White disputes Strickland's pay claim, cites new deal
The fighter-pay fight stayed front and center as Dana White finally answered Sean Strickland head-on, reminding his middleweight champion he signed a new deal in May and disputing his earnings math. Elsewhere the Contender Series season closed with four signings and an upset of Alex Pereira's sister, Daniel Cormier swatted down Pereira's manipulation accusations, and a failed drug test derailed Ketlen Vieira's PFL start.
White fires back at Strickland: 'He just signed a new deal' in May
Speaking to reporters after the Contender Series finale, Dana White dismissed Sean Strickland's pay grievances, noting the middleweight champion signed a fresh six-fight deal only in May before reclaiming the title from Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 328. White also disputed Strickland's earnings claim, calling the number Strickland floated 'not true'; Strickland says he made a fraction of Conor McGregor's reported $30 million. Strickland has threatened to vacate the belt, fight out his contract and chase boxing rather than defend against Nassourdine Imavov. Demetrious Johnson, airing his own old pay frustrations, urged Strickland to either fight it out or walk away.
Why it matters: White is signaling the UFC won't blink on its own champion's pay standoff, which makes a stripped middleweight belt the likeliest endgame and leaves the division frozen into 2027.
- Dana White responds to Sean Strickland's complaints: 'When isn't Sean Strickland upset about something?' (MMA Fighting)
- Dana White fires back at Sean Strickland over UFC pay, cites new deal (Sherdog)
- Dana White addresses Sean Strickland's UFC pay dispute for the first time (Bloody Elbow)
- Ex-UFC champ shares 'black-and-white' reality of Sean Strickland contract dispute (Yahoo Sports MMA)
Sundell outpoints Pereira's sister as DWCS finale hands out four deals
The final episode of Contender Series Season 10 handed out four UFC contracts and tied the show record at 46 for the year. The headline result was 21-year-old former ONE Muay Thai champion Smilla Sundell outpointing Alex Pereira's sister Aline Pereira by unanimous decision at bantamweight; White said he wanted Sundell to gain more experience but was outvoted by matchmaker Mick Maynard. Luis Francischinelli (first-round TKO), Douglas da Lapa (third-round TKO of a durable Davi Cabral) and Greg Foster (decision) also earned deals, while main-event grappler Erick Visconde was passed over despite beating Ilias Bulaid.
Why it matters: Sundell is a blue-chip striker the UFC pushed through over White's own objection, giving a thin women's bantamweight division a real prospect while Aline Pereira's bid to join her brother stalls.
- DWCS Season 10, Week 10 results: Four contract winners, including a former ONE champion (MMA Fighting)
- Dana White gets outvoted as 4 fighters earn UFC deals at DWCS finale (Sherdog)
- Dana White signs 21-year-old Muay Thai prodigy to the UFC after she beats Alex Pereira's sister (Bloody Elbow)
- Week 10 Results + Scorecards | Dana White's Contender Series, Season 10 (UFC.com)
Cormier denies Pereira's 'manipulation' claim, calls rematch push misguided
A day after Alex Pereira accused the UFC of using 'influencers' like Daniel Cormier to manufacture fan support for Ciryl Gane vs. Josh Hokit, Cormier pushed back on his YouTube channel, denying he was told to promote the fight and playing interview footage to rebut Pereira's account of their GOAT conversation. Cormier called Pereira 'misguided' for demanding an immediate Gane rematch after being stopped in June, arguing he has no case beyond the alleged illegal blows. Hokit piled on, mocking Pereira for forgetting 'who made him rich.' Gane defends against Hokit at UFC 334 on Nov. 14, while Pereira meets Sergei Pavlovich at UFC 335 on Dec. 12.
Why it matters: The spat is really about whether a one-fight heavyweight loser earns an instant title rematch; Cormier's answer, go beat Pavlovich first, reflects where the division's logjam actually sits.
- Daniel Cormier responds to Alex Pereira: 'I was not told by the UFC to promote' Ciryl Gane vs. Josh Hokit (MMA Fighting)
- Daniel Cormier denies Alex Pereira's UFC claim, hopes friendship survives (Sherdog)
- Josh Hokit defends UFC over Alex Pereira's 'pushing agenda' claims: 'Forgot who made him rich' (Bloody Elbow)
Ketlen Vieira hit with six-month PFL ban for failed drug test
Former UFC bantamweight contender Ketlen Vieira has been handed a six-month suspension after testing positive for a WADA-banned steroidal substance in her PFL debut, an August loss to featherweight champion Cris Cyborg in which she also missed weight by more than seven pounds. Vieira said the positive stemmed from medication she took to treat a lingering knee injury as a free agent outside any testing pool, insisting there was no intent to cheat. The ban is retroactive, clearing her to return on March 22, 2027. Cyborg publicly thanked the Mohegan Tribe's regulators for taking testing seriously.
Why it matters: It's another high-profile PFL signing undone the moment a fighter leaves the UFC's year-round testing pool, and it dents both Cyborg's title-run narrative and Vieira's fresh start at once.
Even Volkanovski needles UFC pay in his latest comedy skit
Ahead of his UFC 333 featherweight title defense against undefeated Movsar Evloev on Oct. 24 in Abu Dhabi, Alexander Volkanovski released another Sportsbet comedy short, this one casting him as a movie star. Amid the gags, including a crack about having 'seen Islam Makhachev, twice,' his fictional agent delivers the punchline about a flop film: 'it still made more than what Dana pays.' The bit lands while a genuine fighter-pay revolt simmers across the roster.
Why it matters: When a loyal, about-to-defend champion is openly ribbing Dana White over pay in a sponsored skit, the fighter-pay conversation has spread from malcontents to the promotion's marquee names.