Dana White Calls Sean Strickland ‘Tough Guy’ as He Sets His Sights on Boxing Champion Jai Opetaia

Sean Strickland, the current UFC middleweight champion, has been making some noise lately – not just about his next opponent, but about the very structure of his paycheck. In a series of candid videos posted to his socials, the 28‑year‑old fighter vented frustration with the UFC’s compensation model and hinted he might walk away from mixed‑martial‑arts altogether.

His proposal? A straight‑up boxing match against Jai Opetaia, the undefeated Zuffa cruiserweight champion who recently turned heads with his power‑packed performances. Strickland even went as far as saying he’d “put hands on any boxer” and that he’d gladly swap the Octagon for the boxing ring if the money were right.

Of course, Strickland’s contract with the UFC bars him from competing elsewhere without permission. That snag led him to suggest a workaround: fight Opetaia under the banner of Zuffa Boxing, a venture that falls under the same corporate umbrella as the UFC, owned by TKO Group Holdings.

When the idea landed on Dana White’s desk, the UFC chairman was quick to respond during a light‑hearted interview on a Power Slap livestream. “Ah, okay. I don’t think it ever goes good, crossing over to boxing with MMA,” White said, before adding a grudging compliment, “Strickland is a tough guy, and he has hands. [So there’s a chance?] No.” The remark was part‑laugh, part‑warning, underscoring the promotion’s reluctance to let a top‑tier fighter drift into another sport.

White’s reaction also hinted at a deeper tension. While he praised Strickland’s grit, he reminded everyone that the UFC builds a fighter’s legacy within its own ecosystem. “The UFC doesn’t pay you enough money to walk away. Life’s good, you’ve dedicated yourself, but you can’t just leave and expect the same respect elsewhere,” he explained.

Meanwhile, Strickland remains defiant. In his latest X post (formerly Twitter), he wrote, “I want to box. I want to put a boxing title on my mantle. I deserve it. I will beat your cruiserweight champion. Easy.” Whether this is a genuine fight plan or a bargaining chip to force a better pay deal remains to be seen, but the back‑and‑forth has already sparked endless chatter among fans.

For now, the UFC’s matchmaking committee appears to be focusing on the scheduled middleweight title rematch with Nassourdine Imavov. Until a formal request is lodged – and perhaps a hefty purse offered – the prospect of Strickland vs. Opetaia will stay in the realm of speculation, feeding the ever‑buzzing debate over MMA‑boxing crossovers.