The UFC’s payment structure has long faced criticism. On numerous occasions, prominent fighters have raised their voices against the system. Recently, Sean Strickland declared war on the promotion after comparing his own contract to Conor McGregor’s historic $30 million payday at UFC 329.
Amid this ongoing tension, former champion Sean O’Malley, who has spent approximately nine years with the promotion, has shared a blunt message for the next generation of fighters.
Sean O’Malley Tells Aspiring UFC Fighters Not to Chase Riches
The UFC moved to Paramount in 2026 under a seven-year, $7.7 billion media-rights deal. Worth about $1.1 billion annually, this agreement ended the promotion’s pay-per-view model in the United States.
Following the transition, Dana White fulfilled his promise to adjust the pay structure by permanently doubling the standard post-fight performance and Fight of the Night bonuses to $100,000, breaking a $50,000 baseline that had remained unchanged since 2014.
Estimates from antitrust litigation place the fighters’ share at roughly 15% to 20%, far below the near-50% revenue split in the NBA and NFL. Entry-level contracts still start near $12,000 to show and $12,000 to win, and the roster operates without a collective bargaining agreement.
O’Malley addressed this economy on The Timbo Sugar Show, arguing that money alone should not drive anyone toward a UFC career. The 32-year-old spoke from experience.
“You’re not gonna make that much money, so don’t f—– go. Don’t try to be in the UFC. If your goal is to be in the UFC and be the richest person in the world, it’s not gonna happen,” O’Malley said. “These guys know fighter pay isn’t that great. If you’re gonna pursue it, don’t complain too much. It does suck when you feel like you’re worth more.”
Sean O’Malley urges fighters not to pursue a UFC career if their goal is to get rich
“You’re not gonna make that much money, so don’t f*cking go. Don’t try to be in the UFC. If your goal is to be in the UFC and be the richest person in the world, it’s not gonna happen.
These guys know fighter pay isn’t that great. If you’re gonna pursue it, don’t complain too much. It does suck when you feel like you’re worth more.”
— Happy Punch (@HappyPunch) October 26, 2026
The 32-year-old speaks from experience. He earned about $600,000 for his June 14 TKO victory over Aiemann Zahabi at UFC Freedom 250. Despite participating in the historic White House card, that payout marked a significant drop from his previous championship paydays.
O’Malley also noted that outside income from his social media channels tripled his actual fight earnings in 2023, the same year he won the bantamweight title from Aljamain Sterling at UFC 292.
However, he emphasized that he remains deeply thankful for the promotion for the visibility it provides, explaining, “We still gotta be grateful the UFC gave us this platform because where else we’re gonna fight.”
Right now, he is pushing himself toward a high-stakes matchup against Petr Yan, who just reclaimed his bantamweight championship by defeating Merab Dvalishvili in the UFC 333 co-main event
