Ex-UFC champ Kamaru Usman isn’t holding back, openly stating he doesn’t blame current UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland one bit for wanting a bigger payday.
The Champ’s Contract Controversy
Strickland (31-7 MMA, 18-7 UFC) has been airing out his frustrations ever since he inked a new UFC deal *before* stepping into the Octagon against Khamzat Chimaev for the title back in May. Remember that insane upset at UFC 328 where Strickland snagged the belt from Chimaev? Yeah, he did that, and now he’s still got beef with his contract as he’s deep in negotiations for his next title defense against Nassourdine Imavov. It’s a classic situation: you win the big one, you prove your worth, and then you want to get paid like it.
Kamaru Usman Drops Truth Bombs
Usman, who knows a thing or two about fighting at the top, gets it. While he admits Strickland knew what he was signing up for, the frustration is real. On his “Pound 4 Pound” podcast with Henry Cejudo, Usman laid it out: “If you feel that you’re not getting your just due, it doesn’t matter. You’re always going to want that,” adding that it will “supercede everything.” He made it clear, “Sean’s not wrong for feeling the way that he feels.” This isn’t some isolated incident either, Usman stressed, “this has been happening for a long, long time, and here we are , still happening.” It’s a sentiment many fighters can echo, as Usman pointed out, “We all know exactly how he’s feeling because we’ve been through it.”
It’s a “Sucky Situation” For Everyone
Usman really hammered home that the world of fighter pay is just plain “unfair.” He sees both sides: the UFC saying, “Hey, you signed the deal, honor it,” and the fighter, like Strickland, trying to get every dollar they can in a system that often doesn’t feel equitable. “All in all, it’s just a tough situation to be in,” Usman concluded. He even highlighted Paulo Costa, who’s also caught in a pay rift with the UFC, though his situation is a bit different since he’s only got one fight left on his current deal. It’s not just Strickland, it’s a systemic thing.
So, with Sean Strickland staring down his next title defense against Imavov, these contract talks are absolutely critical. Not just for his own pocket, but for every fighter out there trying to make a living in the UFC. When an ex-champ like Usman speaks up like this, you know the stakes are high. Will Strickland get the pay bump he feels he deserves, or will this become another chapter in the ongoing saga of fighter pay? We’ll be watching every step of this one.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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