Sean Strickland is the latest to publicize his interest in a potential boxing match against Jake Paul.
Amid the criticism, Paul has managed to fashion out a respectable career for himself as a boxer. Managing to navigate his way through the sport despite his late beginnings, ‘The Problem Child’ has quickly established himself as one of the most prominent figures in the ring. While the ability with his hands doesn’t remotely compare to the current greats in boxing, Paul’s knack for drawing attention from both fans and critics has earned him the acknowledgment of his peers.
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Bypassing the circus act claims early in his tenure, fighting Jake Paul is now considered a money fight for fighters in the latter stages of their careers. Intrigued by the prospect of making millions of dollars against a man far less dangerous than his usual opponents, Sean Strickland has made a bold proposal to the UFC: release him from his contract so he can fight Jake Paul.
“I gotta leave the UFC and go beat up Jake Paul,” Strickland said while attending the Brand Risk event. “That’s it. Cut my contract, UFC. It’s time for me to leave.”
Disagreements over fighter pay within the UFC remain a conversation decades after its birth. There have been many athletes who’ve competed with the company who were thrilled with their contracts throughout their stay, but countless others believe their contracts don’t mirror what they should be earning.
Having recaptured his UFC middleweight throne, Sean Strickland is in as powerful a position as any to be making more money. Champions have historically earned more than contenders, but Strickland won’t compete with Jake Paul’s earnings, who ranked No. 23 on the 2026 Forbes list of highest-paid athletes, having raked in $70 million.
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Nobody under the UFC banner made the list, triggering a response from Strickland.
“Even if I made just a fraction of that, I am making more than what the f***ing UFC is paying me.”
Strickland continued:
“I’d beat the f***ing sh*t out of Jake Paul. Oh, I’d f***ing beat the sh*t out of him. Jake Paul lost against, pretty much, a reality TV star named [Tommy Fury]… That guy’s not even a real boxer.”
