Eddie Hearn shocked after learning Sean O’Malley’s purse for UFC White House fight

Sean O’Malley didn’t take home as much money as you might think for his viral knockout victory at UFC Freedom 250.

Despite scoring a remarkable walk-off salute KO over Aiemann Zahabi on the South Lawn of the White House, the former UFC bantamweight king missed out on a $425,000 Performance of the Night Bonus.

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According to O’Malley, that left him with a total purse of just under $600,000.

“It definitely sucks,” O’Malley said of his payout on the ‘One Night with Steiny’ podcast.

Eddie Hearn, who has been very vocal about UFC fighter pay as of late, was left shocked when he heard how much O’Malley had earned.

The Matchroom Boxing boss has been embroiled in a bitter feud with Dana White ever since the UFC mogul crossed over into his world with Zuffa Boxing late last year.

And he didn’t pass up the opportunity to sound off on what he views as a widespread ‘oppression’ of UFC athletes by MMA’s premier promotion.

Eddie Hearn goes off on UFC fighter pay

Speaking during a recent appearance on the Ariel Helwani Show, he said: “I saw the Sean O’Malley stuff yesterday, you have literally got guys who are making more for an eight-round [boxing] fight against a guy I would beat than Sean O’Malley at the White House.

“It just doesn’t make sense. Those guys need to stop being oppressed.

“I’m just shocked by the mindset of ‘Oh well, there is nothing else we can do, it is what it is, if we don’t do it, we are going to get benched’.

“The guy is a superstar, he’s just been made to feel like [he isn’t]…

“You’ve just fought at the White House in an incredible fight.

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“You’re putting your health on the line, you’re the talent, you’re the reason this organisation is what it is.

“I see it more and more across the UFC and the White House event. Why aren’t those guys there?

“The reason those guys aren’t there is that they don’t want them to feel like they have value.

“The likes of Sean O’Malley could walk around New York City and get mobbed…

“You need to grow some balls and start fighting for what’s right for you.”

Hearn has signed both UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall and welterweight contender Ian Garry to his Matchroom Talent Agency in recent months.

His deal with Garry is strictly commercial, while he has more of a hand in Aspinall’s career.

Hearn has repeatedly expressed his displeasure with how much Aspinall is earning with the UFC, and even urged White to release the Mancunian from his contract.