British UFC welterweight Michael "Venom" Page has voiced strong criticism of the UFC's fighter compensation structure following Zuffa Boxing's reported $15 million deal with boxer Conor Benn. Speaking on a podcast, Page highlighted the disparity between the promotion's revenues and fighter earnings, citing examples like former champion Francis Ngannou's financial struggles. He also discussed his upcoming fight against Sam Patterson in London.
Michael "Venom" Page, a British welterweight contender in the UFC, expressed frustration with fighter pay during an appearance on The Boys in the Back podcast on Tuesday. His comments come in the wake of Zuffa Boxing, a new venture led by UFC president Dana White under the TKO Group Holdings umbrella, signing British boxer Conor Benn to a one-fight contract reportedly worth $15 million. Zuffa Boxing is a joint effort between TKO and Saudi Arabia-based Sela.
Page questioned the value placed on Benn, stating, "I love Conor Benn, but he's nowhere near the best in his field." He contrasted this with UFC fighters' situations, noting that even world champions often face financial hardship. "I hate hearing stories of fighters getting to what is the pinnacle of our careers in terms of the UFC and still being broke. That just shouldn't exist," Page said. He referenced former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou, who reportedly borrowed money from ex-welterweight champion Kamaru Usman while holding the title.
The critique ties into the UFC's recent $7.7 billion broadcast deal with Paramount+, which generates over $1.1 billion annually for TKO. Despite promises of benefits, fighters received doubled post-fight bonuses to $100,000 and a new $25,000 "finish bonus" for certain knockouts or submissions. Page dismissed these changes as insufficient: "This is why I wasn't initially excited about it, because for me, it doesn't do enough compared to the amount of money they've just brought in for themselves. To see how highly [Dana White] values people away from the sport that built his reputation, it's just upsetting, to be fair. It's disappointing more than anything."
Former UFC champion Sean O'Malley echoed the sentiment, expressing shock at Benn's payout compared to UFC stars. Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn, who lost Benn from his Matchroom Boxing stable, remarked, "They're sick as a dog. There's no loyalty."
The UFC recently settled the Le vs. Zuffa antitrust lawsuit for $375 million over allegations of suppressed fighter pay, with another case, Johnson vs. Zuffa, ongoing.
On a related note, Page addressed his upcoming bout against Sam Patterson at UFC Fight Night: Evloev vs. Murphy on March 21 at The O2 Arena in London. He described the matchup as unusual, having pushed for higher-profile opponents after middleweight wins over Shara Magomedov and Jared Cannonier. "I've been asking for a lot of different fighters and not really getting responses," Page said, adding that the booking "feels like I upset somebody." Patterson, at 6'4" with knockout and submission skills, has cited Page as an inspiration. The event, headlined by a featherweight title eliminator between Movsar Evloev and Lerone Murphy, streams on Paramount+.
