Sean O’Malley questions Zuffa Boxing’s ‘crazy’ $15 million deal with Conor Benn

Former UFC bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley has questions for Dana White after Conor Benn’s eight-figure deal with Zuffa Boxing.

Dana White scored a massive win over his promotional rival Eddie Hearn in signing Conor Benn to a one-fight, $15 million deal with Zuffa Boxing. Benn, a longtime fighter under Hearn’s umbrella, is expected to return to the ring later this year against a to-be-announced rival, potentially Chris Eubank Jr., for a trilogy bout.

Benn’s signing points to a potentially seismic shift in boxing. A massive contract of this magnitude, particularly for one fight, is largely unprecedented in combat sports.

Under White’s UFC leadership, some fighters, fans, and pundits have criticized the promotion for how it financially compensates its fighters. Those criticisms have come to light again after White secured an eight-figure deal with Benn under Zuffa Boxing, while some UFC fighters are living check-to-check.

Sean O’Malley questions the validity of Conor Benn’s $15 million deal

During a recent episode of The Real BroMalley Show, former UFC champion Sean O’Malley reacted to Benn’s lucrative signing with Zuffa Boxing.

“For me, it’s so hard to believe. I saw it, heard it, Tim told me. But it doesn’t mean it’s true, I don’t know, it could very well be true. I can’t imagine it being true because I don’t even know who Conor Benn is,” O’Malley said of Benn’s deal.

“Supposedly, he’s a pretty big name in boxing, but I’ve never heard of him. They really paid Conor Benn $15 million? It’s crazy how you just put in so much work in the UFC, build this name, create this character, become this star, and I’m not making f—– $15 million a fight.

“But it’s also a business. If they think it’s a good business move, and they think he’s going to bring in money, I get it,” O’Malley continued. “Business is business.”

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