Eddie Hearn Plans Fighter Pay Revolution in UFC: “It’s Going To Be Really Interesting”
Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn wants to address the long-standing issue of low fighter pay in the UFC and is game to stand in Dana White’s way in the next few months, and “it’s going to be really interesting.”
After Conor Benn signed with Zuffa Boxing and is reportedly to be paid $15 million for one bout, many on the UFC’s payroll have questioned the pay disparity. At this burning hour, Hearn now aims to push for better compensation for athletes.
On the other hand, Dana White recently defended Conor Benn’s pay by saying that, at the end of the day, more money flowing into the sport is a good thing. The 56-year-old added that fighter pay in the UFC will continue to increase, especially following the new Paramount deal.
However, Eddie Hearn does not believe a word Dana White said this past weekend at the presser. The Brit says Benn’s signing has raised serious questions and could prompt athletes to start demanding similar paydays and better contracts. During a recent sit-down with Ariel Helwani, Hearn shared his plans to help fighters seek better compensation. The 46-year-old believes a major “revolution” is coming in the next few months, and he will play a major part in it. Hearn told Helwani:
“There is so much contradiction going on. Especially people who are on the payroll of the UFC. Even Dana White. Dana White sits there at a press conference last night and says ‘Conor Benn making all this money is great for UFC fighters.’ I am like, how? Basically, every UFC fighter is just looking at that guy, and it just doesn’t make sense.”
He added:
Probably for the first time in my career, and this was very much the case with the Tom Aspinall stuff. I’m going to work in some silence because I need to get it right, and it’s going to be very, very interesting what’s about to unfold in the next couple of months… Right now, I’m looking at the landscape and thinking, this is crazy. It’s almost like a revolution, and it’s going to be really interesting.”
Check out Eddie Hearn’s comments below:
Eddie Hearn on how Tom Aspinall was “broken” by the UFC
Tom Aspinall recently signed a deal with Eddie Hearn’s newly launched Matchroom Talent Agency, and now they will be looking after Aspinall’s business and commercial interests. Hearn and Matchroom will act as Aspinall’s commercial advisers and make sure he is never lowballed.
During the same sitdown with Ariel Helwani, Eddie Hearn spoke candidly about how the UFC and Dana White handled Tom Aspinall after he suffered a double eye poke at UFC 321 and was unable to continue fighting.
Hearn said the first time he spoke to Aspinall recently, he felt like the latter was “broken” and low on confidence.
“I actually couldn’t believe how broken [Tom Aspinall’s] confidence was. The first conversation that we had, he actually said to me, ‘Why are you interested in me? My reputation, they have stitched me up. I am like damaged goods at the moment…’ He was just so down in the dumps.”
However, with Hearn now in his corner, the reigning UFC heavyweight kingpin is “absolutely buzzing” again and is expecting to make his return to the octagon in 2026.
“The difference between that initial conversation and seeing him at the press conference last week was a completely different man. He is absolutely buzzing. Right now, he just can’t wait to get back, whereas before, I found a guy who didn’t really want to come back.”
Check out Eddie Hearn’s comments below:
