UFC Fighters Are Livid — Conor Benn's $15 Million Zuffa Boxing Deal Exposes the Pay Gap
UFC stars are outraged that Conor Benn landed a $15 million payday while they earn a fraction of that amount.
This piece represents analysis and perspective from the author.
UFC Fighters Are Livid — Conor Benn's $15 Million Zuffa Boxing Deal Exposes the Pay Gap
UFC fighters are absolutely livid after learning that Conor Benn signed a one-fight deal with Zuffa Boxing worth $15 million — a payday that makes most UFC athletes' career earnings look like pocket change.
The controversy exploded when news broke that UFC President Dana White's new boxing venture, Zuffa Boxing, funded by Saudi Arabia's SELA entertainment company, offered the British welterweight $15 million for a single fight. For context, that's more than most UFC champions make across multiple title defenses.
"I can't imagine it being true Zuffa Boxing is like they're paying out, I don't even know who Conor Benn is," said Sean O'Malley, one of the UFC's biggest stars. The bantamweight champion's confusion reflects a broader sentiment across the roster — fighters are stunned that someone outside the UFC ecosystem could command such a massive payday.
The pay disparity has become impossible to ignore. While Benn pockets $15 million for one fight, UFC fighters routinely complain about their compensation structure. Jorge Masvidal, a former UFC title challenger, made headlines when he earned $500,000 for competing in a bare-knuckle MMA tournament — and that was considered one of the better paydays in the sport.
Michael Page, another MMA veteran who transitioned to boxing, expressed his frustration bluntly: "It's just upsetting to see how quickly Dana White was willing to pay Conor Benn more than most UFC fighters make in their entire careers."
The controversy cuts deeper than just numbers. Zuffa Boxing operates separately from TKO Group Holdings, which owns the UFC, allowing White to offer boxing stars lucrative deals without impacting UFC fighter pay. This separation has created a two-tier system where boxing stars can earn generational wealth while UFC fighters — the very athletes who built White's empire — continue to fight for better compensation.
Dana White has defended the strategy, telling UFC.com that he's "giving opportunities to fighters" and addressing "criticism from boxing's establishment." But UFC fighters see it differently — they view the Benn deal as confirmation that the money exists in combat sports, just not in their contracts.
The timing couldn't be worse for UFC management. With the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine happening alongside this controversy, combat sports fans are drawing comparisons between how different leagues value their athletes. While NFL prospects are measured in 40-yard dashes and bench press reps, UFC fighters are measuring the gap between their pay and what boxing stars command.
What makes this particularly galling for UFC fighters is that many of them, like O'Malley and Masvidal, have cross-trained in boxing and could potentially compete at a high level. The fact that Zuffa Boxing chose an outsider like Benn over established UFC stars suggests that name recognition and marketability matter more than proven combat sports credentials.
The controversy also highlights the fundamental differences between boxing and MMA business models. Traditional boxing promoters like Eddie Hearn and Matchroom Boxing have long argued that boxing's structure allows for bigger individual paydays, while UFC's centralized model keeps costs down but limits individual earning potential.
As Zuffa Boxing prepares for its 2026 debut, the question isn't just whether the venture will succeed — it's whether it will force the entire combat sports industry to reevaluate how it compensates its athletes. For UFC fighters watching Conor Benn cash a $15 million check, the answer seems obvious: the money is there, it's just not reaching the people who earned it.
Why This Matters
This controversy exposes the growing tension between UFC management and its fighters over compensation. When a relative unknown can earn $15 million for one fight while UFC champions fight for better pay, it undermines the UFC's argument that its business model is the only sustainable option for combat sports.
What to Watch
Zuffa Boxing's first event in 2026 will be closely monitored by UFC fighters and boxing fans alike. If Benn's $15 million payday proves to be the start of a trend rather than an outlier, it could force Dana White and UFC ownership to address fighter compensation more seriously than they have in the past.