Answer! UFC owner clarifies situation after criticism over multi-million dollar signing.

Dana in an interview. Photo: Reproduction/YouTube

The arrival of Conor Benn at Zuffa Boxing, a sister company of the UFC, made official last Friday (20), was explosive. As if that wasn't enough, the multimillion dollar value of the contract shocked the combat sports community. So much so that fans criticized the fact that the boxer received an exorbitant amount, while Ultimate athletes earn much smaller purses. Aware of the negative reaction, Mark Shapiro, president of 'TKO Group Holdings', the company that owns the largest MMA organization, spoke out.

I agree with the journalist Dan Rafael, a boxing specialist, and the 'According to Sports Illustrated, the former Matchroom Boxing athlete's agreement with Zuffa Boxing is valid for one fight and the value is around 10 to 15 million dollars (approximately between R$ 52 and 77 million, at the current exchange rate). Last Wednesday (25), during a conference, the businessman responded to the criticism and clarified that, who is paying, is not the UFC, much less TKO, but Sheikh Turki Alalshikh, leader of SELA, the league's official sponsor, and a friend of Dana White.

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“This story has taken on a life of its own, and that’s mainly due to Eddie Hearn creating controversy in a very fictitious way. As you know, our partner at Zuffa Boxing is SELA, which is the company’s financial sponsor. Let me be clear: we hired Benn for only one fight. That’s all we’re talking about.”, said the businessman.

"Of course, we hope he'll fight in the future in Zuffa Boxing, exclusively on Paramount+, but for now, it's just one fight." "It's no different from what we did with Canelo and Crawford. It's no different from the other superfights we're currently planning with SELA. I would add that the reported purse, which I believe to be around $15 million – I'm neither confirming nor denying – that Conor will be paid for the superfight in 2026, is not coming out of TKO's pocket."

“SELA, led by our great partner Turki Alalshikh, is covering the costs. Again, nothing different from what they did with the Canelo vs. Crawford fight. Conor was a free agent, and Dana White and Nick Khan went after him and signed him.”, he concluded.

Benn's fighters in boxing

Conor Benn, 29, is a boxing star. The Englishman began his career in the sport in 2016, winning 24 fights and losing only once, avenging his only defeat. His main triumph was precisely against Chris Eubank Jr.