UFC CEO and President Dana White claims he has no issues with boxing promoter Eddie Hearn.
After Zuffa Boxing signed Connor Benn, who previously fought under Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing banner, White asked the media if there was a “bigger p*ssy” than Hearn. On Thursday, White’s heavyweight champion, Tom Aspinall, crossed the picket line in the other direction, so to speak, and signed with Hearn. Not, it should be noted, for fighting, but instead for management services.
Hearn’s Matchroom Talent Agency will now handle negotiations for Aspinall, who hasn’t fought since October, when his UFC 321 main event against Ciryl Gane ended prematurely (and in a No Contest) due to eye pokes. Aspinall is still recovering from double eye surgery.
At the UFC 326 pre-fight press conference on Thursday, White responded to Aspinall’s signing with Hearn after a journalist floated the idea that the UFC director was having issues with his boxing counterpart.
“We have no problem with Eddie. They can get whoever they want to represent them,” White said. “Tito Ortiz represented people and we made it happen.”
White and Ortiz had a heated rivalry during the latter’s UFC career, although it wasn’t always that way. At one point, White was actually Ortiz’s manager. However, the relationship soon soured, and as recently as last JanuaryWhite was still bashing the retired UFC legend.
Only time will tell what’s next for Aspinall. He was notoriously rejected by Jon Jones in favor of a fight with Alex Pereira. While Jones briefly retired last year, he was in negotiations for a fight at the UFC’s White House event in June. All signs point to the opponent being “Poatan,” who vacates his light heavyweight title.
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