Michael 'Venom' Page has made it clear he's not happy with how he and other fighters are viewed by Dana White and the UFC.
As the promotion kicked off their $7.7 billion broadcast deal with Paramount at the start of 2024, they announced an increase in post-fight bonuses. The bonus amount was raised from $50,000 to $75,000 per fight, a change many fighters felt was overdue.
For some fighters though, this wasn't exactly what they had in mind when they heard about the new broadcast deal, especially considering just how much money is involved.
Dana White's recent move to sign Conor Benn to Zuffa Boxing on a reported $15 million contract only added fuel to the fire. Michael Page was among those who didn't take well to that news.
Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
Michael Page, known as 'MVP', is set to face Sam Patterson at UFC London on March 21. But he's already voiced his frustration over the bout.
With his return to the Octagon just around the corner, Page didn't shy away from comparing the UFC's current pay structure to Benn's recent deal.
"(Conor Benn's reported contract) is not something I'm happy about," Page told The Ariel Helwani Show.
"I heard about the, if you want to call it an increase in the bonus structure (in the UFC) and this is why I wasn't bothered to be excited initially because for me, that doesn't do enough, comparatively to the money they've just brought in for themselves.
"Dana White has always been quite excited about going into the boxing world and other things like, the Slap Fighting… But then to see it and how highly he values people away from the sport that built his reputation, it's upsetting, disappointing more than anything.
"It gives us something to complain about, in all honesty, I think if you couldn't see the value of your fighters prior to this… We have deserved more. I hate hearing stories of fighters getting to the pinnacle of your career in terms of the UFC and still being broke. That shouldn't exist."
After White expanded into boxing, his rival Eddie Hearn was caught off guard by some of the lucrative offers Zuffa Boxing had made to various fighters.
In response, Hearn predicted that there would be pushback from UFC fighters, a sentiment that now appears to be gaining traction within the community.
Michael Page isn't the only one to speak out against Benn's deal. Sean O'Malley has also voiced his surprise and concerns over the agreement.
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