Dana White’s Nightmare Comes True as UFC Star Sean O’Malley Questions Conor Benn’s $15M Deal

UFC CEO Dana White's decision to sign Conor Benn for $15 million to Zuffa Boxing questioned by former UFC champion Sean O'Malley.

Dana White’s Nightmare Comes True as UFC Star Sean O’Malley Questions Conor Benn’s $15M Deal

Dana White criticized for 15 million deal by Sean O'Malley (via Bloody Elbow, Yahoo Sports)

Dana White’s move into boxing through Zuffa Boxing was designed to modernize a traditionally fragmented sport after transforming the UFC into a global powerhouse. The $15 million signing of British welterweight Conor Benn was positioned as a major statement for the new promotion. However, as predicted by Eddie Hearn, backlash quickly surfaced when Sean O’Malley criticized the scale of the deal.

For the unversed, Benn’s agreement with Zuffa Boxing is structured as a one-fight contract reportedly worth $15 million in guaranteed purse money. The deal does not bind the British welterweight to a long-term promotional commitment, marking a departure from traditional multi-bout boxing agreements.

Benn previously competed under Matchroom Boxing before making the switch to Dana White’s new venture. After the Englishman finalized his move, Eddie Hearn questioned the financial scale of the deal and suggested fighters under the UFC could grow frustrated by the reported $15 million guarantee.

While there was no immediate backlash, being one of the most recognizable UFC stars, O’Malley later criticized what he viewed as a disparity in compensation standards and revealed that he had never heard of Benn.

I don’t even know who Conor Benn is. He’s supposedly a pretty big name in boxing. 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. It’s also a business, and if they think it’s a good move and that guy is going to bring in money, I get it. Business is business. He hates Oscar De La Hoya, hates Eddie Hearn, so it’s like let’s take their biggest star and pay them. I can see it being an ego thing. Again, I’ve never really heard of him.

Sean O’Malley via YouTube

O’Malley indicated the Benn signing reflected what he viewed as an egotistical business move by White, directly tying it to tensions with established promoters such as Eddie Hearn and Oscar De La Hoya.

Hearn’s relationship with the UFC CEO has grown increasingly strained since White entered boxing. However, White and De La Hoya have maintained a long-standing rivalry marked by years of public tension.

O’Malley is a former UFC bantamweight champion with an estimated $4 million net worth who became one of the promotion’s most marketable stars during his title run. However, former rival Aljamain Sterling stated that, despite promotional focus, their bout at UFC 292 did not perform well in PPV numbers, highlighting a difference from boxing, which often draws large crowds even with lesser-known fighters.

The reported $15 million purse for Conor Benn’s single fight contrasts sharply with what many athletes earn across careers in the UFC. Dana White has repeatedly defended the organization’s pay model despite longstanding criticism. The lucrative deal under Zuffa Boxing has intensified comparisons between MMA and boxing compensation, with O’Malley among the first fighters to openly question it.

Dana White accused of “flexing” the Conor Benn deal by UFC legend

Compensation in the UFC has been a recurring point of debate, with critics arguing that fighter pay remains low relative to overall event revenue.

Athletes are typically compensated through disclosed show-and-win purses and discretionary bonuses that are not fully transparent. Dana White has consistently defended the structure, stating that the model is sustainable and rewards merit and marketability.

Dana White claims he hasn't faced any rivalry in boxing
Dana White claims he hasn’t faced any rivalry in boxing (via X)

White has long argued that athletes must build their own careers, maintaining that the UFC supplies the platform and visibility needed to maximize earnings. He has emphasized that star power and financial upside are tied to performance and marketability. However, following Conor Benn’s $15 million deal, former champion Demetrious Johnson addressed the growing financial gap between MMA and boxing.

Is $15M worth having Conor Benn? It’s the first time I’ve heard of him. From what everybody tells me, he is a very good boxer. But is Khamzat Chimaev making $15M? Is Ilia Topuria making $15M? Is Merab making $15M? We don’t know because those numbers are always hidden, but I truly believe it’s a flex from Dana White.

Demetrious Johnson via YouTube

Dana White has previously stated that many UFC athletes choose not to publicly disclose their purses to avoid outside pressure and financial expectations. He has indicated that privacy around earnings helps fighters prevent requests for handouts or unwanted attention regarding their income. White has used that rationale to explain the limited transparency surrounding disclosed compensation figures.

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