Sean O’Malley’s response to Conor Benn’s reported $15 million Zuffa Boxing deal said more about the divide between MMA and boxing than fighter pay.
When news broke that Benn had signed a one-fight deal reportedly worth eight figures, O’Malley questioned not so much the strategy as the identity. “I don’t even know who Conor Benn is,” he told MMAmania. “He’s supposed to be a pretty big name in boxing, but I’ve never heard of him.”
This recognition landed harder than the salary. If one of the UFC’s most visible champions is unaware of a British welterweight being seen as a major commercial asset, it highlights how stifled audiences remain even under the same corporate umbrella.
O’Malley also acknowledged the business logic behind the move. “It’s a business, too, and if they think it’s a good move and that guy’s going to bring in money, I get it,” he said. “Business is business. He hates Oscar De La Hoya, hates Eddie Hearn, so it’s like we’re taking their biggest star and paying them. I can see it’s an ego thing.”
Zuffa Boxing’s deal with Benn is believed to be $15 million for one fight, a figure that immediately drew comparisons within MMA, where top UFC fighters typically rely on pay-per-view promotions to reach similar totals. O’Malley made that contrast clear. “I don’t make f-king $15 million to fight.”
The number is what drew attention, but the reaction revealed something else: Zuffa’s expansion into boxing is working in a market that its own MMA stars don’t necessarily follow. Benn may be a headliner in one sport, but for a UFC champion, he was a name without recognition.
Whether that changes as Zuffa builds out his boxing arm remains to be seen. For now, the deal has landed less of a crossover moment and more of a reminder that the two fans still live in separate worlds.
Click here to subscribe to our FREE newsletter
Related Boxing News:
Last updated on 2026/02/23 at 20:21
