The audacity of defeat can sometimes breed the boldest ambitions. Fresh off a devastating second-round knockout loss to Ryan Garcia that ended his WBC welterweight title dreams, Conor Benn has set his sights on an entirely different prize: Conor McGregor.
The British welterweight who reportedly secured a $15 million guarantee from Zuffa Boxing, took to social media with a poster featuring himself and the former UFC star.
The caption in the image was: “Benn vs McGregor coming soon, 2027.” Ben shared the image on his story, writing, “Any day of the week.”
It’s a remarkable pivot for a athlete who just weeks ago stood across from Garcia in Las Vegas with world championship aspirations. That night lasted barely more than 85 seconds of competitive action in the second round before referee Thomas Taylor waved it off.
Garcia’s speed and precision proved overwhelming. A right hand sent Benn to the canvas, and the follow-up assault left no doubt. For the first time in his professional career, Benn tasted knockout defeat.
Now, rather than plotting a path back through the welterweight ranks, Benn appears drawn to the spectacle and payday that only a crossover matchup can provide.
Boxing legend Roy Jones Jr. had previously suggested such a contest made sense, framing it as one of two potential major paydays before Benn might consider stepping away from the sport. The logic was straightforward: a bout with McGregor carries global appeal without the pressure of a world title on the line, and it could help Zuffa Boxing recoup its substantial investment in the British star.
That investment has become a talking point of its own. Dana White’s reported $15 million commitment to Benn sparked visible frustration among some of the UFC’s most prominent athletes.
Former bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley was blunt in his assessment: “I can’t imagine it being true. Zuffa Boxing is like they’re paying out… I don’t even know who Conor Benn is. He’s supposed to be a pretty big name in boxing, but I’ve never heard of him.”
O’Malley’s bewilderment extended to his own earning potential within the UFC system. “It’s crazy, bro. If they really paid this guy $15 million, I don’t know. It’s crazy how you put in so much work in the UFC. Build this name, create this character, be a star. I’m not making $15 million to compete,” he said.
Middleweight contender Israel Adesanya echoed similar sentiments without directing resentment toward Benn personally. “I don’t feel jaded, but I’m like [ ] it, I want $15 million for one match too,” Adesanya said.
Former UFC flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson offered a different interpretation, suggesting the deal was less about Benn’s value and more about White sending a message to the boxing establishment.
“Fifteen million dollars for one match is crazy because what’s going to happen after this match?” Johnson questioned. “Is the $15 million worth having Conor Benn? It’s the first time I’ve heard of him. From what everybody tells me, he’s a very good boxer. But is Khamzat Chimaev making $15 million? Is Ilia Topuria making $15 million? Is Merab Dvalishvili making $15 million? We don’t know because those numbers are always hidden, but I truly believe it’s a flex from Dana White.”
When asked about the apparent disparity between what Zuffa Boxing is willing to pay compared to UFC purses, White pushed back firmly.
“The guys in MMA get paid big money, too. So, you know, that’s the big misconception is that they don’t,” he said ahead of Zuffa Boxing’s July 26 event. White kept his focus on the promotional side: “My job is to put on matches that fans want to see. That’s my job.”
But for Benn, the immediate aftermath of his loss to Garcia was marked by uncertainty rather than promotional bravado. He spoke openly about the toll his career had taken on his family and made spending time with his children his priority. His next move in boxing remained unclear.
Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn who previously worked with Benn, laid out a sobering forecast for the British star’s position within Zuffa Boxing following the Garcia defeat. Speaking during an interview, Hearn suggested Benn would face the kind of contract management tactics the UFC has employed for years.
“Right now, Conor Benn is at the bottom of the pile when it comes with Dana White waking up in the morning or Nick Khan,” Hearn stated. “He will have a comeback match in his contract for quite a lot of money. So, what they will do is they will give him comeback matches that he will not accept.”
According to Hearn, the strategy involves offering opponents far too dangerous for Benn’s current standing while technically fulfilling contractual obligations.
“Then they’ll tell him, ‘Well, if you want well, maybe less money, you can compete against Carlos Adames.’ The day Conor Benn competes against Carlos Adames for the world middleweight title is like it’s just never going to happen.”
This leaves Benn with limited options: accept reduced purses for lesser opponents, step away from the sport, or pursue the one matchup that still carries financial weight under his current agreement.
That bout Hearn believes is the trilogy with Chris Eubank Jr., the rivalry that defined much of Benn’s recent career. After losing their first encounter by decision in April 2025, Benn avenged the result with a points victory in November 2025 before challenging Garcia for the title.
“Chris Eubank Jr. actually holds all the keys in terms of the Conor Benn trilogy,” Hearn explained. “Eubank Jr. will hold him by the nuts and say, ‘If you want to compete against me, here’s the deal, son.'”
If Benn refuses the dangerous assignments Zuffa presents, Hearn suggests the company will simply reduce his compensation while pointing to their contractual offers.
“They would just look at the contract and go, ‘How much are we not paying him then?’ Well, these are the matches you can have. Conor will say, ‘I’m not competing against him.’ In my opinion, that’s what will happen.”
Enter McGregor, whose own career trajectory has been defined by both spectacle and setbacks. The Irishman returned to the octagon at UFC 329 against Max Holloway after nearly four years away following a broken leg in his trilogy bout with Dustin Poirier in July 2021. The comeback lasted 69 seconds.
McGregor injured his knee while attempting a jumping kick in the opening moments and was forced to withdraw, handing Holloway the victory. Surgery followed, and his immediate future remains uncertain.
Yet McGregor’s commercial appeal remains undeniable. His 2017 crossover bout with Floyd Mayweather remains one of boxing’s most heavily promoted events, despite ending in a 10th-round stoppage that improved Mayweather’s record to 50-0.
For Benn, a matchup with McGregor represents a potential escape route from the promotional maze Hearn described. It offers financial reward without the risk of another high-level boxing opponent capable of further damaging his standing.
