UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall spoke to the media for the primary time since signing with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Expertise Company at a press convention at London’s Battersea Energy Station on Friday, explaining his causes for partnering with one in every of boxing’s most influential figures.
Mr Aspinall, 32, was introduced as the primary shopper of the newly fashioned Matchroom Expertise Company on Thursday, March 5. The deal is industrial and advisory in nature, with Hearn’s staff accountable for Aspinall’s enterprise dealings and model constructing, along with his father Andy Aspinall remaining supervisor and head coach of Atherton’s Caobon.
UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall breaks silence on signing Eddie Hearn: ‘I wish to be a trailblazer’
Throughout the press convention, Aspinall spoke concerning the position his father has performed all through his profession and what this new chapter means for MMA fighters as an entire. He defined:
“Anybody who’s adopted my profession is aware of how shut me and my dad are. He is my supervisor and coach and has been with me because the starting. Hopefully, it will encourage different MMA fighters to take a look at what I am doing and assume, ‘Have a look at the cash he is making. Have a look at the alternatives he is getting at Matchroom and Eddie Hearn.’
The Salford-born fighter holds knowledgeable MMA document of 15-3 (one no contest), however revealed his motivation goes past private acquire. He needs to set a precedent for a way blended martial artists strategy their incomes potential.
“I wish to be a trailblazer for MMA fighters. I wish to present that you may achieve success inside and outside the Octagon and make good cash. Plenty of fighters complain about their pay in private and non-private, however on the finish of the day, that is what we signed for. There are different alternatives for fighters. It is as much as us to go after them or not.”
Quick time to earn
Aspinall has not fought since UFC 321 in October 2025. On the identical match, his first title protection towards Cyril Gane resulted in a no-contest after he was repeatedly poked within the eye within the first spherical. He was then identified with “extreme traumatic bilateral Brown syndrome” and protracted double imaginative and prescient, and underwent surgical procedure on each eyes in February 2026. That have clearly formed his considering.
“As athletes, we solely earn cash for a brief time frame. Given what occurred in my profession, together with the damage, I wish to earn as a lot as I can and construct a household that may final for generations. That is what I am attempting to do with this new alternative.”
The champion additionally sought to close down hypothesis that his Matchroom contract hinted at a swap to boxing.
“Now, clearly, persons are going to ask about me working with Eddie Hearn and Matchroom. Some folks may assume I will transfer into boxing, however that is not my intention proper now. It might be a day earlier than I retire, however MMA is the place I stand for the time being.”
Fighter salaries and monetary caps
Aspinall did not maintain again concerning the monetary realities of being a UFC champion. Though Aspinall didn’t straight handle his contract standing on the press convention, his dissatisfaction with MMA’s pay construction was clear.
“Plenty of fighters, even UFC champions, complain about their pay. Nevertheless it’s a contract all of us signal and we will not take greater than that. I settle for that and am centered on making as a lot cash as attainable exterior of the Octagon. Commercially, I’ve a number of work to do on my profile and I believe my monetary ceiling is far increased than what I am at the moment receiving. I wish to discover that as a lot as I can.”
He highlighted the pay disparity between the highest and backside fighters on the cardboard, particularly when Zuffa Boxing indicators fighters to large contracts value $15 million.
“If one man is making $15 million and one other man is making $150,000, that is a giant distinction. That is a part of the explanation I am exploring different choices.”
Why Matchroom?
Hearn has guided the careers of two-time heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua and two-time girls’s undisputed champion Katie Taylor. His observe document in constructing athlete manufacturers was a giant draw for Aspinall.
“Eddie and Matchroom are sturdy organizations. They’ll at all times work with and advise my father, my supervisor. I’m assured they are going to assist us make financially sensible choices for the long run.”
The transfer comes simply weeks after Hearn misplaced one in every of his greatest boxing stars, Conor Benn, to Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing in a deal reportedly value eight figures. In response, Hearn launched Matchroom Expertise Company and rapidly signed the UFC heavyweight champion, a transfer extensively seen as a direct counterpunch to his escalating rivalry with Whyte.
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The timing of Aspinall’s contract provides additional weight to the more and more public feud between Hearn and UFC president Dana White. White instructed Piers Morgan earlier than the deal was introduced that he “clearly wants to speak” with Aspinall, insisting he “by no means had an issue” with the champion. The UFC boss additionally downplayed issues about which representatives his fighters select to work with.
In the meantime, Hearn beforehand accused White of “humiliating” Aspinall over the attention damage, claiming the UFC supervisor “principally known as him a crybaby and threw him apart.”
Aspinall concluded the press convention with a message to the broader MMA group.
“On the finish of the day, speaking would not change a lot. Fighters must discover their choices and take motion in the event that they wish to enhance their state of affairs. Each time they step into the cage, they’re placing their well being in danger. That is a part of this sport. I simply wish to be compensated as pretty as attainable for that.”
Aspinall holds the document for the shortest common combat time within the UFC at 2 minutes and 18 seconds, with six of his eight wins within the UFC coming earlier than the midway level of the primary spherical. Though he has not but been cleared to return to competitors after surgical procedure on each eyes, he has indicated his intention to reschedule the sport towards Gaen as quickly as attainable. He’s believed to have two fights left on his UFC contract, and his subsequent transfer out and in of the cage shall be one of many hottest storylines in fight sports activities this yr.
