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UFC Stars Question Conor Benn's $15M Boxing Payday

2/25/2026

24 3 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Sean O'Malley, UFC fighter, questioned Conor Benn's reported $15 million single-fight deal with Zuffa Boxing.
He noted Benn's large social media following and questioned why that payday.
Demetrious Johnson, former UFC champion, echoed O'Malley's sentiments and said the deal reflects Dana White's rivalry with Eddie Hearn.
Johnson noted few UFC fighters reach that pay level, underscoring boxing–MMA pay disparity.

History

Historical Context

The UFC's rise since its 1993 inception transformed mixed martial arts (MMA) into a global phenomenon, culminating in WME-IMG's $4 billion acquisition in 2016. This sale underscored the financial disparity between MMA and boxing, as highlighted by Sean O'Malley's remarks on Conor Benn's $15 million deal, revealing that only a few MMA fighters achieve similar earnings, raising concerns about fighter compensation in the sport.

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Story summary

Sean O'Malley, UFC fighter, questioned Conor Benn's reported $15 million single-fight deal with Zuffa Boxing.
He noted Benn's large social media following and questioned why that payday.
Demetrious Johnson, former UFC champion, echoed O'Malley's sentiments and said the deal reflects Dana White's rivalry with Eddie Hearn.
Johnson noted few UFC fighters reach that pay level, underscoring boxing–MMA pay disparity.

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