Colby Covington Slams Zuffa Boxing Paydays as a Slap in the Face to UFC Fighters

Colby Covington spoke out against the compensation gap between UFC athletes and Zuffa Boxing stars, describing reported multimillion-dollar boxing payouts as a slap in the face.

The former UFC interim welterweight champion pulled no punches when assessing how combat sports money is currently being distributed.

He voiced strong displeasure with the emergence of lucrative boxing ventures operated under the same corporate umbrella.

Covington made his feelings entirely clear about the pressing need for UFC fighters to receive fair compensation for their work.

He argued that mixed martial artists absorb far more physical danger inside the cage than traditional boxers do in a ring.

His unfiltered remarks arrived during a candid interview with Ozoon.

During the conversation, Covington addressed the financial landscape and the shifting priorities in combat sports management.

He believes the current dynamic sends the wrong message to the athletes who carry the UFC brand.

SLAP IN THE FACE TO UFC ATHLETES

Covington zeroed in directly on Zuffa Boxing as the source of growing tension across the mixed martial arts roster.

He expressed disbelief that outside boxers can secure guaranteed millions while cage fighters battle through grueling contract disputes.

"Ever since they got into the boxing space with Zuffa Boxing, it just was like a big slap in the face to us UFC fighters. Why are you going to pay this bum Conor Benn $15 million?" Covington told Ozoon.

Covington made it clear that he does not see the value in handing out historic checks to competitors who lack mainstream name recognition.

"Who the [expletive] is Conor Benn? Like, no one knows who that is," Covington stated.

He went further by dismissing Benn's standing in the international fight community altogether.

"He's a nobody," Covington continued during his Ozoon appearance.

Covington also targeted Benn's recent performance under the bright lights.

He criticized Benn's effort and claimed the boxer merely entered the ring to collect a massive paycheck.

"And he quit in his fight. [Benn] literally just went out there to collect a paycheck and just quit," Covington said.

He pointed out that the bout ended swiftly without delivering an elite display of boxing skill.

"He didn't even put on a good performance, he was out in like three or four rounds against Ryan Garcia, who's nothing special," Covington added.

To drive his point home, Covington highlighted Garcia's recent competitive record in the boxing ring.

"You know, that guy was beat up by Rolly Romero just a fight before," Covington said.

He summarized his overall perspective on the spectacle bluntly.

"So, I don't like it," Covington remarked.

THE PHYSICAL TOLL OF THE CAGE

Beyond criticizing individual boxing stars, Covington outlined the structural reasons UFC athletes deserve significantly larger paydays.

He pointed to the wide disparity in physical risk between mixed martial arts and traditional pugilism.

"I don't like that they're incentivizing boxers over us UFC fighters. UFC, we take the biggest risk. We're stepping in a cage and it's not limited fighting like boxing," Covington told Ozoon.

He explained that a mixed martial arts bout forces fighters to prepare for an overwhelming variety of violent collisions.

"We're using elbows, we're using knees, we're using shins, we're using fists, we're using takedowns," Covington stated.

Unlike traditional boxing matches governed by strict rules on striking surfaces, MMA encompasses every dimension of hand-to-hand combat.

"I mean, it's no holds barred, you know? It's like a street fight, it's not limited fighting with 12 ounce boxing gloves," Covington said.

He argued that top-ranked UFC fighters must master wrestling, grappling, and multiple striking disciplines just to survive at the highest level.

He believes that absorbing kicks to the head and knees to the body carries far more occupational hazard than wearing heavy boxing gloves.

Because the sport demands so much sacrifice, Covington argued the sport's biggest stars should receive greater incentives to compete.

He warned that rewarding boxers while limiting mixed martial artists creates a slippery slope for the UFC.

BACKING SEAN STRICKLAND IN CONTRACT FIGHT

Covington's fiery statements come amid a broader wave of fighter dissatisfaction regarding modern UFC contract terms.

He voiced direct support for reigning UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland in his push for better compensation.

Strickland has recently been very open about his own frustrations with promotional negotiations.

The middleweight titleholder voiced anger after feeling pressured by UFC brass to sign a contract extension.

Strickland reached the summit of the division after dethroning Khamzat Chimaev in a high-stakes championship clash.

Following that landmark victory, Strickland publicly disclosed the financial terms he expected to receive as a reigning champion.

Because of those contentious wage disagreements, talks for a reported title defense against Nassourdine Imavov have completely stalled.

Covington stated that he completely understands Strickland's position and supports fighters who demand their true market worth.

He argued that champions who put their bodies on the line should not be sidelined over financial disputes while boxers take home multimillion-dollar checks.

SURPRISE GRAPPLING UPSET IN ROME

Covington's commentary on UFC fighter pay arrived shortly after he made headlines of his own inside a competitive arena.

The former interim champion traveled to Rome, Italy, to compete at HYPE Fighting Championship on Tuesday, November 3.

He was booked in a featured submission-grappling match on the international card.

Covington was originally scheduled to grapple Dillon Danis at the Italian event.

Danis was forced off the card, leading UFC bantamweight prospect Raul Rosas Jr. to step up on short notice.

Rosas Jr., widely known as "El Nino Problema," took on the challenge despite giving up significant size and experience to Covington.

The grappling encounter ended almost as quickly as it began.

Rosas Jr. stunned spectators by securing a rear-naked choke against Covington in just 43 seconds.