Sean Strickland Blasts Ariel Helwani as His 'Number 1 Hater'

Sean Strickland is threatening to run out of his multi-fight UFC contract following his split-decision victory over Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 328 on May 9. The middleweight champion recently vented on social media, revealing that he is done with his current pay structure. 

He took serious issue with Conor McGregor earning $30 million for a mere 69-second fight, while his own paycheck as an active champion looks nothing like that. Because of the pay disparity, Strickland has even teased pursuing a lucrative boxing career.

Ariel Helwani addressed the drama recently on his show, but his sharp assessment did not sit well with the middleweight champion. Refusing to hold back his unfiltered style, Strickland fired back on X with a series of personal attacks, labeling the veteran MMA journalist his number-one hater.

Sean Strickland Calls Ariel Helwani Most Biased Weak Man

The beef escalated after Helwani stated on The Ariel Helwani Show that he lacked sympathy for Strickland's contract situation. While he agreed that UFC fighters are generally underpaid, he pointed out that Strickland willingly signed a multi-fight deal before beating Chimaev. 

Because the UFC retains total promotional power without revenue sharing or collective bargaining, Helwani argued the champion has no real leverage to force a renegotiation with five fights left on his contract. Strickland fired back on X by claiming Helwani's bias is entirely political, asserting that the reporter turned against him over his stance on Israel.

Helwani has denied these allegations, maintaining that his critiques are strictly analytical and not political.

"I cant f---- stand Ariel," Strickland wrote in his first post. "I am telling you the moment I stopped supporting israel hes been my number 1 hater... Man went from thanking me for supporting them to my biggest hater lmao. Youre the most biased weak man on the internet."

"Tarzan" followed up shortly after with a second post detailing his personal view of the reporter, penning, "There are people in life you meet and immediately know the measure of the man. You meet me and you will know I'm fucked up and battling in my head to keep it all together when everything in me wants to ruin it. You meet Ariel and you understand he is a leach. Dana called it day 1."

Sean Strickland's Spat with Ariel Helwani Nothing New 

The bad blood between the two started long before the current contract dispute. Following UFC 328, Helwani blasted Strickland’s post-fight apology to Chimaev, calling it “fraudulent” and “cowardly” after the champion had spent months hurling extreme personal insults. Strickland responded in May by vowing to never do media with the journalist again, labeling him a "pathetic MMA leech."

According to Strickland, Helwani originally thanked him for supporting Israel after the Oct. 7 attacks, but their relationship soured when the fighter's political stance shifted over time to criticize the ongoing conflict.

UFC Blocks Sean Strickland's Cross-Sport Crossover Plans

The champion also challenged cruiserweight boxer Jai Opetaia to a fight under the Zuffa Boxing banner. However, Dana White rejected the idea. When asked about booking the matchup, White simply said, "No."

While the UFC CEO admitted Strickland is a tough fighter with good hands, he ruled out the crossover. "I don't think it ever goes good crossing over boxing with MMA," White said. With the boxing option off the table, Strickland is out of immediate choices. 

He still has five fights left on his current contract, and the standoff keeps a proposed title defense against Nassourdine Imavov on hold for now.