British boxing promoter Eddie Hearn has suggested that the UFC is on the verge of collapsing. Hearn’s comments follow weeks of bitterness with the president of the MMA powerhouse, Dana White.
“I look at their business at the moment and it’s in complete turmoil,” Hearn told reporters on Friday. “Not just necessarily Zuffa, but TKO and UFC. I’ve never seen the UFC weaker, I’ve never seen it at breaking point. I’ve never seen fighters looking to almost start a revolution and a fighter’s union to almost boycott the organization.”
Both men have made strides into each other usual domain in recent months which has witnessed crossed paths and plenty insults. White launched Zuffa Boxing, under the umbrella company TKO Group, which also looks over UFC. Zuffa had its first promotion in January, and his since signed Hearn’s former stable post Conor Benn. The UFC founder has also snapped up IBF cruiserweight world champion Jai Opetaia and has been linked with many of the sport’s leading stars.
“What TKO enters the boxing space has done to them is just highlight the problem of their UFC business and it done it very quickly,” Hearn explained. “They are not going to be making money out of boxing for a long, long time and they are jeopardizing their business, which is going to affect their numbers, and it could affect their share price and everything moving forward.
“In boxing, you have to be up for the fight every single day. What you can’t do is go away and do a little bit of [Power} Slap and do a little bit of UFC.”
White has hosted four boxing shows at the lowly attended UFC Apex, drawing criticism for a lack of atmosphere. However, White and Zuffa have just announced a broadcast deal with Sky Sports with a plan to promote five shows per year in the UK.
“I look at body language [of White] and all I see is stress,” Hearn continued. “Let me tell you, the stress of boxing is f***ing horrendous.”
Hearn took a leap into the MMA market recently by signing UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall to the newly formed Matchroom Talent Agency. The announcement stated that Hearn would be supporting “him with further key services ranging from Commercial, through to Publishing, Digital, Broadcast and Legal.”
“I’m going to bite my tongue for now a little bit,” Hearn added, “but what I will tell you is that his contract is a f***ing disgrace, a disgrace! I cannot believe the money that he is on when you look at the commercial revenue that his fight would generate.”
