UFC boss Dana White reacted Thursday to earlier news that rival boxing promoter Eddie Hearn set up a new talent agency within Matchroom, and acquired UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall as it’s debut signing.
“We don’t have any issues with Eddie,” White said at a media event ahead of Saturday’s UFC 326 show topped with a BMF title fight between Max Holloway and Charles Oliveira.
Hearn’s acquisition of Aspinall will ensure the British sports executive represents the MMA fighter’s interests inside the Octagon, and outside, and follows Zuffa Boxing’s recruitment of one of Matchroom’s biggest assets — Conor Benn.
Speaking to reporters midweek, White, though, appeared unfazed.
“They [MMA fighters] can get anybody they want to represent them.”
He finished by remarking that one of his biggest nemeses acted on behalf of fighters and it didn’t affect how White, or UFC brass went about their business. “Tito Ortiz used to represent people, and we got it done,” he said.
Earlier in the day, White clarified his stance on Aspinall to Piers Morgan. “He or his dad too came out recently, saying that I s*** on him. It’s absolutely positively not the case.
“They think I knocked him in some way which I absolutely positively didn’t and wouldn’t. I like him very much, I never had a problem with Tom Aspinall.”
During a photoshoot to confirm Matchroom’s dealing with Aspinall, the fighter still appeared to have bruising around his eye, likely from a recent surgery as the heavyweight continues rehabilitation following a nasty double eye poke from Ciryl Gane in a UFC title fight late, last year.
It remains unclear when he’ll return to the Octagon. He was linked with a rematch against Gane, and a super-fight with all-time great fighter Jon Jones, which would have been a stand-out match-up for June’s UFC show at The White House in Washington D.C. At the same media event Thursday, White said the company would announce the full line-up for that spectacle during Saturday’s broadcast of UFC 326.
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