Colby Covington calls Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing a ‘slap in the face’ to UFC fighters

Former UFC interim welterweight champion Colby Covington has labeled Dana White's Zuffa Boxing venture a "slap in the face" to MMA athletes. Speaking in an interview with Ozoon Canada, Covington heavily criticized the promotion's compensation model, expressing frustration that boxer Conor Benn reportedly received $15 million for a single bout while UFC revenue sharing with its roster remains under 20 percent.

Covington retired from the UFC earlier in 2026 after being excluded from the UFC Freedom 250 fight card outside the White House. Once a prominent defender of the company, the former titleholder has since turned sharply critical of fighter compensation and has accused the promotion of coercing athletes into matchups.