‘I’ve never heard of him’

Sean
O’Malley isn’t happy about Conor Benn’s $15 million Zuffa
Boxing deal. 

Zuffa Boxing is the latest venture of Dana White and TKO Group, the
parent company of the
UFC. Zuffa recently signed Conor Benn, reportedly for $15
million for a single-fight deal. Benn also changed sides overnight,
parting ways with Matchroom Boxing and Eddie Hearn, who basically
shaped his career. As Hearn predicted, UFC fighters aren’t happy
about Benn’s Zuffa deal. 

O’Malley doesn’t even completely believe the report of Benn being
signed for $15 million. The former UFC bantamweight champion says
he has never heard of Benn. O’Malley isn’t happy about someone else
reaping the benefits after he played a pivotal role in generating
revenue for the UFC.

“I can’t imagine it being true,” O’Malley said on YouTube. “I don’t
even know who Conor Benn is. I’ve never heard of him… It’s crazy
how you put in so much work in the UFC, build this name, create
this character, be this star. I’m not making f—-ing $15 million a
fight. But it’s also business. If they think it’s good business for
them, if they think that guy is gonna bring in money, I get
it.”

While he might have recently lost some clout due to recent
championship defeats, O’Malley emerged as one of the biggest UFC
stars when the company was lacking big names after Conor
McGregor stopped competing. “Suga” is coming off a win over
Song Yadong at UFC 324 last month. 

Sean O’Malley reacts to Conor Benn getting
paid $15 million to fight on Zuffa Boxing

“I don’t even know who Conor Benn is… It’s crazy how you put in so
much work in the UFC, build this name, be this star. I’m not making
f**king $15 million a fight.”

(via @SugaSeanMMA)
pic.twitter.com/W60RPMsEd1

— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS)
February 23, 2026