UFC star Sean O’Malley isn’t convinced that British boxer Conor Benn is worth the massive payday attached to his reported Zuffa Boxing contract.
The combat sports world reacted with surprise when Dana White signed Benn to Zuffa Boxing, marking one of the promotion’s first major acquisitions. Reports quickly surfaced claiming that Benn would earn a staggering $15 million for a single fight, a figure that immediately sparked debate among fighters and fans.
While the deal signals Zuffa Boxing’s aggressive entry into professional boxing, former UFC bantamweight champion O’Malley openly questioned whether Benn carries enough star power to justify such a lucrative contract.
“For me, it’s so hard to believe,” O’Malley said on a recent episode of his podcast. “I saw it, I heard it, people told me — but that doesn’t mean it’s true.”
Despite Benn owning a strong professional record and scoring a major victory over rival Chris Eubank Jr. last November, O’Malley admitted that the British fighter’s global recognition doesn’t match the reported financial investment.
“I don’t know, it could very well be true,” O’Malley said. “But I can’t imagine it being true. They’re paying out $15 million, and I don’t even know who Conor Benn is. Supposedly he’s a big name in boxing, but I’ve never heard of him.”
The outspoken UFC star suggested that the move could partly be a strategic or ego-driven business decision as Dana White attempts to establish Zuffa Boxing as a serious player in the sport.
“I could see it being an ego thing or a business thing,” O’Malley explained. “You’re bringing in a legit guy, sure. But if they really paid this guy $15 million, it’s crazy.”
O’Malley then compared the situation to the financial reality many UFC fighters face despite years spent building their brands inside the Octagon.
“It’s wild how you can put in so much work in the UFC, build your name, create a character, become a star and I’m not making $15 million a fight,” he said.
The comments arrive at a time when fighter pay continues to be a frequent talking point in mixed martial arts. Critics have long questioned UFC compensation structures, and Benn’s reported eight-figure boxing deal has reignited that conversation across the combat sports landscape.
Still, O’Malley acknowledged that promotional decisions ultimately come down to business calculations.
“But it’s also business,” he added. “If they think it’s going to make money, I get it. Business is business.”
Meanwhile, Benn has already begun targeting potential opponents for his Zuffa Boxing debut, recently calling out Ryan Garcia for a welterweight showdown. Although Zuffa Boxing operates independently from traditional sanctioning bodies, the promotion could still pursue marquee matchups to build its new brand.
As Zuffa Boxing continues to expand under Dana White’s leadership, O’Malley’s skepticism reflects a broader question within combat sports: how much is star power really worth and who truly qualifies as a pay-per-view attraction.
