The UFC middleweight champion won’t be getting any sympathy from Arman Tsarukyan.

Sean Strickland’s future is uncertain amid his ongoing contractual dispute with the UFC, which appears to have delayed plans for his first title defense.

Before Strickland beat Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 328 this past May to become a two-time champ, he put pen to paper on a new deal with MMA’s leading promotion.

Just months later, the American is refusing to fight under the current terms. Like many, Tsarukyan puts full blame on Strickland for agreeing to his contract.

If you were his manager, what would you advise Sean Strickland to do next?

Arman Tsarukyan says fighters must be ‘smarter’ than Sean Strickland was when he signed his UFC contract

Strickland was expected to put his middleweight belt on the line against Nassourdine Imavov this December.

When that rumored bout was not announced for UFC 335, the champion quickly came out and said the promotion was not willing to match his pay demands.

Dana White addressed Strickland’s complaints, revealing that he only agreed to a new contract in May.

That revelation appeared to decrease support for the middleweight king in the MMA community, and Tsarukyan is among those unsympathetic toward Strickland.

“He signed the contract? If he didn’t sign the contract, yeah, you can and like renegotiate,” Tsarukyan said when asked about Strickland’s situation during a recent interview with Ariel Helwani.

“How you can sign your contract, fight one more fight, next fight you know before the fight, second one is gonna be this purse and then you signing the contract? You gotta be a little smart.

“Maybe he didn’t believe in himself that he’s gonna beat Khamzat, that’s why he signed,” he continued. “He’s gotta take the fights, do a couple more fights, and then re-sign his contract.”

Tsarukyan, meanwhile, has been boosting his income outside of the Octagon.

The Russian-Armenian star stayed active between his two most recent UFC fights by competing in wrestling and grappling matches.

That trend is continuing, with Tsarukyan set to wrestle Dillon Danis at RAF 14 on Friday night.