UFC Owners Defend $15M Boxing Payout
UFC owners publicly responded to fighter criticism over Zuffa Boxing's reported $15 million payout to Conor Benn, defending the decision by citing different economics between boxing and MMA. The massive figure—paid to secure Benn's participation—has reignited debates over UFC fighter compensation, with many MMA professionals voicing frustration at the disparity with standard UFC purses. UFC executives emphasized that Zuffa Boxing operates on a distinct model from the UFC's core MMA business.
- The $15 million purse for Conor Benn was for a single fight, a figure that dwarfs the career earnings of many seasoned UFC fighters. For comparison, former UFC champion Sean Strickland has reportedly earned around $8 million over his entire 24-fight UFC career. - Zuffa Boxing is a joint venture between UFC's parent company, TKO Group Holdings, and Sela, a company backed by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund. TKO President Mark Shapiro has stated that Sela, not TKO, is covering Benn's substantial purse. - This venture is not Dana White's first attempt to enter the boxing world. In 2017, following the high-profile match between Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor, White announced his intention to launch Zuffa Boxing, stating the existing boxing landscape was "broken." He also attempted a boxing reality show in 2014 called "The Fighters," which was canceled after one episode. - The controversy over the payout highlights the long-standing issue of fighter compensation in the UFC. For over a decade, the UFC's revenue share with its fighters has consistently hovered around 16-20%, a stark contrast to the nearly 50% share in other major American sports leagues like the NFL and NBA. - Recently, the UFC's parent company, Zuffa, LLC, settled a class-action antitrust lawsuit for $375 million. The lawsuit, brought by former fighters, alleged that the company engaged in anticompetitive practices to artificially suppress fighter compensation. - High-profile UFC stars have publicly criticized the pay disparity. Former bantamweight champion Sean O'Malley expressed his frustration, stating, "I'm not making f— $15 million to fight," while former flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson called the massive payout for Benn a "flex move by Dana White." - Conor Benn, son of former two-division world champion Nigel Benn, is a well-known boxer in the UK with a professional record of 24 wins and 1 loss. He previously held the WBA Continental welterweight title.
