UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall addressed the media for the first time since signing with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Talent Agency, explaining his reasons for partnering with one of boxing’s most powerful figures during a press conference at Battersea Power Station in London on Friday.
Aspinall, 32, was announced as the inaugural client of the newly formed Matchroom Talent Agency on Thursday, March 5. The deal is commercial and advisory in nature, meaning Hearn’s team will handle Aspinall’s business dealings and brand-building while his father, Andy Aspinall, remains his manager and head coach at Team Kaobon in Atherton, England.
UFC Heavyweight Champ Tom Aspinall Breaks Silence on Eddie Hearn Deal: “I Want to Be a Trailblazer”
At the press conference, Aspinall opened up about the role his father has played throughout his career and what this new chapter means for MMA fighters at large. He explained:
“Anyone who’s followed my career knows how close me and my dad are. He’s my manager and trainer, and has been from the very beginning. Hopefully this will be the start where other MMA fighters can look at what I’m doing and think, ‘Look at the money he’s making. Look at the opportunities he’s getting with Matchroom and Eddie Hearn.’”
The Salford-born fighter, who holds a professional MMA record of 15-3 with one no contest, made it clear that his motivation goes beyond personal gain. He wants to set a precedent for how MMA fighters approach their earning potential.
“I want to be a bit of a trailblazer for MMA fighters, to show that you can be successful and make good money outside the Octagon as well as inside it. A lot of fighters complain about pay, publicly and privately, but at the end of the day, that’s what we signed up for. There are other opportunities out there for fighters; it’s up to us to go after them.”
A Short Window to Earn
Aspinall hasn’t fought since UFC 321 in October 2025, where his first title defense against Ciryl Gane ended in a no contest after a series of eye pokes in the first round. He was subsequently diagnosed with “significant traumatic bilateral Brown’s syndrome” and persistent double vision, and underwent surgery on both eyes in February 2026. That experience clearly shaped his thinking.
“As athletes, we only get a short window to make money. With what’s gone on in my career, including injuries, I want to make as much as I can and set up my family for generations. That’s what I’m looking to do with this new opportunity.”
The champion also moved to shut down speculation that the Matchroom deal signals a switch to boxing.
“Now, obviously, people are going to ask questions about me working with Eddie Hearn and Matchroom. Some might think I’m moving into boxing, but that’s not my intention right now. Maybe one day before I retire, but at the moment, MMA is where I’m at.”
Fighter Pay and the Financial Ceiling
Aspinall didn’t hold back when discussing the financial realities of being a UFC champion. While Aspinall didn’t reference his contract status directly at the press conference, his frustration with the pay structure in MMA was evident.
“A lot of fighters, even UFC champions, complain about pay. But that’s the contract we all sign, you’re not going to get more than that. I’ve accepted that, and I’m focused on making as much as possible outside the Octagon. Commercially, there’s a lot to be done with my profile, and I think my financial ceiling is much higher than what I’m currently getting paid. I want to explore that as much as I can.”
He highlighted the pay gap between fighters at the top and those lower down the card, especially when Zuffa boxing is signing fighters to major $15m contracts.
“If one guy’s making 15 million and another guy’s making 15 grand, that’s a huge difference. That’s part of the reason I’m exploring other options.”
Why Matchroom?
Hearn has guided the careers of two-time heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua and two-weight undisputed women’s champion Katie Taylor. His track record in building athlete brands was a major draw for Aspinall.
“Eddie and Matchroom are a powerhouse organization. They’ll be working with and advising my dad, who’s always been my manager. I’m sure they’ll help us make smart decisions financially for the future.”
The move comes just weeks after Hearn lost one of his biggest boxing stars, Conor Benn, to Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing in a deal reportedly worth eight figures. Hearn responded by launching the Matchroom Talent Agency and immediately signing the UFC’s heavyweight champion, a move widely seen as a direct counter-punch in his escalating rivalry with White.
The Bigger Picture
The timing of Aspinall’s deal adds another layer to the increasingly public feud between Hearn and UFC president Dana White. White told Piers Morgan before the signing was announced that he and Aspinall “obviously need to talk” and insisted he has “never had an issue” with the champion. The UFC boss also downplayed any concern about which representatives his fighters choose to work with.
Hearn, meanwhile, had previously accused White of “humiliating” Aspinall over the eye injury situation, claiming the UFC boss “basically called him a crybaby and cast him aside”.
Aspinall closed the press conference with a message for the wider MMA community.
“At the end of the day, talking doesn’t change much. Fighters need to start exploring their options and taking action if they want things to improve. Every time I step into the cage, I’m risking my health, that’s part of this sport. I just want to be compensated for that as fairly as I can.”
Aspinall holds the UFC record for shortest average fight time at two minutes and 18 seconds, with six of his eight UFC wins finished before the halfway point of the first round. He has yet to receive clearance to return to competition following his double eye surgery, though he has indicated he wants to rebook the Gane fight as soon as possible. With two fights believed to remain on his UFC deal, his next move inside and outside the cage will be one of the most closely watched stories in combat sports this year.