Sean Strickland is taking a stand. Will anyone be a part of him? |📷: Getty/UFC
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For the last week or so, SeanStrickland has been the speak of the blended martial arts world.That’s hardly uncommon, but the matter has caught some people offguard. It is not about beating up “tough guys” who stroll into his gymoff the road. It is not about “snowflakes” who are “part of theproblem.” This time, he’s speaking about fighter pay and vowing notto combat again until his contract dispute is resolved. Perhaps thatisn’t shocking, either. But his criticism of Ultimate Fighting Championship fighter pay in normal — notjust his own compensation — has some of his typical detractorsreluctantly agreeing with him.
Why UFC fighter-pay reform requires more than Sean Strickland’scontract dispute
While I’m sure Strickland has mates and coaching companions he’dlike to see get a pay bump, I suspect his broader criticism,including the UFC’s tendency to keep recognizable fighters aroundpast their prime, is also about getting the public behind him.After all, loads of followers already believe UFC fighters areunderpaid. Comparing their compensation with salaries in main teamsports gives him an argument that’s straightforward to promote. Unlike salariedplayers, UFC fighters usually earn their contracted combat pursesonly when they compete.
Take baseball. The average MLB wage was about $5.34 million atthe begin of the 2026 season. Spread across a 162-game schedule,that works out to roughly $33,000 per group recreation, whether the playertakes the discipline that day or not. That calculation is not a perfectcomparison with a fighter’s purse: It would not account fordifferences in schedules, income or compensation buildings. Butit helps clarify why Strickland did not have to look far for anissue that would get followers behind him.
As much as I hate to be the bearer of unhealthy information, I do not thinkStrickland’s stance will make a distinction for fighters as a complete.I suppose he could get a bump for himself. But a roster-widechange? There’s a higher likelihood of my fats outdated ass turning into a UFCchampion.
We’ve seen this before. Remember when the antitrust litigationagainst the UFC revealed how much of its income went to fighters?Historical figures disclosed in the case put their share at roughly15% to 22% in several years. By comparability, NFL gamers’ negotiatedshare is roughly 48%, though the accounting differs betweensports. You might think those disclosures would have fighters up inarms, demanding more. The litigation produced a $375 millionsettlement overlaying more than 1,000 present and former fighters whocompeted during the related period. That issues. But it did notproduce a collective bargaining settlement for the energetic roster,and I did not see a sustained push from present fighters to demandone.
What about the Mixed Martial Arts Athletes Association, launched in2016 with Georges St.Pierre and former Bellator govt Bjorn Rebney concerned? Oneof the sport’s most fashionable fighters had joined an effort backed bysomeone who understood the business of operating a promotion. Thegoals included a 50% income share and a collective bargainingagreement. Other outstanding fighters concerned included DonaldCerrone, T.J.Dillashaw, Tim Kennedyand CainVelasquez. What finally came of it? No collective bargainingagreement. That effort had a group of outstanding fighters behind it,not just one fighter like Strickland.
Some fighters have obtained greater bonuses since the Paramount dealtook impact. After more than a decade with normal $50,000postfight awards, the UFC elevated its Performance of the Nightand Fight of the Night bonuses to $100,000 this yr. Fighters whofinish their opponents but do not obtain one of those awards get a$25,000 bonus. That would not set up the type of negotiatedrevenue sharing discovered in other main sports activities. But those increasescan make a distinction in fighters’ lives — and I suspect theyreduce the urgency some really feel to arrange.
I do not see fighters securing a comparable income share withoutmaking a unified demand. That would require an efficient collectiveorganization and main sacrifices from those concerned. It wouldalso require more solidarity than we’ve seen so far, something thatmay be tougher to construct in an particular person sport. Fighters traintogether, and bonds usually type after they compete against oneanother, but that is not the same as sharing a locker room and anemployer’s schedule all through a season. History affords no simpletimeline. Baseball gamers fashioned their fashionable affiliation in the1950s and employed Marvin Miller in 1966, starting its transformationinto an efficient labor union. NBA gamers established theirassociation in 1954, eight years after the league’s roots in theBasketball Association of America, but significant recognition tookanother decade.
I know a lot of people think Strickland is an fool. After all, hesays some idiotic issues. But I think this is a sensible strategyon his half. He seems to perceive how unlikely fighters are toband collectively proper now. Too many appear pleased merely to be paid tofight and carry the title of UFC fighter. I suspect the UFCunderstands that, too. Public criticism may irritate the promotion,but Strickland is not raising an unfamiliar grievance. Meanwhile, hecan win support by presenting himself as someone who “isn’t in itjust for himself.” If enough followers rally behind him, perhaps he canuse that stress to renegotiate, even though Dana White says hesigned a new contract in May.
I hope I’m flawed. I actually hope I’m flawed. But I suspectenough UFC fighters are glad with incremental pay will increase tokeep a collective effort from gaining traction. So while Stricklandis speaking a massive recreation for everyone, I think he’s primarily lookingout for No. 1. Given how many others seem to be doing the same,it’s exhausting to fault him.
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