UFC CEO Dana White didn’t expect Matchroom Boxing’s Eddie Hearn would become one of his biggest enemies in his new business venture.
Dana White is riding high as Zuffa Boxing takes shape in its inaugural year as a promotion. White recently signed Conor Benn, one of the best boxers in the world, to a lucrative $15 million deal for an upcoming fight.
Before signing with Zuffa Boxing, Benn was a longtime staple of Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing promotion. Since White entered boxing, he and Hearn have traded barbs back and forth in the media, including a recent explicit rant against Hearn at the UFC Houston post-fight press conference.
UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall’s recent signing with Hearn and Matchroom adds another element to the White feud. But White blames Hearn for kicking things off between the two polarizing combat sports personalities.
Dana White on Eddie Hearn feud: ‘I didn’t see this coming’
In a recent interview on the Talk with Flee podcast, White doubled down on his harsh remarks about Hearn.
“What’s weird is, as I was looking towards getting into boxing, you know, I like Eddie Hearn, I don’t dislike him,” White said of Hearn.
“Nobody can deny that this guy has been acting like the biggest p—- that I’ve ever seen in my life, it’s crazy, randomly. It seems like ever since I got into this, the way that this guy has been acting is uncharacteristic. I didn’t see this coming. When I get into this, I’m like, I like Eddie Hearn, I’m not gonna mess with Eddie Hearn at all I’m just gonna do my thing or whatever, and then as soon as I announce (something), Eddie Hearn is just attacking, attacking, attacking.
“It’s just like, alright, you wanna fight? Alright, let’s fight then, if you wanna fight,” White continued. “I was gonna stay in my lane and do my thing and then he came at it so f—— hard, I eventually said, okay, I’m gonna give you what you’re asking for, Eddie.” (h/t Bloody Elbow)
Whose side are you on in the Dana White/Eddie Hearn feud? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!