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Sean Strickland trashes UFC matchmaker Sean Shelby, calls out UFC’s ‘predatory pay’

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2 months ago

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Sean Strickland trashes UFC matchmaker Sean Shelby, calls out UFC’s ‘predatory pay’

Sean Strickland has never been afraid to share his views, even when they might land him in hot water with his employer.

Over the past few years, the UFC middleweight champion has become perhaps even more famous for the things he says outside of the cage, rather than the fighting he does inside of it. An outspoken and controversial figure in a space full of them, Strickland is one of the few high-profile fighters who has also been known to call out the UFC for its compensation. Speaking with the Shawn Ryan Show on Monday, the middleweight champion revealed to his interviewer just how bad things can be in the world's No. 1 MMA promotion.

“When you're a fighter, you're so f*cking poor,†Strickland said. “Even in the UFC. UFC guys, they're signing guys at like, 10 and 10, [$10,000] to show, [$10,000] to win, $20 grand. So then you pay off your manager, you pay taxes; if you lose, you only get like eight, seven grand.

“Now, say you go get injured or get locked out. The UFC is f*cking brutal. The UFC is so f*cking predatory. This is why you see a lot of foreigners excel, because guys in Brazil that live in the f*cking favelas, $10 grand to them, that's f*cking life-changing. I have buddies that go and live in Dagestan or Brazil, and they go back and live like a f*cking king. Like bro, you can't even pay rent for a couple months here.

“So the UFC is so f*cking predatory pay. Like, I'm happy. I make good money. But only the very top guys are making money.â€

Fighter pay in the UFC has been an ongoing issue for years at this point, elevated by the revelation that fighters earn roughly 20 percent of the revenue, compared to the nearly 50/50 split of other major sports leagues. The last few years have also seen the influx of cheap talent via Dana White's Contender Series, which awards the entry-level contracts Strickland referenced.

Strickland also noted some other ways the UFC makes life hard on fighters under its umbrella, primarily via a carrot-and-stick method of offering additional incentives for some fights, and then freezing out fighters who refuse to play ball.

“It's so predatory. Mind you, you could get a couple fights. The UFC, they love for you to take a short-notice fight,†Strickland said. “If the UFC calls you and they say, ‘Hey, you want to take a fight on five days' notice?' They will give you like, maybe a 30, 40, 50-grand pay bump. The UFC loves that shit. Short-notice fights give you the biggest pay bumps.

“There's a [matchmaker] named Sean Shelby. Everybody hates dealing with him. I'm friends with him, but he was my [matchmaker] at welterweight. Dude, he was such a f*cking c*nt. I say this as a friend, Sean. You're a nice guy, but everybody f*cking hates you. …

“This guy is so f*cking brutal. You could have a boring fight or something, and this motherf*cker will bench you for like eight months. Or you could say, ‘Hey Sean, I want a fight.' He'll call you two weeks out from a fight, like, ‘Hey, we've got a fight for you.' Dude, two weeks out. You can't give me a little more f*cking notice? And if you say no, he'll bench your ass. Yeah, the UFC is f*cking brutal.

“This is why the UFC attracts f*cking degenerates, 10 and 10 for a lot of guys, where they come from, that's still a lot of f*cking money. But yes, I would tell anybody, ‘Don't join the UFC.'â€

This is far from the first time Strickland has been critical of the UFC or its compensation; but in previous instances, the two-time champion has usually offered at least some small caveat as it relates to himself, and concluded his thoughts on the matter similarly.

“As much as I hate the UFC, and I knock on them, they give people opportunity you'd never have,†Strickland said. “I'd never have opportunity.â€

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MMA

Renato Moicano hails Raoni Barcelos as ‘warrior’ after UFC Vegas 121

Published

42 minutes ago

on

September 28, 2026

By

Renato Moicano hails Raoni Barcelos as ‘warrior’ after UFC Vegas 121
Renato
“Money†Moicano believes Raoni
Barcelos embodies the Brazilian fighting spirit.

Barcelos (22-6) took on one of the hottest prospects in the

Ultimate Fighting Championship, Raul Rosas
Jr. (13-1), in the main event of
UFC Vegas 121 in Las Vegas. Barcelos was ahead on the
scorecards entering the final round, but suffered a concerning
stoppage loss.

Moicano praises Barcelos after his stoppage loss to Raul Rosas
Jr.

