British boxing promoter Eddie HearnCoach·Eddie Hearn has publicly advised UFCCompetition·UFC Heavyweight Champion Tom AspinallPlayer·Tom Aspinall against fighting the winner of next week's interim title bout under the terms of his current contract. Hearn, who serves as Aspinall's commercial and advisory manager, described the existing agreement as a "f*ing disgrace" during a press conference in Dublin on Friday.
Aspinall, 33, was elevated to undisputed UFCCompetition·UFC Heavyweight Champion on June 21, 2025, following Jon JonesPlayer·Jon Jones' retirement from mixed martial arts. He is currently slated to face the victor of the interim heavyweight title clash between Alex PereiraPlayer·Alex Pereira and Ciryl GanePlayer·Ciryl Gane, scheduled for June 14, 2026. However, Hearn's firm stance introduces significant uncertainty regarding the timing and conditions of this highly anticipated unification bout.
Hearn, who brought Aspinall into his Matchroom Talent Agency in March 2026, has been a vocal critic of UFCCompetition·UFC fighter remuneration. He asserted that Aspinall's current pay structure is severely undervalued, particularly for a high-profile title fight.
"I will not allow Tom Aspinall to fight for the kind of money that is in his contract," Hearn told reporters. "To participate in a match against Pereira or Gane literally for one fiftieth of the revenue for that show — f* it. I won't let him do it. It's time for these UFC fighters to stop being suckers and start understanding that these people are taking advantage of them. They deserve more. My advice to Tom Aspinall will be: 'Don't you dare accept this match for the money that is in your contract.'"— Eddie Hearn.
This public declaration further escalates the ongoing verbal dispute between Hearn and UFCCompetition·UFC President Dana WhiteCoach·Dana White. The rivalry intensified after boxing star Conor BennPlayer·Conor Benn departed Matchroom BoxingTeam·Matchroom Boxing to sign with White's Zuffa BoxingTeam·Zuffa Boxing. Hearn has even offered to guarantee Aspinall a minimum of three times, and potentially five or six times, his current UFCCompetition·UFC earnings if the promotion were to release him from his contract.
Relations between the UFCCompetition·UFC and its English champion have been strained at times, particularly after Aspinall sustained double eye injuries during his last fight against Ciryl GanePlayer·Ciryl Gane in October 2025 at UFC 321Competition·UFC 321. The bout ended in a No Contest due to accidental eye pokes. Aspinall underwent multiple surgeries, which were completed by mid-January 2026, and has only recently resumed light training, with clearance for contact expected soon.
According to sources, the UFCCompetition·UFC has been renegotiating several significant fighter contracts, including those of champions, throughout 2026. This initiative is partly driven by the company's transition from a traditional pay-per-view model to Paramount+Competition·Paramount+. Aspinall's contract is likely among those targeted for revision, but Hearn's direct involvement and public comments are expected to add a complex layer to these negotiations, potentially delaying a resolution for the heavyweight division.
Tom Aspinall and Eddie Hearn at the Planet Ice Arena. Credit: Every Second Media/IMAGO
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