Sean O’Malley Stunned by Massive $15M Zuffa Boxing Deal for Conor Benn

Sean O’Malley has expressed shock over the reported payday Conor Benn received in his new deal with Zuffa Boxing.

The former UFC champion and one of the promotion’s biggest stars says he finds it hard to believe the figure being discussed, especially when compared to what top UFC fighters earn. Benn, a British professional boxer, recently parted ways with his longtime promoter, Matchroom Boxing, to sign with the newly launched Zuffa Boxing, a venture backed by UFC CEO Dana White. According to veteran boxing journalist Dan Rafael, Benn’s agreement is a one-fight deal worth $15 million — a number that is rarely seen in UFC fighter payouts.

“For me, it’s really hard to believe,” O’Malley said on his YouTube channel. “Tim (Welch) told me, ‘Did you see that?’ It doesn’t mean it’s true — I don’t know, it could be. But I just can’t imagine it being real. Zuffa Boxing paying that much… I don’t even really know who Conor Benn is. He’s supposed to be a big name in boxing, but I’ve never heard of him.”

The UFC recently paid $375 million to settle the antitrust lawsuit Le vs. Zuffa. Meanwhile, the promotion is still facing another antitrust case, Johnson vs. Zuffa, which alleges that the company has illegally suppressed fighter pay and maintained monopsony control over the MMA market.

Unlike MMA, professional boxing operates with multiple promoters who compete for fighters, often driving purses higher. The sport also provides additional legal protection through the Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act, a federal law designed to protect boxers from exploitative business practices. TKO Group Holdings, the parent company of both the UFC and Zuffa Boxing, is currently lobbying to modify the Ali Act in an effort to bring the UFC’s business structure into boxing.

O’Malley, whose social media following is more than twice the size of Benn’s, confirmed that he is not earning anywhere near $15 million per fight — which explains his reaction.

“If they’re really paying him $15 million, that’s crazy,” O’Malley said. “You put in so much work in the UFC to build your name, create your character, become a star — and I’m not making $15 million a fight.”