Sean Strickland not headlining UFC 335 due to contract negotiations
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Oct 4, 2026, 8:19 PM
Last updated Oct 4, 2026
Sean Strickland will not fight Nassourdine Imavov at UFC 335 on December 12. Although healthy and ready to compete, negotiations regarding pay broke down, leading to the UFC promoting Charles Oliveira vs. Diego Lopes as the main event instead. Strickland recently suggested that financial issues influenced his absence, confirming a fan's comment on social media. The UFC middleweight champion previously stated he was negotiating terms for the fight, but it has not materialized.
- •Strickland is healthy and available to fight.
- •Negotiations regarding pay broke down late.
- •Oliveira vs. Lopes will headline UFC 335.
- •Strickland hinted financial issues affected his fight status.
- •He confirmed on social media that money was a factor.
- 8:19 PMYahoo Sports — Sean Strickland Reveals Why He Isn’t Headlining UFC 335 Against Nassourdine Imavov
"In a surprising update from Sean Strickland, the reigning middleweight champion revealed the reason why he is not fighting at UFC 335.
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