Dana White doesn’t get Eddie Hearn’s latest business move, and he’s not keeping quiet about it. The UFC president has slammed the Matchroom promoter’s decision to sign heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall to his newly formed talent agency, whilst delivering a scathing assessment of boxing promoters in general.
White Questions Hearn’s MMA Move
Speaking to reporters after UFC London on Saturday, White expressed bewilderment at Hearn’s strategic pivot into mixed martial arts management. Tom Aspinall signed with Matchroom earlier this month in a deal that allows him to continue fighting in the UFC whilst Hearn handles his commercial interests.
“I don’t know what the thought process was behind the move,” White stated bluntly. “Eddie was coming out saying, ‘Ah, I look forward to competing with them [Zuffa boxing]. And there’s things that they don’t know about boxing that they’re going to learn.’ And then two weeks later, he’s an MMA manager. I don’t get the move.”
The timing raises eyebrows, particularly after White’s Zuffa Boxing signed one of Matchroom’s prized assets, Conor Benn, to a lucrative one-fight deal. Hearn previously described that move as “devastating” to his stable.
Boxing Promoters Left White Disappointed
However, White remained supremely confident that Hearn’s involvement won’t complicate future negotiations for Aspinall’s fights. “Eddie Hearn will be no different,” he declared. “It doesn’t matter who the managers are. We will get deals done with guys.”
The UFC boss then unleashed a blistering critique of boxing’s current landscape. “I haven’t seen anything from anybody yet in the boxing business, to be honest with you. I’ve seen less than nothing from these guys,” White said. “It’s been pretty disappointing. I expected a lot more. But then when you look at the state of the sport of boxing, I guess it’s not that much of a surprise.”
Meanwhile, Hearn has been vocal about UFC fighter pay issues since partnering with Aspinall. Speaking after a recent Matchroom card, he claimed he could “pay them double what the UFC offered” for a potential Jon Jones versus Aspinall bout if both fighters weren’t under contract.
These comments came after Jon Jones revealed he turned down the UFC’s Freedom 250 White House card due to unsatisfactory financial terms. Yet White insisted Jones “was never fighting on the White House card” regardless of money, despite acknowledging negotiations took place.
As this promotional chess match continues, one thing’s certain – White isn’t impressed with boxing’s power brokers stepping into his territory.
