Sean Strickland: 'My heart isn't in MMA anymore'

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Sean Strickland: 'My heart isn't in MMA anymore'

Originally posted on MMA Weekly | By Jeff Cain | Last updated Oct 9, 2026 6:07 AM ET

“The Thrill is Gone,” sang the late blues legend B.B. King, and two-time UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland can relate.

Strickland recently stated he’s considering relinquishing his 185-pound world title, fighting out his UFC contract and leaving the organization for boxing. His biggest complaint centers around fighter pay but in an Instagram story, “Tarzan” said he’s “over MMA.”

“I crashed out a little. Let me explain my frustration,” Strickland wrote on Instagram. “I think I’m just over MMA. My body is wrecked from 21 years of training … Boxing is just easier and way more fun.

“I’ve always been a boxer who’s does MMA. Just ready for boxing. My heart isn’t in MMA anymore.”

Strickland last fought at UFC 328 in May, defeating Khamzat Chimaev via spit decision to pick up the middleweight crown a second time. He’s expected to be back in the octagon in December but with each social media post that becomes more and more in question.

This article first appeared on MMA Weekly and was syndicated with permission.

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