Joe Pyfer stands with Sean Strickland amid his pay dispute with the UFC.
UFC middleweight champion Strickland (31-7 MMA, 18-7 UFC) threatened to vacate his title when venting his frustration towards his pay as he negotiates his upcoming title defense against Nassourdine Imavov (17-4 MMA, 9-2 UFC).
Strickland pulled a stunning upset over Khamzat Chimaev to claim the belt at UFC 328.
"I respect it because you know what your worth is," Pyfer told Tim Welch. "This isn't a shot at Hunter (Campbell) or Dana (White), but I think all of us deserve more pay for the sport that we do at the level that we do it. Let's use myself as an example. If you're No. 4 in any other sport, you're making millions, and we're not making millions. I think Sean made over
$1 million maybe guaranteed or something with Khamzat, and now he's not making that.
"He's probably on the 50-50 pay, and he can't seem to make sense why he's rematching a guy he already beat for less money than he won the title for. I understand it, and I think it's fair. (Zuffa Boxing) did give Conor Benn $15 million guaranteed, and we're out here fighting for pennies on the dollar compared to that, and we have to do so much more to our bodies, and so much work. So yeah, I support it. I agree. I understand. I also understand Imavov. I think Imavov, rightfully so, deserves the title shot. He's nasty. He's good."
Imavov, who's been waiting for his shot for over a year now, confronted Strickland at the UFC PI for delaying the fight. Top contender Pyfer isn't a fan of Imavov's actions, especially with Strickland holding a win over him in 2023.
"It's not like Sean said he's going to hold up the division. He said, 'I'll vacate it, go up to 205, and fight out my contract and go box,'" Pyfer said. "I think the whole antics stuff with Imavov following him around, that's a little bit ridiculous. I get it. He's trying to sell it. But it's like, brother, he's not afraid of you. He already beat you. And I get it: Imavov wants it back. He's been waiting almost two years. But that's his problem. Getting in the cage has nothing to do with Imavov."
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Joe Pyfer: Nassourdine Imavov's antics 'bit ridiculous,' but Sean Strickland unafraid
