What happened: Joshua Van publicly disagreed with Sean Strickland regarding the former champion's ongoing pay dispute with the UFC, per Yahoo Sports.

Why it matters: Fighter compensation remains a recurring point of friction across UFC divisions, particularly when prominent veterans like Strickland, who upset Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 328, clash publicly with the promotion over contract terms. Public disagreement from fellow roster members underscores the split in perspective between rising contenders and established headliners negotiating leverage.

What to watch: Both fighters await their next promotional assignments as the UFC builds out the remainder of its 2026 schedule.