Sean O'Malley Wins at White House, Sparks Fighter Pay Debate
Sean O'Malley's June 14, 2026, win at the White House has ignited a fresh debate on UFC fighter pay. He made around $600,000 for the bout.
O'Malley dropped Aiemann Zahabi twice for a stoppage at 4:02 of round two. The event, staged on the South Lawn, was the UFC's most symbolic show in three decades.
The White House called the event's cost over $60 million. O'Malley later described his pay as a drop from his title-run paydays.
Eddie Hearn, a promoter, lamented that lower-card fighters earned more than the White House main-event champ. Hearn argued that O'Malley was underpaid for one of the biggest stages the promotion has ever built.
Hearn said, **"You've literally got guys making more for an eight-round fight against a guy that I would beat than Sean O'Malley made fighting at the White House"**. He added that those guys need to stop being suppressed.
The war of words between Hearn and UFC President Dana White grew when Conor Benn left Matchroom for Zuffa. White compared taking on established promoters like Hearn to **"assaulting infants"**.
Hearn responded that **"Zuffa's offerings are utterly subpar"**. The gap in pay can be huge, with Sean O'Malley making around $600,000 for his White House fight, while Conor Benn's one-fight Zuffa Boxing deal was reported at $15 million.
UFC fighters receive about 18 to 20 percent of company revenue, while internal benchmarking discussed around the UFC antitrust case placed boxing's share at about 62.5 percent. O'Malley publicly reacted to Benn's deal earlier this year.
The backstage tension also includes the long-awaited British heavyweight showdown. In April, Hearn declared the Anthony Joshua vs. Tyson Fury fight **"signed, sealed and delivered"**, confirming the bout while White looked to become the promoter for the fight.
O'Malley's win at the White House was a significant event, with the UFC investing heavily in the promotion. The event's cost and O'Malley's pay have sparked a debate on fighter pay in the UFC.
The debate is likely to continue, with Hearn and White exchanging words on the topic. O'Malley's win and the subsequent debate have brought attention to the issue of fighter pay in the UFC.
The UFC's pay structure has been criticized by many, including Hearn. The promotion's revenue and the pay of its fighters have been a topic of discussion in recent months.
O'Malley's pay for the White House fight was a significant drop from his title-run paydays. The event was a major success for the UFC, but the pay of its fighters remains a topic of debate.
The issue of fighter pay is complex, with many factors at play. The UFC's revenue and the pay of its fighters are just a few of the factors that contribute to the debate.
O'Malley's win at the White House was an important moment for the UFC. The event was a major success, but the pay of its fighters remains a topic of discussion.
The debate on fighter pay is likely to continue, with many calling for changes to the UFC's pay structure. O'Malley's win and the subsequent debate have brought attention to the issue.
The UFC's pay structure has been criticized by many, including promoters like Hearn. The promotion's revenue and the pay of its fighters have been a topic of discussion in recent months.
O'Malley's pay for the White House fight was a significant drop from his title-run paydays. The event was a major success for the UFC, but the pay of its fighters remains a topic of debate.