The rivalry between UFC CEO Dana White and Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn has evolved from a war of trash talk to a bitter promotional war after White launched Zuffa Boxing and promptly signed Hearn’s long-time fighter, Conor Benn. The hostility has now reached brand new heights following Hearn’s retaliatory strike, signing UFC Heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall to his new talent agency, directly inserting himself into White’s domain and making their professional conflict deeply personal.
Dana White, however, recently turned their ongoing business feud into a threat of an actual physical fight rather than their typical back-and-forth of sound bites.
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Eddie Hearn’s Huge Move on Tom Aspinall
White’s challenge comes after Hearn announced Aspinall’s signing to Matchroom Talent Agency via social media (via Eddie Hearn on X):
Welcome to the team UFC Heavyweight Champ @AspinallMMA – Time to get what’s yours 👑
Matchroom Talent Agency 🚀 pic.twitter.com/dAWes5KsR4— Eddie Hearn (@EddieHearn) March 5, 2026
Hearn previously slammed White’s approach to business, specifically pointing to the UFC boss’s handling of Aspinall after the eye-poke controversy last October.
“Tom Aspinall literally had his eye gouged out in a fight, and Dana White basically called him a crybaby and cast him aside, humiliated him in front of everybody,” Hearn said during a podcast episode of BBC 5 Live’s Boxing with Steve Bunce.
Dana White Wants to Meet Hearn in the Ring
In an explosive interview on Piers Morgan Uncensored, White was asked about the possibility of facing Hearn in a legitimate fight rather than a business rivalry.
The UFC boss didn’t shy away from the prospect, issuing a straightforward challenge to the Matchroom chairman (via Piers Morgan Uncensored):
“Listen, if Eddie wants to box, we can box,” White stated with his signature blunt delivery.
White’s challenge is due to Hearn’s major power play, signing Aspinall to a commercial and advisory deal just weeks after White signed Conor Benn away from Matchroom Boxing.
Tom Aspinall’s Reaction to Signing with Matchroom
The move was widely interpreted as a direct message to White, proving Hearn is willing to fight back on multiple fronts, even in the UFC’s own backyard.
Aspinall, who has been sidelined due to double eye surgery following a no-contest with Ciryl Gane, expressed his excitement about the new partnership, noting Hearn’s expertise in building global superstars.
Aspinall posted a vlog of his meeting with Hearn via his YouTube channel:
This isn’t the first time the pair have traded verbal blows, but the stakes are now undeniably higher.
White has been vicious in his critiques of Hearn, openly calling him out for his emotional reaction to losing Benn during the post-fight presser for UFC: Strickland vs. Hernandez:
“This guy’s supposed to be a friend. You’re f— crying? He’s going to make more money, and he had the right to match it. He could have matched it,” White fumed after Benn’s defection was made official.
The UFC CEO insists his only job is to sign the best fighters and make them money, something he believes Hearn failed to accomplish in this instance.
While Hearn has yet to respond publicly to White’s boxing challenge, the possibility of them actually fighting remains a long shot.
For now, the boxing world waits to see if Hearn will accept the offer or if the battle will continue to be waged on the battlefield of the fight business.
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Mar 6, 2026, where it first appeared in the Boxing section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
