Welcome to Bloody Elbow’s every day round-up of combat sports news on a day that was not the perfect for UFC president Dana White.
That is your one-stop shop for the highest five stories from February 25, 2026. Considered one of the important talking points was Michael Page’s honest assessment of UFC fighter pay after Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing offered Conor Benn a lucrative deal.
But MVP’s remarks weren’t the one topic of conversation on Wednesday, due to White coping with possible legal motion from a fellow boxing promoter, Max Holloway jumping to Justin Gaethje’s defense, Joe Rogan reacting to Floyd Mayweather vs Manny Pacquiao 2, and a late change to Jorge Masvidal’s $500,000 bare-knuckle MMA tournament.
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Michael ‘Venom’ Page is unhappy with the UFC pay structure
Many have suggested that fighters on the UFC roster must have a problem with Conor Benn joining Zuffa Boxing on a reported one-fight deal value $15 million. If Michael ‘Venom’ Page represents the consensus, plainly they’re.
During an appearance on Uncrowned’s Boys within the Back show, Page admitted having a significant gripe with the promotion’s current pay structure after the beginning of the brand new broadcast cope with Paramount.
“(Benn’s reported contract) will not be something I’m completely satisfied about,” the UFC welterweight said.
“(The) increase within the bonus structure…I wasn’t bothered to be excited initially because, for me, that doesn’t do enough, comparatively to the cash they’ve just brought in for themselves.
“Dana White has at all times been quite enthusiastic about going into the boxing world and other things, just like the slap fighting…but then to see it and the way highly he values people away from the game that built his fame, it’s upsetting — disappointing greater than anything.
“We now have deserved more.”
Frank Warren threatens legal motion over Zuffa Boxing launch
In accordance with The Telegraph, Frank Warren’s Queensberry Promotions is threatening to sue TKO and Saudi Arabia’s Sela over the launch of Zuffa Boxing.
The British promoter is reportedly preparing to pursue legal motion as a result of exclusion from the partnership between TKO and Sela, with whom Queensberry signed an exclusive deal in 2023 and placed on fights resembling Tyson Fury vs Francis Ngannou.
Warren’s promotion is arguing that by TKO and Sela partnering to create Zuffa Boxing, they’ve gone against previous contracts by excluding Queensberry and doing deals behind their backs. The claim is that the British promoter has lost $1 billion in income as a result of the alleged violation.
It stays to be seen what is going to unfold, but those under threat of legal motion have already gone on the offensive, with the Turki Alalshikh-owned Ring magazine claiming that Queensberry Promotions is in financial trouble.
Max Holloway says Justin Gaethje’s probabilities vs Ilia Topuria are being underestimated
Justin Gaethje is predicted to welcome Ilia Topuria back to motion in a light-weight title unification fight this summer.
Many are dismissing the American’s probabilities based on his performance to win the interim belt against Paddy Pimblett at UFC 324.
But Max Holloway won’t rule Gaethje out against Topuria, despite knowing first-hand what it’s wish to face off against the Spaniard’s brutal power.
“You already know, people appear to think that after Justin’s last fight, meaning Ilia will win easily,” Holloway told Stake.
“I feel sometimes you’ve to do what Justin did against Paddy. You might have to make it ugly and put people in a fight, once they’re not used to that style.
“I feel Justin made that fight look how he wanted it to look, and congrats to him,” he added.
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Joe Rogan reacts to Floyd Mayweather vs Manny Pacquiao 2
The combat sports community won’t be short on blasts from the past in 2026.
Along with Ronda Rousey returning to fight Gina Carano in MMA, Floyd Mayweather is making knowledgeable comeback. After facing Mike Tyson in the primary half of 2026, ‘Money’ is predicted to run it back with Manny Pacquiao on the Las Vegas Sphere in September.
UFC commentator Joe Rogan reacted to Mayweather vs Pacquiao 2 during a recent episode of his podcast that featured Terence Crawford because the guest.
“They’re gonna do it again, and so they’re each 50! It’s crazy,” Rogan said.
“Yeah, I’m gonna watch it, f— yeah I’m gonna watch it. I’m gonna watch him fighting Mike, I feel that’s crazy,” he added.
Mohammed Usman replaced by Thiago Santos in $500,000 Gamebred FC tournament
There was a late change to Jorge Masvidal’s upcoming event.
While he prepares to make his own return to competition after retiring in 2023, Masvidal continues to work as a promoter. Next up for him is a 16-man heavyweight tournament in bare-knuckle MMA under his Gamebred FC banner.
Among the many names originally announced was Mohammed Usman, despite his recent 30-month ban for a failed drug test within the UFC.
But it surely hasn’t taken long for ‘The Motor’ to drag out as a result of undisclosed reasons. It was announced Wednesday that ex-UFC title challenger Thiago Santos has replaced Usman.
“Marreta” took a scorecard from UFC GOAT contender Jon Jones of their 2019 title fight. He most recently lost to Denis Goltsov within the 2024 PFL season.
Santos will now tackle Guto Inocente within the Gamebred FC tournament, which also features Anthony Smith and Chase Sherman.