Credit: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
UFC Hall of Famer Demetrious Johnson knows a thing or two about what Sean Strickland is going through in dealing with the UFC brass.
UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland could potentially be on the way out of the promotion after he admitted he’s considering vacating his title to move to boxing. Strickland, who hasn’t fought since upsetting Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 328, recently hinted he’s ‘fed up’ with Mixed Martial Arts and the UFC’s fighter pay flaws.
As the UFC attempts to book Strickland to face top contender Nassourdine Imavov, the UFC middleweight champ’s future remains uncertain. He recently admitted he wants to box Jake Paul and asked for his release from the promotion.
As the Strickland/UFC holdout continues, UFC legend Demetrious Johnson understands what the middleweight champ might be going through. After going through multiple feuds with the UFC brass during his career, Johnson believes Strickland should back down.
Demetrious Johnson encourages Sean Strickland to fight out UFC deal despite discontent
In a recent interview on The Ariel Helwani Show, the UFC Hall of Famer Johnson shared a unique perspective on Strickland’s ongoing feud with the UFC.
“When is enough, enough? There has to come a point in time,” Johnson said of Strickland.
“Do I wish I made more money? One thousand percent, but I’m not going to gripe and moan about it. What’s done is done, and you move forward. When you see athletes sign for a nine-fight deal, if he’s happy with it, I have to be happy with his decision. But at the end of the day, it’s Sean Strickland’s journey and career. If he’s not happy with it, then I have to respect that he’s unhappy with it. Doesn’t mean I have to agree with it…
“I would just like him to do it how he wants to do it. But I think if he just comes out and says ‘This is what I want; the UFC isn’t going to give it to me, so I’m going to move to boxing’, then he can just walk away,” Johnson continued on Strickland. “You’re given options – he signed a contract, five fights left, maybe he didn’t think he was going to [beat Chimaev], and he’s stuck in this position where he’s not going to make the type of money he thought he would make.”
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