-winning bout.

Details of the Proposed Pay Cut

After his split decision victory at UFC 328 in New Jersey, where Strickland earned $1,082,000, the UFC reportedly proposed a total payout of $800,000 for the next fight—$400,000 to show and $400,000 to win. This represents less than half of what he made previously.

Strickland, 35, is said to have sought a guaranteed $1 million payday reflecting his status as a two-time middleweight champion and the quality of his resume.

• Strickland’s last fight payout: $1,082,000
• UFC offer for UFC 335 fight: $400,000 to show + $400,000 to win ($800,000 total)
• Strickland’s desired guarantee: $1,000,000

Only seventeen fighters in UFC history have reclaimed championship belts in their divisions, with Petr Yan and Sean Strickland among the most recent to achieve this feat.

Potential Rescheduling and Imavov’s Challenge

The UFC might try to reschedule the fight for early 2027, but Imavov appears unwilling to wait indefinitely. He publicly raised the stakes by offering to wager $500,000 of his own money on the bout and questioned whether Strickland really wants to fight.

"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," Imavov wrote on X. "If you still don't take it, then you're just scared. I'll handle you outside. UFC, THIS is your champ? Come on, STRIP HIM."

There is no sign that the UFC plans to respond to Imavov's wager, but talks continue with hopes of settling terms for Strickland's first title defense soon.