Dana White: ‘No issues’ with Hearn after Aspinall trade

Dana White has ‘no issues’ with Tom Aspinall signing Eddie Hearn to a working deal and has denied questioning his hero’s eye injury.

UFC heavyweight champion Aspinall (15-3) has signed a deal with Matchroom Talent Agency, a new initiative run by boxing promoter Hearn.

Aspinall is still contracted to fight in the UFC but can now rely on professional advice from Hearn, who has emerged as a competitor for White’s Zuffa Boxing.

Zuffa signed Conor Benn, who spent his entire boxing career with Matchroom, leaving Hearn frustrated.

White reacted to Aspinall welcoming Hearn into his inner circle by saying in the UFC 326 press conference: “We don’t have any issues with Eddie.

“They can have whoever they want to represent them. Tito Ortiz (the former UFC fighter who White feuded with) represented the people, and we accomplished that.”

Dana White denies questioning Tom Aspinall’s injury

Aspinall spent 14 months away from fighting while hoping to get a meeting with Jon Jones, which never came to fruition.

His interim heavyweight title was upgraded to full status outside the octagon when Jones retired, but his return against Cyril Jean ended in disaster.

The fight was ruled a no contest when Aspinall was unable to continue due to accidental eye pokes.

White has not spoken to Aspinall since he underwent surgery last month on both eyes but denied questioning the severity of his injuries.

“The company has spoken to him. I haven’t spoken to him. Obviously Tom and I need to talk,” White told Piers Morgan Uncensored. “Tom recently came out, and his father too, and they felt like I was insulting them by the way I talked about his eye injury, which was not true at all.

“Tom Aspinall is a guy I respect. He’s great to work with. I’ve never questioned his injury or spoken negatively about him. I said: ‘I think he’s fine, I think he’ll be good.’ And they came out and said: ‘No, that’s not the case.’ And he said: ‘I haven’t spoken to Dana, I don’t know why he’s saying that’. But obviously my medical team are speaking to him. That’s what I thought.”

“They thought I’d hit him in some way, which I certainly didn’t, and I wouldn’t. I love him very much and respect him. I’ve never had a problem with Tom Aspinall. I do. He’s still dealing with everything that’s going on with his eyes. Over the last 30 years in this business, I’ve seen injuries that I doubted guys would ever get back. And they always have. Including eye pokes.”

“If you ask me: Do I think Tom Aspinall will fight again?” I will say: Yes.

Aspinall has no timetable for his return. He has previously expressed interest in a rematch with Jin.