Benn deal convinced me to team up with Hearn – Aspinall

UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall says seeing Conor Benn secure a reported £11m one-fight deal with Zuffa Boxing helped to convince him to team up with Eddie Hearn.

Britain’s Aspinall joined Hearn’s ‘Matchroom Talent Agency’ on Thursday in a “commercial and advisory” deal rather than a promotional one, meaning the 32-year-old remains signed to the UFC.

The move – a bid by Aspinall to maximise his earnings outside of the UFC – has come two weeks after boxer Benn left Hearn’s promotional outfit Matchroom to join Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing.

Benn’s deal with UFC president White’s boxing promotion ruffled the feathers of several UFC fighters, including Aspinall, who earn significantly less than their boxing counterparts.

“I think if one guy gets $15m [£11m] and the other guy gets $15k [£11,000], that’s a big deal to make, which is part of the reason I want to explore other options,” said Aspinall during a news conference on Friday.

“I want to be a trailblazer for MMA fighters who can make a lot of money and be successful outside the octagon as well as inside.

“Publicly or privately, a lot of MMA fighters complain about the money we’re getting paid, but that’s the contract we all signed. I’ve accepted that and I want to make as much money outside the octagon as I possibly can.”

Hearn described himself as Aspinall’s “manager”, stressing that his role is to “build Tom commercially”.

Aspinall has ruled out boxing in the immediate future as he remains contracted to the UFC, which forbids fighters from competing in other combat sports without obtaining permission.

Hearn said: “Now’s about moving forward with Tom, building him commercially, growing his profile, building that relationship with brands and fans.

Hearn, 46, has been publicly feuding with White since the launch of Zuffa, but says his differences with the UFC president will not affect the relationship Aspinall has with him.

Aspinall has been dealing with eye problems since his title fight with Ciryl Gane last October had to be stopped because of repeated eye pokes.

He had double eye surgery in February and it is unclear when he will be able to return to action.

Aspinall became embroiled in the Matchroom-Zuffa Boxing feud when Hearn suggested White “humiliated” him by not backing the fighter after the eye controversy.

“If they make life difficult for Tom, what kind of organisation are they? They’re going to make life difficult because he’s signed with a manager?” said Hearn.

“Ultimately we’re going to be a lot easier to deal with than a lot of the managers he has to deal with, but Tom was in a position where he needed representation at a high level, respect, and a voice to be heard.”

Aspinall, whose eight wins in the UFC have all come via stoppage, has always had a small management team fronted by his father Andy, so partnering with Hearn represents a significant strategic shift.

As well as building Aspinall’s brand, Hearn’s role as manager is likely to involve securing better-paid fight contracts for the Briton, where he will have to negotiate with the UFC.

In Aspinall, Hearn says he sees “one of the greatest fighters in the UFC”, with an opportunity to grow his profile where he believes the MMA promotion has failed.

“How is this guy not an even bigger star? How does he not have the backing? How is he not respected in certain rooms in the way that he should be,” said Hearn.

Aspinall did not say when he would be fit to return after eye surgery, but added he is aiming to fight “as soon as possible”.

“Obviously it has to be done at the right time and these guys have come on board at the right time,” said Aspinall.