The reported $15 million single-bout deal between Conor Benn and Zuffa Boxing has reactions from former MMA champions.
Sean O’Malley addressed the reported deal on The Real Bro Malley Show, and his first reaction was disbelief.
“I did see it. I heard it. I’ve been told. Tim tell me, ‘Do you see that?’ I’m like, ‘It doesn’t mean it’s true.’ I don’t know. It could very well be true. I can’t imagine it being true.”
O’Malley admitted he wasn’t even familiar with Benn before the news surfaced. “Zuffa Boxing, it’s like they’re paying out. I don’t even know who Conor Benn is… I’ve never heard of him.”
While skeptical, O’Malley tried to make sense of the business logic. He speculated that Turki Alalshikh’s financial backing could explain such a massive figure.
“Turki is the guy. He’s like a prince or something in Dubai or something with hundreds of billions of dollars.”
He also floated the idea that UFC CEO Dana White might approve a deal like this for strategic reasons.
“If that’s the case, Turki and Dana are in on this and they say, and Dana really wants to do it because he hates Oscar De La Hoya. He hates Eddie Hearn. He hates these people. He’s like, ‘Hey, let’s take their biggest star and pay him even if it’s 15 million.’ I could see it being out of like an ego thing.”
Still, O’Malley kept things pragmatic. “But it’s also a business. If they think that’s a good business move and that guy’s going to bring in money, it’s like I get it. I don’t take anything personal in business. Business is business.”
But one comment revealed the deeper frustration many stars feel: “It’s crazy how you just put in so much work in the UFC. Put in so much work in the UFC to build this name, create this character, be this star, you know, and it’s like I’m not making f**king $15 million fight. .”
However, MMA icon Demetrious Johnson was far more direct in his assessment of the situation on his podcast.
“Honestly, I’m not going to lie to you guys. I truly believe it is a flex move by Dana White.”
Johnson suggested the deal was less about long-term sustainability and more about proving a point to boxing promoters. He questioned the transparency around contender pay in MMA:
“Is Khamzat Chimaev making $15 million? Is Ilia Topuria making $15 million? Merab Dvalishvili making $15? We don’t know because those numbers are always hidden.”
He compared boxing’s competitive market with MMA’s closed system. In boxing, Matchroom reportedly had the chance to match Zuffa’s offer and declined.
“There’s no other place where mixed martial artists can go and do that match,” he said.
Johnson also questioned the sustainability of pouring UFC-generated revenue into Zuffa Boxing. “If it wasn’t for UFC, Dana White could not buy Zuffa boxing. I think it’s crazy that you’re using that UFC money to go towards Zuffa Boxing.”
He even referenced historical cautionary tales: “I just don’t think it’s sustainable,” recalling how Affliction paid stars like Andrei Arlovski and Fedor Emelianenko massive purses in 2008–2009 before going bankrupt.
Ultimately, Johnson believes the Benn deal was symbolic. “I truly believe it was a flex on match room and Oscar De La Hoya and all those guys,” he sai.
Interestingly, Ronda Rousey recently revealed about her failed UFC negotiations for her return against Gina Carano. Speaking on The Jim Rome Show, Rousey explained that Dana White initially secured her an unprecedented deal.
“He came back and literally brought me a deal where I would make more per pay-per-view buy than anybody in history. If I hit my historical numbers… I would have made as much as I did in my entire career.”
But once the UFC’s broadcast model shifted and corporate priorities changed, the deal evaporated. “They didn’t want to set a precedent of giving me the guaranteed money that I deserve because once I raise that tide it lifts all the boats.”
Rousey argued that after the company’s multibillion-dollar deal and public obligations, maximizing shareholder value took priority.
“Dana’s now legally obligated to maximize shareholder value.” She added: “It’s in their best interest actually not to put on the best matches possible, but to spend as little money as possible so they can keep it.”
According to Rousey, the UFC ultimately chose not to move forward because paying her at that level would force them to pay others more.
“They didn’t want to pay us the money that we deserve because then for the rest of the time of the deal, they’re going to have to pay everybody else more.”
On one hand, Zuffa Boxing can reportedly offer Conor Benn $15 million for a single match. On the other, long-time MMA stars argue that setting similar guarantees inside the UFC creates financial ripple effects the company is reluctant to trigger.
