UFC bantamweight upstart Sean O’Malley is baffled by the UFC’s recent decision to raise their pay-per-view prices. On the BroMalley show, he doubted that the move could be aimed at raising fighter pay. He also pointed out that many fight fans already avoid paying to watch the UFC, instead making the most of illegal streaming services.
“Dana White raises pay-per-view by five dollars. What the hell are we doing here Dana. No, I doubt .
Sean O’Malley Slams UFC PPV Price Hike
But, could be. It is just so easy to stream it illegally. Not talking from experience, but just saying it. Whoever is in control of legal streams at the UFC, they need someone that is good enough at hacking (them) right before the main event starts. Every single time that they just shut it right before the good stuff.”
O’Malley clearly doubts that the UFC wants to pay its fighters more. He entered the fight game with a clear understanding of its limitations and expectations, instead building a personal brand and monetizing his celebrity in other ways.
While others complain about their slice of the pay-per-view pie, O’Malley started podcasts, streams on Twitch, and made the most of his growing profile in the sport. For that reason, he says, the UFC is in the right to be underpaying the underperformers on its roster.
“Dude, like I don’t even blame (Dana). It’s like some of these f*cking people have zero following. They’re not making the UFC one hundred thousand.
I mean they’re not making the UFC fifty thousand. They’re not making the UFC any money, really. But, that’s just from a business perspective. From Dana’s business perspective I can see that.”
Sean O’Malley, however, has faced criticism in recent months for touting himself as a future champion and refusing to call out the bantamweight elite. For the moment, he continues to fight lower-ranked or unranked fighters.
Admittedly, O’Malley routinely delivers highlight-reel knockouts, but until he tests himself against a big name or a serious title threat, it’s hard to take his self-aggrandisement seriously.
UFC fans looking to legally watch fights, depending on their territory, need to either subscribe to the UFC’s streaming service, Fight Pass, or to one of the UFC’s licensed partners like ESPN+. Although Fight Pass and its ilk charge a monthly fee, the UFC also charges for its major events, all of which are sold on pay-per-view.
Do you agree that the UFC is making a mistake with this price hike, or is it all part of the business? Let us know in the comments.
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