Speaking to reporters after the final episode of Dana White’s Contender Series Season 10, the Ultimate Fighting Championship CEO addressed Strickland’s comments amid negotiations for his next title defense.
Dana White disputes Sean Strickland's earnings claim, says UFC middleweight champion signed a new contract in May
Strickland has expressed frustration over his proposed purse for a middleweight title rematch against Nassourdine Imavov. The champion recently said he was considering vacating the belt, moving to light heavyweight and fighting out his contract to pursue a boxing bout against Jake Paul.
Asked about Strickland at the DWCS 2026 Week 10 postfight news conference, White characterized the fighter’s public complaints as routine.
“I haven’t personally [spoken to Strickland], I’ve just heard through social media and stuff,” White said. “But when isn’t Sean Strickland upset about something or doesn’t have something to say?”
Strickland has compared his earnings with the $30 million he claims Conor McGregor earned for his last appearance. White disputed Strickland’s account of his own pay and said the two-time champion signed a new contract in May.
“Sean Strickland just signed a new contract in May,” White added. “He just signed a new contract in May. He signed a new deal. Was that like, four months ago? Five months ago? 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. It is what it is. 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 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." https://t.co/UW7gprSUK4— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) October 14, 2026