Eddie Hearn has challenged Dana White to release Tom Aspinall from his UFC contract, promising to pay the heavyweight champion a minimum of three times his current UFC salary and offering to drop his legal dispute with Conor Benn as part of the deal.
Hearn told iFL TV he was inspired by White’s own words about Benn signing with Zuffa Boxing.
“One thing that’s actually stuck out with me from his comments is when Conor Benn signed with Zuffa, 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, that Dana White should be happy for Tom Aspinall to receive that deal.”
Hearn was direct about his assessment of Aspinall’s current deal.
“The situation with Tom is, and he is under contract with the UFC, but unfortunately for him he has signed a contract which is one of the worst, most grossly underpaid athletes I have ever seen in the commercial world of sports. 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.”
He also offered to walk away from his ongoing legal dispute with Benn in exchange for Aspinall’s release.
“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 is currently sidelined with eye injuries suffered in his fight with Ciryl Gane at UFC 321 in October 2025. He signed a management contract with Hearn’s Matchroom Talent Agency. Benn signed a reported $15 million deal with Zuffa Boxing for a single bout. Hearn and White have been publicly feuding for months, with tensions escalating to the point of both men discussing a fight between themselves before White backed away from that talk