Their brutal back-and-forth war was seemingly up for grabs heading
into the final frame. Rosas Jr. started strong, and during a clinch
up against the cage wall, Barcelos suddenly went limp. The former
was declared the winner, while the latter was removed on a
stretcher from the Octagon.

“Moicano†lauded Barcelos for going out on his shield like a
warrior. The UFC lightweight felt proud to be a Brazilian after
watching Barcelos' performance and believes the 39-year-old
bantamweight veteran should be a role model for the coming
generations.

“Raoni Barcelos yesterday showed the essence of what it means to be
a Brazilian fighter, a warrior,†he posted on X. “He left carried
on his shield, but he left with all honor and all glory. Raoni
Barcelos fills me with pride and hope in being Brazilian, not just
in the fight. We have to make these Brazilians be an example for
the young people.â€

Barcelos was immediately rushed to the hospital, where he regained
consciousness. His coach, Davi Ramos,
on Saturday night confirmed that he is responsive and moving
around. He is still under supervision and awaiting test results to
determine the exact issue.

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MMA

UFC gives update on Raoni Barcelos after scary stoppage

Published

3 hours ago

on

September 27, 2026

By

UFC gives update on Raoni Barcelos after scary stoppage
The
Ultimate Fighting Championship has provided an update on
Raoni
Barcelos following his concerning loss to Raul Rosas
Jr. at
UFC Vegas 121.

Barcelos was ahead on the scorecards entering the final round.
However, during a wrestling exchange against the Octagon wall, the
Brazilian veteran appeared to go limp, prompting the referee to
stop the fight. He was later taken out of the Octagon on a
stretcher and transported to a hospital. The UFC has since released
an update on his condition.

Raoni Barcelos stable and responsive after UFC Vegas 121 loss
to Raul Rosas Jr.

In a statement released hours after the event, the
UFC said Barcelos was transported to a Level 1 trauma center for
further evaluation. The promotion confirmed that the 39-year-old is
stable and responsive after his coach initially revealed the
same.

“Following his fight tonight, Raoni Barcelos was immediately
transported to a Level 1 trauma center for evaluation,†the
statement read. “The hospital medical team conducted a CT scan and
comprehensive assessment, and he is currently being monitored.
Barcelos is stable, alert and responsive, with full movement. He
will remain under medical supervision. We will provide updates on
his condition as they become available.â€

Barcelos both sustained and dished out significant damage against
Rosas Jr., with their high-paced, back-and-forth bout later earning
Fight of the Night honors.

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MMA

Aaron Pico lost two top-ranked opponents before accepting Losene Keita fight: "It's been a crazy few months"

Published

9 hours ago

on

September 27, 2026

By

Aaron Pico lost two top-ranked opponents before accepting Losene Keita fight: "It's been a crazy few months"
Trending:

Paddy Pimblett provides an update on his next UFC fight
Zuffa LLC

Aaron Pico didn't get the opposition he was expecting for his next outing, but he isn't dwelling on it.

Pico is scheduled to meet Losene Keita on the UFC 333 card. Pico was initially set to face Arnold Allen, who couldn't recover from his injuries in time for the bout. Keita is widely regarded as a dangerous opponent for Pico, who is risking his spot on the UFC featherweight rankings.

Allen also isn't the only top-ranked 145-pounder who Pico missed out on fighting. Appearing on MMA Junkie Radio, Pico revealed that former UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling was another name that had been presented to him, but things didn't pan out.

“It's been a crazy few months, because I thought I was going to fight Aljamain Sterling,†Pico said. “That's the fight that I thought I was going to get, but that didn't go through. So, they told me I was fighting Arnold Allen, and I was really excited. I mean, he's No. 5, and it's one step closer up the rankings, but it doesn't really matter to me to be quite honest with you. What am I even ranked right now, 12 or 13? To be honest with you, I don't even know.

“If I'm not champion, I'm not really focused on that. I'm not really one of those guys that's like, ‘Well, I need to protect my ranking and not fight, or I need to fight this guy.' All that matters to me is to get better, and sitting around and waiting for a ranked guy is not in my agenda. I just want to fight, get experience, and ultimately become a champion. So, whoever they have, I say yes, and I fight.â€

Pico is 1-1 under the UFC banner going into his Oct. 24 showdown with Keita. After being knocked out by Lerrone Murphy in his promotional debut, Pico bounced back with a unanimous decision victory over Patricio “Pitbull†Freire.

Do you think Aaron Pico gets past Losene Keita at UFC 333, or does he suffered another setback? Share your prediction in the comments below.

This article appeared first on BJPENN.COM

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