O'Malley Reacts to Benn Deal
Sean O'Malley responded to Conor Benn's reported $15 million Zuffa deal, candidly stating "I'm not making f*cking $15 million". The comment highlights widening pay disparities as boxing and MMA continue to converge under promotional umbrellas like Zuffa.
- Conor Benn's reported $15 million deal is for a single fight with Zuffa Boxing, after which he can become a free agent. This amount is considered one of the largest purses for a non-champion welterweight. - In contrast, former UFC champion Sean O'Malley's total career earnings are estimated to be between $4 million and $6 million. For his title fight against Aljamain Sterling, he earned a reported $1,182,000. - The pay disparity is a known issue between the two sports; reports suggest that UFC fighters receive about 18-20% of the company's revenue, while boxers can get around 60-70%. - Zuffa Boxing is a new promotion led by UFC CEO Dana White and backed by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund. The venture is seen by some as a move by White to challenge established boxing promoters like Eddie Hearn, from whom Benn departed. - Eddie Hearn, Benn's former promoter, expressed that he was "devastated" by Benn's departure, stating he was not given a chance to match the offer and learned of the deal through Benn's lawyer. - Other UFC fighters, including former flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson and Michael Page, have also reacted to Benn's deal, highlighting the frustration over their own compensation. Johnson called the Benn deal a "flex" by Dana White. - Dana White has historically defended the UFC's pay structure, stating that fighters "get paid what they're supposed to get paid" and has criticized the boxing model for being "destroyed because of money." - Conor Benn, son of former world champion Nigel Benn, has a professional boxing record of 24 wins and 1 loss. Before the Zuffa deal, his largest purse was an estimated £8 million (around $10 million) for his fight against Chris Eubank Jr.
