'My heart's not in MMA anymore' - Sean Strickland makes shock retirement admission after Jake Paul call out

UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland has admitted he's considering giving up his belt and leaving the organisation during a stunning social media rant.

For months it has been rumoured that UFC middleweight champion Strickland will return to the octagon to defend his belt against no.3 Nassourdine Imavov sometime in the near future.

However, it's believed that Strickland has been holding up the fight being confirmed over his pay for the bout, something which he has now confirmed has him considering an early UFC departure during a 'crash out' on X.

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Sean Strickland admits he's 'kinda over' the UFC and calls out Jake Paul

With Strickland himself saying that he’d be fighting before the end of the year, many fans expected him to be included on the UFC 335 card in December.

But, as it stands, the December card will be headlined by a lightweight bout between BMF champion Charles Oliveira and Diego Lopes, with Strickland completely absent from the card.

Strickland later explained that the reason that he is not fighting at UFC 335 is because he was not able to come to an agreement with the promotion on his pay.

And now, the UFC middleweight champion has opened up more about the situation in a series of social media posts in which he admits he is considering abandoning the UFC altogether to chase a big pay day boxing fight with Jake Paul.

"I gotta be honest unless things change with the UFC Im kinda over it," Strickland admitted in a post on X.

"McGregor makes 30 million to fight for 30 second and they don't want to pay us a fraction of it.

"Contemplating just going to 205 knocking out my contract and scrapping with Jake Paul. That sounds fun."

In another post, he added: "Its just hard McGregor 30 million. Some lame boxer 15 million. The thought of just giving up my belt going to 205 and speed running my contract to fight Jake and make what these guys are making sounds pretty damn appealing."

Hours later, Strickland returned to social media to further explain his reasoning, stating that it was about far more than just money in a heartbreaking admission.

"Yall I think Im just frustrated because my body is crashing because MMA training is brutal," he said.

"My heart just isnt in MMA anymore. Groin tear, AC joint separation.

"I just don't think my heart is in MMA anymore. Boxing there is more money and its significantly easier."

Replying to a supportive fan, he added: "Lets make boxing great again. Gonna talk to the UFC tomorrow and see what Zuffa boxing has to offer."

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Jake Paul responds to Sean Strickland call out and names list of dream fights before retirement

Clearly excited by the opportunity to fight a UFC champion, Paul was quick to jump onto social media to reply to Strickland's posts.

The last time we saw Paul in the boxing ring was nearly a year ago after he suffered a brutal jaw injury after being knocked out by former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua.

However, it's now been revealed that he's been medically cleared to return to the ring, and he's eager to get Strickland signed up to his promotion as soon as possible.

Posting on X, he wrote: "Sean Strickland I see your texts but are you out of contract? Tell your “promoter” to call MVP."

Replying, Strickland posted: "No insult to you but I'm shocked you would actually box me. Woodley I get but me is impressive."

But it appears the UFC middleweight champion is just one name on a long list of fights that Paul is targeting before the end of his career, as he used the momentum from the Strickland news to release his hit list before he 'rests'.

Th likes of Conor McGregor, Ryan Garcia, KSI and even Tom Aspinall are all included in the ambitious list that includes 15 different fights.

Jake Paul dream fight list in full:

• Canelo Alvarez
• Francis Ngannou
• Conor McGregor (Boxing & MMA)
• Sean Strickland
• Darren Till
• Ryan Garcia
• KSI
• Chris Eubank
• Edgar Berlanga
• Tom Aspinall (Boxing)
• Deontay Wilder
• Nate Diaz (MMA)
• M****t who ruined our fight
• World Title