Morning Report | Israel Adesanya reacts to Conor Benn big payday: ‘I want $15 million for one fight, too’

Add one other to the rising listing of UFC fighters having a tough to reckoning with the big paychecks in Zuffa Boxing.

Earlier this yr, Dana White had the primary big headline from Zuffa Boxing, when he signed Conor Benn away from Matchroom Boxing, for a reported one-fight take care of a $15 million contract. It’s a considerably greater contract that just about anybody within the UFC has, which, after all, has drawn some light reaction from several big name fighters. And now, former two-time middleweight champion Israel Adesanya joins the combination.

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Speaking on his YouTube channel on Wednesday, Adesanya commented in regards to the UFC’s new broadcast take care of Paramount, and the way that could be affecting Dana White and firm when it comes to Zuffa Boxing.

“Hey man, this whole Paramount thing is something,” Adesanya mentioned. “It’s something. But at the moment, we’re playing the cards we’re dealt.

“I think the UFC, they enjoy what they do. After a few years, like anything, sometimes you need a little something else to spice it up, so now they’ve got Zuffa Boxing for themselves. …

“[Dana White] clocked this game. They have the NFL, the NBA of combat sports. So now, he’s like, ‘F*ck it, I’m going to go do the same thing in boxing.’ And already the signees they’ve had is crazy. Conor Benn, Jai Opetaia fighting this weekend, as well. Crazy.

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“I know what you mean when you talk about the venom, or the way he’s — that’s what he lives for. He fights for the challenge. So, this isn’t challenging, I guess, enough for him anymore.”

White has confronted growing criticism through the years for his deal with the UFC as he continues to add different sports activities promotions to his portfolio, together with Powerslap, UFC BJJ, and now Zuffa Boxing. And now, with the most recent addition making such a splashy signing, it appears that evidently Adesanya does have some emotions about that.

“I understand,” Adesanya mentioned. “We know these guys are top class boxers. They’re the best in the world at what they do, but so are we. This is the UFC. And if one guy can command that kind of money for one fight, and that’s from the same company, Zuffa, and this is what’s been keeping the lights on is the UFC. This is what we love. We love Ultimate Fighting, not Limited Fighting.

“So, I don’t feel jaded, but I’m like, I want $15 million for one fight, too!”

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Unfortunately, that’s not on deck for Adesanya, a minimum of not subsequent. Instead, “The Last Stylebender” takes on Joe Pyfer in the primary occasion of UFC Seattle on March 28.

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