It's a tough pill to swallow when you see massive sums of money being handed out in one area of combat sports, while those at the pinnacle of another struggle to make ends meet. This is the sentiment echoed by UFC fighter Michael ‘Venom’ Page, who has voiced his disappointment regarding the recent $15 million purse awarded to boxer Conor Benn by Zuffa Boxing. While TKO, the parent company, has assured investors that these funds are directly from Saudi Arabia, the source of the money seems less important to the UFC roster than the sheer disparity in payouts.
Many UFC fighters are looking at this situation and feeling a sting of unfairness. They see boxers being showered with cash for what they perceive as a less demanding or less impactful venture, while they, the UFC athletes, are still waiting for their own financial gains, like the anticipated Paramount+ money, to materialize. It's a stark contrast that fuels frustration.
Michael ‘Venom’ Page, a U.K. standout who joined the UFC with considerable expectations, has personally experienced the challenges of securing consistent fights in his division. After two years, he's slated to face Sam Patterson, a fighter who, while tough, is currently unranked and not widely known. Perhaps this personal struggle has made Page more willing to speak out on the Benn situation. Feeling he might already be on the UFC's bad side, he might see little to lose by sharing his candid thoughts.
“It’s just hurtful to see the money go that way for somebody that, for me, is not at the top of his field,” Page shared with Sky Sports. He elaborated, acknowledging Benn's skill and excitement as a boxer but asserting that Benn isn't among the elite in his division. “He’s a great boxer. I’m a fan of his. I love watching his his fights because he’s always exciting. He always gives it all. But in that division, he’s nowhere near the best.”
Page then drew a parallel to UFC fighters who are at the very top of their sport. He pointed to the example of former UFC Heavyweight Champion Francis Ngannou, who, despite his immense success, found himself in a financially precarious position, even having to borrow money. “You’ve given that amount of money to somebody, I’d say, is not the best, but then you got people over here [in UFC] that are at the top. I’m gonna use Francis Ngannou simply because that’s an easy one … A heavyweight champion of the world, and he was broke and having to borrow money. Those are the kind of stories that I feel like they could fix that easily. That just shouldn’t exist.”
His concern extends to the fighters at the very bottom of the UFC pay scale, those who enter the promotion on contracts as low as $10k to show and $10k to win. When you factor in taxes and essential expenses, especially for international fighters like those from the UK, this income is incredibly difficult to live on. Page highlighted this, stating, “I feel like it’s an easy fix. Like, you just give guys what they deserve. It doesn’t have to be, like, millions and millions and millions. But to hear when people come in and they’re on 12k / 12k, and some people are coming from the UK, so twelve thousand dollars is not the same when you when you convert it all and bring it back and tax and so on. These are guys that have now gotten to the UFC, but still have to do door work.”
He believes that a more equitable distribution of funds would allow athletes to focus entirely on their craft. “It’d be nice to just see guys get to this level, like in any other industry, they get to its highest level and finances allow them to train better, allows them to become better athletes and put on better shows … and certain things are covered. And that’s it.” The contrast is what truly stings: “So when you see somebody get paid that amount of money from the same person that’s not paying you on this side, it’s just disheartening.”
But here's where it gets controversial... As Zuffa Boxing continues its expansion and more mega-shows are planned, the disparity between multi-million dollar boxer purses and the earnings of many top UFC fighters will become increasingly glaring. Is it fair that a boxer, even a popular one, can command such a sum while a UFC champion might struggle to earn the same amount over their entire career? Or is this simply the nature of different markets and different entertainment products? What are your thoughts on this financial divide in combat sports? Let us know in the comments below!
