{"id":930392,"date":"2026-10-12T15:38:13","date_gmt":"2026-10-12T15:38:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/930392\/"},"modified":"2026-10-12T15:38:13","modified_gmt":"2026-10-12T15:38:13","slug":"ufc-champ-sean-strickland-torched-by-dana-white-over-potential-career-pivot","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/930392\/","title":{"rendered":"UFC Champ Sean Strickland Torched By Dana White Over Potential Career Pivot"},"content":{"rendered":"

UFC Middleweight Champion Sean Strickland is currently at odds<\/a> with the promotion over a contract dispute ahead of his would-be first title defense <\/a>(in his second reign) in a rematch against Nassourdine Imavov.<\/p>\n

A series of tweets from Strickland last week<\/a> suggests he\u2019s leaning toward vacating the middleweight title and trading the Octagon for the squared circle to potentially box Jai Opetaia or Jake Paul <\/a>soon.<\/p>\n

The comments reached UFC CEO Dana White, who attended last Friday\u2019s Power Slap in Las Vegas and was asked by Nina Drama<\/a> about Strickland\u2019s championship status.<\/p>\n

White, who has had his own gripes about Strickland\u2019s antics outside of the Octagon,<\/a> didn\u2019t indicate whether the UFC was looking to move on from him. However, White did have a stern take on how Strickland\u2019s boxing career would play out.<\/p>\n

Dana White Brutally Blunt About Sean Strickland’s Latest Request\"Dana<\/p>\n

Jul 11, 2026; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; UFC president Dana White during UFC 329 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect<\/p>\n

In a nutshell, White said it wouldn\u2019t go the way Strickland may suggest.<\/p>\n

Dana White says Sean Strickland would have \u201cno chance\u201d against Jai Opetaia \ud83d\ude2d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think it ever goes good crossing over boxing with MMA.\u201d pic.twitter.com\/NIqeI8WVGP<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Happy Punch (@HappyPunch) October 10, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cI don’t think it ever goes good crossing over to boxing with the MMA, but Strickland is a tough guy and has hands,” White said.<\/p>\n

White didn\u2019t address Strickland\u2019s pay concerns, nor did he set a specific timetable for a possible Imavov fight.<\/p>\n

Having said that, White had previously made his stance clear that he has been able to differentiate between Strickland as a person and Strickland as a prominent, brash, unfiltered UFC champion.<\/p>\n

“It’s a nightmare, but you guys don’t help \u2013 asking him dumb s(((,” White said after UFC Houston<\/a> in February after Strickland\u2019s distaste following the Seahawks-Patriots Super Bowl. \u201cAsk dumb s***, you’re gonna get dumb s***. ‘What’d you think of Bad Bunny? What’d you think of the Super Bowl?’ Get the f*** outta here. You f***ing kidding me?” So, when you talk about what Strickland says, you guys like to push the buttons.”<\/p>\n

Strickland, of course, went on to earn a TKO stoppage just days later at the expense of Anthony Hernandez in the night\u2019s main event. Under three months later, Strickland regained the title at UFC 328 against Khamzat Chimaev in Newark, New Jersey by split decision. Chimaev, meanwhile, was making his first title defense.<\/p>\n

Will Strickland-Imavov 2 Get Scrapped?\"Nassourdine<\/p>\n

Sep 6, 2025; Paris, FRANCE; Nassourdine Imavov (red gloves) reacts after the fight against Caio Borralho (blue gloves) during UFC Fight Night at Accor Arena. Mandatory Credit: Per Haljestam-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect<\/p>\n

In recent weeks, a video has surfaced of Imavov confronting Strickland<\/a> at the UFC Performance Institute over contracts not being officially inked for a fight. <\/p>\n

As Imavov confronted him, on-site UFC security in Las Vegas separated the pair, but it didn’t fully resolve the issue.<\/p>\n

The new development from Strickland contradicts earlier fan replies on \u2018X\u2019 (formerly Twitter), where all indicators pointed to a fight between him and Imavov by the end of the year.<\/p>\n

Now, with UFC 334 and UFC 335 officially set for Saturday, Nov. 14, and Saturday, Dec. 12, in New York and Las Vegas, a would-be fight will remain in a delay for a little while longer.<\/p>\n

If it happens, early 2027 would be the likely timeframe.<\/p>\n

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