The brewing feud between UFC CEO Dana White and Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn took a bizarre turn this week.
Dana White’s venture into boxing has only lasted a few months, and he’s already made a fitting rival in Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn.
White and Zuffa Boxing have hosted three events in 2026 as the UFC headman’s latest combat sports escapade takes shape. 29-0 Jai Opetaia will face Brandon Glanton for the inaugural Zuffa cruiserweight world championship on March 8th at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
Just a few events into his boxing promotion, White has a fiery critic in Hearn, who has repeatedly lambasted Zuffa Boxing in recent weeks. White recently fired back at Hearn, claiming he ‘works for his Dad’ and questioned his business acumen.
It didn’t take long for Hearn to take notice.
Eddie Hearn/Dana White boxing promoter feud continues
In a recent interview with Charlie Parsons, Hearn responded to White’s head-scratching comments.
“The reality is yes, I do work for my dad,” Hearn said of White.
“But guess what? Dana White has worked for his daddy for a long time. The Fertitta brothers, that’s who he worked for. Right now, Dana White’s got a new daddy and his name is Turki Alalshikh. Turki Alalshikh is Dana White’s papi.
“He has got to do whatever he’s told because he works for TKO [Group Holdings], which is owned by SELA and the Saudis and Turki Alalshikh.” (h/t MMA Fighting)
Hearn is referencing White’s past business dealings with Turki Alalshikh, the head of Riyadh Season, which co-promoted Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford last year. Crawford won the fight before announcing his retirement in the weeks after the event.
While White and Hearn seem to have mutual respect for their accomplishments, they aren’t afraid to throw jabs in the public eye. In the meantime, tensions continue to build between two of combat sports’ colorful characters.