The war of words between UFC CEO Dana White and boxing promoter Eddie Hearn has taken another turn, with UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall now at the center of the latest dispute.
For much of 2026, Dana White and Eddie Hearn have traded public shots following the launch of Zuffa Boxing. Their rivalry intensified after Zuffa signed longtime Matchroom Boxing star Conor Benn, a move that reportedly strained Benn’s relationship with Hearn.
Now, the focus has shifted to Aspinall, whom Hearn represents through a talent agency deal.
Last week, Eddie Hearn challenged White to release Aspinall from his UFC contract, arguing that the heavyweight champion deserves significantly better pay. White wasted little time responding.
Speaking to reporters following Saturday’s Zuffa Boxing event, the UFC boss dismissed Hearn’s comments.
“He said that he wanted him released, right?” White said. “You release Bam Rodriguez then. Sounds pretty stupid, doesn’t it? Congratulations again, Eddie. You sound stupid again.”
The disagreement stems from Hearn’s recent claim that he would not allow Aspinall to compete in a title unification fight under his current UFC contract because the champion is not being compensated fairly.
White, however, appeared unfazed by the threat.
“If Eddie’s not going to let his fighter fight, what are you going to do?” White said. “You can’t make anybody fight. You can’t force anybody to fight. You have to want to fight. So, we’ll see how it plays out.”
White then turned his attention to Hearn’s fractured relationship with Conor Benn, accusing the Matchroom promoter of hypocrisy.
“Eddie—who apparently, Benn was his best friend—he’s been crying, literally crying, for weeks. ‘Oh, you’re my best friend!’ He didn’t even want to pay him, but he wants to pay my guy. Could’ve paid his best friend, and they could’ve remained best friends.”
“Eddie’s full of a lot of s***. You know it. I know it. We all know it.”
The dispute comes at a critical time for the UFC heavyweight division.
Aspinall remains sidelined while recovering from a serious eye injury that required multiple surgeries following his bout with Ciryl Gane at UFC 321 in October 2025. During his absence, the UFC has booked Alex Pereira and Ciryl Gane to compete for the interim heavyweight title at UFC Freedom 250 on June 14 at the White House.
The winner is expected to face Aspinall in a title unification bout later this year, although ongoing tensions between the UFC and the heavyweight champion’s representatives continue to create uncertainty.
Aspinall has previously expressed frustration over how White publicly discussed his injury situation, claiming the UFC boss portrayed him as unwilling to fight when the decision was ultimately beyond his control.
With the heavyweight division moving forward and Eddie Hearn continuing to push for improved terms for his client, the standoff between the boxing promoter and Dana White shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon.
