Sean Strickland is “stuck” in a new contract.
The reigning UFC middleweight champion claims he’s checked out and lost his love for MMA, despite winning the 185-pound strap from Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 328 back in May. “Tarzan” even threatened to vacate his UFC title and cross over to influencer boxing, where opponents like Jake Paul await.
Hopefully he doesn’t “fight like a pussy” while he’s there.
“I think they can (strip Strickland) any time,” No. 6-ranked middleweight contender, Caio Borralho, told
MMA Junkie (via Stake). “They didn’t strip (Islam) Mackachev, but he was supposed to fight in January, but then refused. So they said, ‘F*ck it. We’re doing the interim belt.’ I think they can do [Nassourdine] Imamov versus another big name for the interim, and if Strickland stays with this narrative for too long, they’ll strip him. They won’t let him hold the division. In a great way, everyone wants to see me versus Imamov again. Last time, I had to cut weight twice in three weeks as I was the backup for the title.”
Strickland and Imavov are in talks to rematch in February.
Some of the top names at middleweight are expected to throw down over the next few months, with Borralho (No. 6) facing “Contender Series” standout Yousri Belgaroui at UFC 334 in New York and Joe Pyfer (No. 5) taking on Bo Nickal (No. 13) next year in Cleveland.
Chimaev (No. 1), along with fellow ex-champion Dricus Du Plessis (No. 2), are also in the mix.
