Eddie Hearn is using Dana White’s own words against him.
The UFC CEO recently snatched Conor Benn from Matchroom Boxing then celebrated Hearn’s devastated reaction. It didn’t take long for Hearn to fire back, scoring a talent agency contract with UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall, who remains at odds with White over this headlining debacle.
“One thing that’s actually stuck out with me from his comments is when Conor Benn signed with Zuffa,” Hearn told iFL TV. “He said, ‘Eddie should want fighters to earn as much as possible.’ Right? Do you remember that? ‘He should be happy for Conor Benn, that he’s making more money.’ So I’ve been thinking about that line, and I think that I’ve got an idea. I would like Dana White to release Tom Aspinall from his UFC contract, and I will guarantee Dana White, in writing, that I will pay Tom Aspinall a minimum — probably five times more — but a minimum of three times more what Dana White is paying him. And I think for a hardworking, working class man that deserves every penny he can get because of what he puts his body through, and we’ve seen that recently, that Dana White should be happy for Tom Aspinall to receive that deal. So I would like to propose that.”
Hearn is also willing to “walk away” from the Benn legal situation if White agrees to cut Aspinall loose. Hearn claims Benn borrowed more than $400,000 against his fight purse ahead of his Chris Eubank fight in October 2022, a bout that never came to fruition because Benn failed a pair of drug tests.
“I’m looking at this kid, Tom Aspinall, I’m looking at what combat sports athletes are making around the world, and I’ll be honest with you, it’s absolutely disgusting what they’re paying him and things need to change,” Hearn added. “I’ll trade that up. I’ll walk away from all their problems they’ve got on the Conor Benn legal situation if they release Tom Aspinall. And I will, in writing, it will be five or six times more money he’ll be making, but I will put in writing that Tom Aspinall will make a minimum of three times more than he will under his current contract. There you go. And then we can all celebrate a great athlete, a great fighter, and someone that deserves, like Dana said, to make as much money as he can from the sport.”
Aspinall, 33, is expected to fight the winner of this interim championship showdown later this year.
So many interim titles over the years, just call it a number 1 contender fight and stop having unification fights. The champ was clearly hurt and hasn’t been medically cleared (that I know of) but will fight again. Title fights do sell cards but you also seel the value of your champions if they are replaced so quick.
1 title per weight class, strip the champ after 6 months to 1 year of no fights or wait longer.
Also, BMF title? I love how the BMF on the planet is always half the size of some real killers. That sucker needs to be made open weight or dropped completely to never be mentioned again.
Egg reads this between $1million hands of blackjack.
Hearn is so pussy hurt. He is giving Dana a run for being a bigger emotional bitch.
Honestly, letting Tom go would be a great idea. He’s rarely fighting and his eyes are jacked up. If he will sign a release and move on,
What a fucking joke. I was on Aspinall’s side in the beginning, but fuck him. Dude just doesn’t fight, never lived up to the hype, has a paper belt, is probably the most boring guy on the roster.
Sure, Jones fucked him over, but he still sat on his ass for 1.5 years in his prime. Anybody waiting an extended period to keep “their spot” can kick rocks.
Sure, Gane gouged his eyes out, but now he’s pretty much gonna be off for another year total and that’s if the UFC doesn’t release him.
He needs to just go. I’m tired of the HW belt bullshit. Aspinall promised to be the most active champ in history and now he wants to take his ball and go home. Fuck em.
If you haven’t even completed a full fight in 2.5 years, can’t be mad people stop giving a shit about you.
I’m not sure he was factoring having his eyeballs three knuckle finger fucked by Cereal Gone into this equation.
He promised to be the most active champ in history and now he’s leaving (or trying to) even though he’s extremely close to being cleared medically for competition. At this point, the eye poke doesn’t even factor in - he’s going back on his word to the fans and trying to switch sports. He’s not leaving BECAUSE of the eye pokes. He’s leaving because he doesn’t like UFC management and wants more money. It’s not like he can’t ever compete again because his eyes are destroyed. It’s a big middle finger to everyone that defended him.