Money talk in combat sports sparked a fresh reaction from Sean Strickland after Jake Paul appeared on Forbes’ latest highest-paid athletes list. The outspoken UFC star jokingly called for his release from the promotion after seeing Paul ranked among some of the biggest names in global sports.
The latest Forbes rankings once again placed Cristiano Ronaldo at the top for a fourth straight year, with reported earnings around $300 million. But it was Jake Paul’s appearance on the list that seemed to catch Strickland’s attention the most, sparking his frustrated and humorous reaction online.
Did Jake Paul’s Forbes Payday Push Sean Strickland Toward an Exit From the UFC?
During a livestream with Nina Drama, the outspoken UFC star could not hide his frustration while comparing boxer paydays to what fighters earn inside the Octagon. “Oh my god,” Strickland exclaimed. “I gotta leave the UFC and beat up Jake Paul. Cut my contract with UFC, it’s time for me to leave. Even if I make a fraction of that, I would be making more than what the f—–g UFC is paying me. Even though Strickland’s comments sounded explosive, an actual exit from the UFC still feels unlikely.
Sean Strickland wants to leave the UFC after seeing Jake Paul on the Forbes highest-paid athletes list 😭
“I gotta leave the UFC and go beat up Jake Paul. That’s it. Cut my contract, UFC. It’s time for me to leave.” https://t.co/TA2gxlnY9c pic.twitter.com/rh4ENU8eBp
— Happy Punch (@HappyPunch) May 24, 2026
Still, the massive gap between boxing purses and UFC pay continues to frustrate many fighters. Reports have suggested that Strickland’s total UFC career earnings stood around $8 million before his recent fight against Anthony Hernandez, with a possible increase after defeating Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 328. But even that reportedly falls far below what fighters like Conor Benn are earning in boxing-related deals under TKO. Strickland has previously criticized UFC fighter pay, even describing some of the promotion’s practices as “predatory,” showing that the financial pull of boxing is becoming harder for MMA stars to ignore.
Which Sports Stars Made Forbes’ Top 5 Highest-Paid Athletes List?
| Rank | Athlete | Sport | Estimated Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cristiano Ronaldo | Soccer | $300 million |
| 2 | Canelo Alvarez | Boxing | $170 million |
| 3 | Lionel Messi | Soccer | $140 million |
| 4 | LeBron James | Basketball | $137.8 million |
| 5 | Shohei Ohtani | Baseball | $127.6 million |
| 15 | Patrick Mahomes | American Football | $84.7 million |
| 23 | Jake Paul | Boxing | $70 million |
| 50 | Jannik Sinner | Tennis | $54.6 million |
According to Forbes, the money flowing through global sports has exploded in recent years. Since 2018, the total combined earnings of the world’s 50 highest-paid athletes have jumped dramatically, rising from roughly $2.6 billion to an astonishing $4.2 billion, showing just how massive the business of sports and athlete branding has become.
