White fires back at Hearn over Aspinall contract row: 'You sound stupid again'

UFC CEO Dana White publicly rebuked Matchroom Boxing boss Eddie Hearn on Saturday after Hearn dared White to release heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall from his UFC contract, telling reporters: “Congratulations again, Eddy. You sound stupid again.”

The exchange is the latest flare-up in a running feud between the two promoters that has dominated combat sports headlines for much of 2026. Hearn, who represents Aspinall, had argued the UFC was not paying the British heavyweight anywhere near a fair wage and threatened to prevent Aspinall from competing under his current deal. White’s response was blunt and pointed.

“He said that he wanted him released, right?” White said. “You release Bam Rodriguez then. Sounds pretty stupid, doesn’t it?”

White also dismissed Hearn’s threat to keep Aspinall on the sidelines, noting that no promoter can physically compel a fighter to compete. “If Eddie’s not going to let his fighter fight, what are you going to do? You can’t make anybody fight. You can’t force anybody to fight. You have to want to fight. So, we’ll see how it plays out.”

Much of White’s ire was directed at the circumstances surrounding Conor Benn, the longtime Matchroom fighter White signed to Zuffa Boxing — the move widely credited with igniting the feud in the first place. White claimed Hearn had been visibly upset over losing Benn despite, in White’s telling, being unwilling to pay him adequately.

“Eddie — who apparently, Benn was his best friend — he’s been crying, literally crying, for weeks,” White said. “He didn’t even want to pay him, but he wants to pay my guy. Could’ve paid his best friend, and they could’ve remained best friends. Eddie’s full of a lot of shit.”

Aspinall remains on the sidelines while recovering from an eye injury that has required multiple surgeries. In his absence, the UFC is set to crown an interim heavyweight champion at UFC White House, where Alex Pereira faces Ciryl Gane in the co-main event. Aspinall is expected to fight the winner at some point later in 2026, though his timeline remains dependent on his recovery and the ongoing contract dispute with Hearn showing no sign of resolution.