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By Kishore R<\/a><\/p>\n Jun 26, 20261 hours ago3 min read<\/p>\n Eddie Hearn believes Sean O’Malley was underpaid at UFC Freedom 250. <\/p>\n Sean O’Malley <\/a>produced one of the standout knockouts of UFC Freedom 250<\/a>. Competing on the South Lawn of the White House, the former bantamweight champion delivered a walk-off finish over Aiemann Zahabi<\/a>, saluted the crowd, and became one of four Americans to emerge victorious on the seven-fight main card.\u00a0<\/p>\n Yet days after the event, attention shifted away from the knockout itself and toward what O’Malley says he earned for the performance. The revelation quickly reignited the long-running debate surrounding fighter compensation in the UFC<\/a>, with Matchroom chairman Eddie Hearn <\/a>emerging as one of the loudest critics.<\/p>\n Eddie Hearn Says Sean O’Malley Deserves Far More than $600,000<\/p>\n According to ‘Suga<\/a>,’ his purse for the White House card totaled roughly $600,000, a figure he admitted was disappointing given the event’s magnitude. Hearn, the British boxing promoter, meanwhile, used O’Malley’s payout as a perfect example of what he believes is a massive disparity affecting top-ranked UFC athletes.<\/p>\n Hearn, who recently became manager to UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall and has also signed Ian Machado Garry to his Matchroom Talent Agency, did not hold back while discussing O’Malley’s disclosed earnings during an appearance on “The Ariel Helwani Show.”<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The 47-year-old promoter was stunned that a fighter with O’Malley’s profile reportedly earned less than $600,000 for competing at one of the UFC’s most heavily publicized events, stating,\u00a0<\/p>\n “I saw the Sean O’Malley stuff yesterday,” Hearn said<\/a>. “You’ve literally got guys making more for an eight-round fight against a guy that I would beat than Sean O’Malley fighting at the White House.”<\/p>\n He went further, arguing that many UFC fighters have become resigned to accepting the terms presented to them because they fear being sidelined if they push back. “It just doesn’t make sense,” he added. “Sean O’Malley is a superstar. The guy’s a phenomenal fighter. Sean O’Malley could walk around New York City and get mobbed.”<\/p>\n His sharpest remarks came when addressing fighters directly – “You need to grow some balls, and you need to start fighting for what’s right for you and your career and making sure you’re respected for putting your life and health on the line when you step in the Octagon.”\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Sean O’Malley’s Comments Reignite UFC Fighter Pay Debate<\/p>\n O’Malley himself did not appear angry while discussing his payout, but he acknowledged feeling underwhelmed by the number. “It definitely sucks,” the 31-year-old admitted<\/a>, noting that his previous bout against Song Yadong paid significantly less than title fights and that the White House appearance ended up being “around the same.”<\/p>\n