UFC champion Aspinall signs for Hearn’s new talent agency

UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall has signed for boxing promoter Eddie Hearn’s new talent agency.

The Englishman, 32, has been the standout performer in the UFC’s heavyweight division in recent years, with seven of his eight wins ending in the first round.

The move comes two weeks after boxer Conor Benn left Hearn’s promotional outfit Matchroom to join Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing.

Hearn has now launched a “Matchroom Talent Agency”, which will “nurture athletes’ careers by managing their brand and building their reputations”.

Aspinall’s deal, though, is a “commercial and advisory” one and not promotional as the Briton remains signed to the UFC.

“Eddie has built one of the biggest brands in sport and understands how to take athletes to the next level, both inside and outside of competition,” said Aspinall of the decision.

“I’m really looking forward to working together and exploring some exciting opportunities as I continue my journey back into the cage.”

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.

Hearn, 46, has been publicly feuding with UFC president White since the launch of Zuffa Boxing.

Aspinall became part of that war of words when Hearn suggested White “humiliated” him by not backing the fighter after the eye controversy.

Aspinall is the first signing to Hearn’s agency.

“We believe in creating opportunities where others see obstacles,” said Hearn.

“At the heart of everything we’ve done as a business over the last 40 years is identifying ordinary people, who have extraordinary talent.

A key distinction in this deal is it is a “commercial and advisory” one and not promotional.

Aspinall is signed to the UFC, the world’s leading MMA promotion and they steer his career and have rights over his image and use of it.

This deal will be seen as a retaliatory strike at White after Zuffa Boxing poached Benn, a deal bankrolled by Saudi Arabia.

Hearn was publicly heartbroken and seething by Benn’s switch – and his decision to make Aspinall his marquee signing is a clear message to White and Zuffa Boxing that he is ready to fight back, both in boxing and MMA.

Aspinall’s relationship with the UFC, and especially White, has been strained as of late. The Briton expressed frustration with the business of the UFC after he felt he wasn’t fully backed following the eye-poke controversy in October that has threatened to derail his fighting career.

Aspinall’s father and coach Andy has also suggested his son will pursue a boxing career in the future, although his current UFC contract does not allow for him to fight in any other combat sport without their permission.

UFC fighters have managers and advisers who work independently from the UFC. One of the most famous of those is Francis Ngannou’s agent Marquel Martin, whose determined advocation for his fighter’s worth eventually saw the heavyweight leave the UFC as a reigning champion and earn millions in two boxing fights.

The worlds of boxing and UFC have collided with Zuffa’s arrival and the differences couldn’t be starker when it comes to fighter pay. Boxing offers big purses to fighters that aren’t elite level – Benn is getting a reported £11m to fight Regis Prograis in a relatively low-risk comeback contest in April.

The UFC do not offer those kind of purses to their world champions.

The question now is how much can Hearn actually achieve for Aspinall, given his talents are in the promotional side of fighting.