Sean O’Malley has his concerns about UFC fighter pay, but is thankful for the platform he’s been given to compete.
The former bantamweight champion thinks his fellow stars should have some perspective, too, even if they’re not 100 percent pleased with their compensation.
Over the past few weeks, UFC standouts Conor McGregor and Jon Jones have raised gripes with the promotion over pay disputes and missed opportunities. McGregor is wondering what he’s worth to the UFC now in the wake of UFC CEO Dana
White reportedly signing Connor Benn to Zuffa boxing for $15 million, and Jones recently suggested he be released from his contract after being left off of the upcoming UFC White House lineup. Then there’s former UFC star Ronda Rousey, who blasted the promotion for not properly compensating its athletes, making it “one of the worst places to go.”
On a YouTube Q&A, O’Malley addressed the controversy by asking how much McGregor, Jones, and Rousey would be worth without the UFC.
“It’s crazy you see all these top guys having issues with the UFC, and Ronda obviously is not in the UFC anymore, but talking shit about it,” O’Malley said. “Conor, the biggest star of all time, having issues with the UFC. Jon Jones, the GOAT, having issues with the UFC. It’s crazy, all of these careers, who would Conor, Jones, and Ronda be without the UFC? Could they have been successful in other ventures? Yes. Could they have made as much money? Probably not. So it’s weird. I get where they’re coming from, too, if they think they’re being treated unfair, speak up.”
“One way I see it, but then it’s like also you’ve got to be grateful for what you got from the UFC, from the business,” he added. “But tricky.”
Even dutiful company men like Colby Covington have begun to speak out against the UFC’s business practices, with Covington also complaining about being left off the White House card and being treated “like shit.”
O’Malley isn’t sure what’s gone wrong with that relationship.
“That sucks,” O’Malley said. “I mean, he’s got the RFA stuff, I’m sure he’s making some money there, but it’s so weird. Did he piss off the UFC? He must have at some point? I don’t know. That sucks. Or they offered him Ian Garry, and he said no. Then it’s like, if they offer you someone, and you say no, they’re going to be like, ‘Alright, we’re not offering you someone else.’”
Since being signed on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2017, O’Malley has been touted as one of the faces of the UFC and is part of the June 14 White House lineup as he takes on streaking bantamweight contender Aiemann Zahabi. Asked where he would be without the UFC push, he gave a tongue-in-cheek response.
“I know I would not have made as much money as I’ve made if I wasn’t in UFC,” O’Malley said. “I’d make way more.”
TOP STORIES
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Conditional. Colby Covington reveals condition to take UFC fight with ‘crybaby’ Bo Nickal; Nickal responds.
Accusation. Ian Machado Garry doubts Islam Makhachev injured: ‘He doesn’t want to fight.’
Bounty. Daniel Cormier: Khamzat Chimaev ‘putting a bounty on himself’ in training camp to prepare for Sean Strickland.
Frustration. Michael ‘Venom’ Page reveals ‘most frustrating’ problems he’s faced since joining UFC roster.
Friends. Dominick Cruz and Keith Peterson reconcile after long feud.
VIDEO STEW
Diaz vs. Perry reaction.
Kid could be good someday.
Cooking with Volk.
Weekly Scraps with Aljamain Sterling.
Our very own Mike Heck on Submission Radio.
FLAVOR IN YOUR EAR
Fighter vs. Writer.
SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE
The best knockouts of the week.
Response.
Fire.
Real.
Heating up.
Absurd… but I respect it.
Still grinding.
JRE.
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Nate Diaz (21-13) vs. Mike Perry (14-8); Rousey vs. Carano, May 16
FINAL THOUGHTS
In my opinion, without the UFC, Ronda Rousey would have eventually gone into pro wrestling anyway, though her arc definitely would have been different without that UFC boost first (probably doesn’t end up headlining a WrestleMania, but who knows?). Conor McGregor probably would have just gone into boxing and done pretty well if that were his sole focus in his prime.
Jon Jones, without a combat sports career… maybe he ends up being a law-abiding citizen? — Lee
EXIT POLL
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