"Will slowly replace their entire American roster" - Sean Strickland shares bizarre take on why "there are so many foreign fighters" in the UFC

Sean Strickland recently offered his blunt take on the UFC’s evolving roster dynamics. Interacting with fans on X, the former UFC middleweight champion responded to a discussion about fighter pay and financial struggles within the sport.

Reflecting on his early UFC career earnings, Strickland highlighted the expenses fighters must take care of, such as gym fees, management cuts, and taxes. These deductions, according to him, leave the fighters with only a fraction of their purse. Strickland pointed to a disparity in living costs as a reason behind the increasing presence of foreign fighters in the UFC.

He suggested that modest UFC paychecks can stretch significantly further in regions like Dagestan, where $10,000 covers a year for these fighters. This factor, he argued, creates a financial incentive for the UFC to prioritize signing international talent.

Check out the X post below:

A fan on X shed light on the financial sustainability of fighters, writing:

"Bruh… Rich… These people have no idea what it takes to be a fighter. Gym fees, sponsor cuts, medical and marketing... These guys bleed for us and get about 30% of their purses. NTM each fight could be 50/50 on whether they can continue…Thanks for doing what you do. I get it."

Reacting to the fan comment, Strickland replied:

"My man! But this is why they're so many foreign fighters in the UFC. 10 k in Dagestan is a year of rent in a nice place. The UFC will slowly replace their entire American roster at some point."

Check out the full interaction below:

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Sean Strickland calls out Australian tax burden ahead of UFC 312

During the recent fan interaction on X, Sean Strickland voiced his frustrations about the challenges of fighting in Australia. 'Tarzan' weighed in on the significant tax burdens he faces when competing there and claimed that fighters are being "forced to go there."

The American is set to headline UFC 312 in Sydney on Feb.8, 2025, where he will face middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis in a highly anticipated rematch. Strickland dropped the 185-pound title to the South African at UFC 297 via split decision in a closely contested bout.

Speaking about the tax implications in Australia, Strickland wrote:

"I get absolutely fu*ked.. no one wants to go to that fu*king place. I think it's like 40 [percent]. Everyone on this card is being forced to go there lol it's not by choice."

Check out Sean Strickland's X post below: