The UFC's Heavyweight Division Is Frozen and a Boxing Promoter Is in the Middle of It

A boxing promoter just walked into MMA and told the UFC that their heavyweight champion is underpaid. And the UFC's response was "you sound stupid."

Eddie Hearn, the chairman of Matchroom Boxing and now Tom Aspinall's business advisor, went on record this week demanding the UFC either renegotiate Aspinall's contract or release him. He said he would guarantee in writing that Aspinall would make a minimum of three times what his current UFC deal pays. Possibly five or six times more. Then he offered to drop his legal proceedings against the UFC over the Conor Benn situation if they let Aspinall walk.

Dana White was asked about it at the Zuffa Boxing 07 post-fight press conference in Bournemouth on Saturday. His answer was vintage Dana.

"He said he wanted Aspinall released right? You release Bam Rodriguez then. Sounds pretty stupid, doesn't it? Congratulations Eddie, you sound stupid again."

Then he added: "Conor Benn was apparently his best friend. He didn't even want to pay him, but he wants to pay my guy? Eddie's full of a lot of sh*t."

One week before the White House card where Pereira and Gane fight for the interim heavyweight title that only exists because Aspinall is at home doing eye drops, the UFC's heavyweight division is officially a mess. And a boxing promoter is in the middle of it.

How We Got Here

Let me back up because this has layers to it.

In early 2026, Dana White launched Zuffa Boxing and immediately started poaching talent from established boxing promoters. His biggest move was signing Conor Benn away from Matchroom Boxing with a $15 million one fight deal. Benn was one of Hearn's most marketable fighters. Dana took him. Hearn called it "a dagger in the heart."

A few weeks later, Hearn launched Matchroom Talent Agency. His first signing? Tom Aspinall. The UFC's undisputed heavyweight champion. "Welcome to the team UFC Heavyweight Champ Tom Aspinall. Time to get what's yours," Hearn posted on X.

You take my boxer. I'll take your champion. That's what this is.

Aspinall's deal with Matchroom is a "commercial and advisory" agreement, not a promotional contract. He's still signed to the UFC. Hearn can't book his fights. But he CAN advise him on business negotiations. And the advice he's giving right now is nuclear.

What Hearn Actually Said

Hearn told Bloody Elbow that his "managerial advice" for Aspinall is to NOT fight the winner of Pereira vs Gane on his current deal. The heavyweight champion should sit out until the UFC pays him what he's worth.

"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."

He called Aspinall's UFC contract "a disgrace." Said the champion is "extremely unhappy" with his situation. Then made Dana an offer.

Release Aspinall. Let him go. And in exchange Hearn will drop all legal action over the Conor Benn situation. Clean slate. Both sides walk away.

"I'll walk away from all their problems they've got on the Conor Benn legal situation if they release Tom Aspinall. Be happy for Tom Aspinall, who is extremely unhappy, and allow him to earn more for his family."

Dana's Bam Rodriguez Counter

Here's where Dana's response gets interesting.

Bam Rodriguez is the #4 pound for pound boxer in the world according to Ring Magazine. He's under contract with Matchroom Boxing. Zuffa Boxing reportedly made a significant offer to sign him before he re-signed with Hearn in April.

Dana's argument: if releasing a champion from their contract is the right thing to do, then Hearn should release Bam Rodriguez from Matchroom. "You release Bam Rodriguez then. Sounds pretty stupid, doesn't it?"

And what's funny is Dana actually made Hearn's point here.

If Bam Rodriguez is so valuable that Hearn would never release him from Matchroom, then Aspinall is so valuable that Dana will never release him from the UFC. Both promoters are holding onto their best fighters because they know exactly what those fighters are worth on the open market. The difference is Hearn is publicly saying what Aspinall is worth. Dana is publicly saying "shut up and be grateful."

That's the fighter pay argument in one exchange. The promoter says "you're worth more" and the boss says "you sound stupid."

The Heavyweight Problem

This whole thing creates a genuine problem for the UFC's heavyweight division one week before the White House card.

Pereira fights Gane for the interim heavyweight title on June 14. The winner is supposed to fight Aspinall for the undisputed belt. That's the plan. That's what the interim title exists for.

But Hearn just told the world that Aspinall won't take the unification fight on his current deal. The champion's advisor is publicly telling the UFC that the biggest heavyweight fight possible is not happening unless the money changes.

Dana's response? "If Eddie's not going to let his fighter fight, what are you going to do? You can't make anybody fight. You can't force anybody to fight."

So where does that leave the division? Pereira or Gane wins on June 14. They hold the interim belt. Aspinall holds the real belt. And nobody fights because the champion's advisor says the contract is a disgrace and the UFC says they're not renegotiating.

The heavyweight title could be frozen. In 2026. With the CEO making $67 million and the undisputed champion apparently unable to get paid what a boxing promoter says he's worth.

Why a Boxing Promoter's Opinion Matters in MMA

Here's what nobody wants to admit. Eddie Hearn knows what champions are worth because he pays champions for a living.

Hearn has promoted Anthony Joshua, Canelo Alvarez, Katie Taylor, Dmitry Bivol, and dozens of other boxing world champions. He has written checks to fighters that make UFC paydays look embarrassing. He has seen what the market will pay for a champion's services when the champion has leverage.

And he looked at Aspinall's UFC contract and called it "a disgrace."

That word carries weight coming from Hearn. This isn't a Reddit comment. This isn't a fan complaining on Twitter. This is a man who has paid fighters hundreds of millions of dollars collectively saying the UFC's heavyweight champion isn't being compensated fairly. He's put it in writing like three times.

We've been writing about fighter pay all year. The $40K minimum at MVP. Rousey making $2.2 million for 17 seconds outside the UFC. Stars leaving because the money is better elsewhere. Every article pointed to the same conclusion. UFC fighters, even champions, aren't getting paid what they're worth.

Now a boxing promoter is saying the same thing. With receipts in writing about the undisputed heavyweight champion.

And Dana's response was "you sound stupid."

One Week From the White House

The White House card is June 14. Pereira vs Gane for the interim heavyweight title is the co-main. The winner is supposed to fight Aspinall. And as of today, Aspinall's advisor is publicly telling the UFC that fight isn't happening on the current terms.

Dana can call Hearn stupid as many times as he wants. But stupid or not, the man just told 325 million boxing fans that the UFC's heavyweight champion could make three to six times more money outside the promotion. And when fighters hear that number, they do what fighters have been doing all year.

They start looking for the door.

Thanks for riding with CageLore. Stay locked in!

Frequently Asked Questions

What did Eddie Hearn demand from the UFC?

Hearn demanded the UFC either renegotiate Tom Aspinall's contract or release him. He guaranteed in writing that Aspinall would make a minimum of three times his current UFC pay, potentially five to six times more. He also offered to drop legal proceedings over Conor Benn's departure from Matchroom if the UFC releases Aspinall.

What did Dana White say in response?

White called Hearn "stupid" at the Zuffa Boxing 07 press conference. He compared the request to asking Hearn to release Bam Rodriguez from Matchroom. He also said Hearn "didn't even want to pay" Conor Benn but now wants to dictate what the UFC pays its fighters.

Why did Hearn sign Aspinall?

Hearn launched Matchroom Talent Agency in March 2026, weeks after Dana White signed Conor Benn away from Matchroom Boxing with a $15 million deal. Aspinall was the agency's first signing. The move is widely seen as retaliation for the Benn poaching.

Will Aspinall fight the winner of Pereira vs Gane?

Hearn told Bloody Elbow that his advice to Aspinall is NOT to fight the winner on his current deal. The unification fight would need a renegotiated contract. Dana White said the UFC will not force Aspinall to fight but is not considering a release.

What is Aspinall's current situation?

Aspinall is the undisputed UFC heavyweight champion but has not fought since UFC 321 in October 2025 when a no contest was declared after Ciryl Gane repeatedly poked his eyes. He underwent double eye surgery and remains in recovery with no confirmed return date.

How does this affect the White House card?

Pereira fights Gane for the interim heavyweight title at UFC Freedom 250 on June 14. The winner was expected to face Aspinall. With Hearn advising Aspinall not to fight on his current deal, the unification could be delayed indefinitely.