Former UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland recently appeared on a stream with popular influencer Adin Ross, discussing various topics including his personal finances and fighting career.
During the conversation, Strickland offered an estimate of his current wealth and projections for his financial future once he stops competing. “My net worth is probably about $4 million, liquid,” Strickland stated. He clarified that `liquid` refers to investments, specifying that he holds approximately $500,000 in real estate, with the remainder distributed across different accounts.
Looking ahead, Strickland anticipates a significant increase in his net worth. “By the time I’m done fighting, worst-case scenario, I’ll probably have a net worth of $8-10 million,” he predicted. He outlined a plan for retirement income, suggesting a five percent annual withdrawal. Based on an $8 million figure, this would yield around $400,000 per year, which he believes is sufficient to live comfortably.
While there`s no official public record of his career earnings over 11 years and 23 UFC fights (including three title bouts), Strickland is widely regarded as one of the better-compensated athletes on the roster. However, he has previously voiced criticism regarding UFC fighter pay, notably telling Daniel Cormier in May 2024 that the promotion mishandles contract negotiations.
Despite his projected financial security, Strickland remains uncertain about his involvement in the MMA community after retirement, contemplating other potential interests. He expressed a desire to continue working, noting that even with substantial earnings post-fight and recovering from injuries, the question “What will make me happy?” arises, and he finds himself least happy when struggling with this thought.
Currently unbooked following his championship rematch loss to Dricus du Plessis at UFC 312, the 34-year-old is focused on securing a win in his next outing. He informed Ross that he recently declined an offer to face rising top 10 contender Caio Borralho.
Strickland explained that turning down the fight against Borralho was difficult due to their personal connection. He mentioned knowing Caio, his wife, and child, describing Borralho as a “cool guy” and “really nice guy,” which made the prospect of fighting him challenging.
