Sean Strickland says his heart is no longer in MMA, and he plans to talk to the UFC about what Zuffa Boxing has to offer. The middleweight champion posted the comments on X early Thursday, hours after threatening to vacate his title over pay.
“Yall I think Im just frustrated because my body is crashing because MMA training is brutal,” Strickland wrote. “My heart just isnt in MMA anymore. Groin tear, AC joint separation.”
He added: “I just dont think my heart is in MMA anymore. Boxing there is more money and its significantly easier.”
Replying to D’Sean (@dseanmac), who told him he has nothing left to prove in MMA and should “go get the bag,” Strickland answered: “Thanks man. Lets make boxing great again. Gonna talk to the UFC tomorrow and see what Zuffa boxing has to offer.”
From Jake Paul to Zuffa Boxing
The new posts shift the tone of Wednesday’s outburst. Strickland wrote then that “unless things change with the UFC Im kinda over it,” pointing to the $30 million he says Conor McGregor makes for a 30-second fight, and floated moving to 205 pounds to fight out his contract and box Jake Paul.
Paul answered the same night. “If you want your fair share call MVP when you are free,” he wrote.
Now Strickland is naming Zuffa Boxing as a destination, which would keep him inside the UFC’s orbit rather than with Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions. He has not said what he expects the UFC to offer, and nothing has been announced.
The injuries and the title fight
Strickland did not say when he suffered the groin tear, and it is his own account only. The AC joint separation echoes what he described after UFC 328, when he said he separated his shoulder sparring Johnny Eblen four days before beating Khamzat Chimaev by split decision to reclaim the belt. It is not clear from his post whether the two are the same injury.
His first title defense against Nassourdine Imavov is still not official because of the pay dispute. Imavov has offered to put up $500,000 of his own money if Strickland beats him in January and has asked the UFC to strip the champion if he refuses. Strickland would still have to settle his UFC contract before fighting elsewhere, and no bout with Paul or anyone in boxing has been confirmed.
