Dana White Unleashes X-Rated Tirade Against Eddie Hearn After Conor Benn Signing
UFC President and CEO Dana White has launched a blistering, profanity-laden verbal assault on boxing promoter and Matchroom boss Eddie Hearn, following the high-profile signing of welterweight star Conor Benn to Zuffa Boxing. The move, which ends Benn's decade-long partnership with Hearn's Matchroom, has ignited a fierce and increasingly personal feud between two of combat sports' most powerful figures.
Escalating War of Words Over Benn's Departure
The conflict escalated dramatically after Benn confirmed his switch to Zuffa Boxing, a new venture from the UFC's parent company. In a statement, Benn expressed gratitude to Hearn but stated, "Zuffa Boxing presented me with an opportunity I simply couldn’t refuse." He added his hope that Hearn could remain part of his team in an evolved capacity.
Hearn responded with public criticism of White's business practices, specifically referencing UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall. "Tom Aspinall literally had his eye gouged out in a fight, and Dana White basically called him a crybaby and cast him aside," Hearn claimed, arguing White lacks genuine care for fighters, viewing them merely as business assets.
White's Explosive Response
White's retaliation was swift and unfiltered. Following a UFC Fight Night event, he launched into an expletive-filled tirade directed squarely at Hearn. "Is there a bigger p**** than Eddie Hearn?" White demanded publicly. "This guy's supposed to be a friend. F****** crying? He's [Benn] going to make more money, and [Hearn] had the right to match it. He could have matched it. What a crock of s***."
White sarcastically referenced his own promotional tactics, stating, "I think you saw this week I am really beating up babies," a phrase he repeated to mock Hearn's complaints. The UFC chief framed Benn's move as a straightforward financial decision that Hearn failed to counter, despite having matching rights.
A Deepening Personal and Professional Rift
This latest exchange marks a significant deterioration in a relationship that was once amicable. The pair had exchanged barbs in preceding days, with White dismissively noting Hearn "works for his dad," and Hearn retorting that White now has "a new daddy called Turki Alalshikh" at Zuffa, referencing the company's Saudi backer.
Despite the vitriol, Hearn revealed the two remain in contact, having exchanged texts recently. He framed the conflict as an inevitable professional battle. "It's going to be a long, hard battle," Hearn said. "But I'm also privileged and honoured that it seems to be a battle between me and him. And I'm well up for it."
The Broader Implications for Boxing
The feud underscores White's aggressive push into the boxing world through Zuffa Boxing, directly challenging established promoters like Hearn. Benn's signing, reportedly an eight-figure deal for a single fight, represents a major coup and signals Zuffa's serious intent.
Hearn maintains a fundamental philosophical difference, asserting, "We're different people, and we have a different passion for the sport." He warned that fighters like Benn risk becoming "a pawn in the game" under White's model, which he characterizes as purely transactional and ruthless.
As both men dig in, the stage is set for a protracted war not just of words, but for influence and talent in the lucrative boxing market, with fighters' loyalties and lucrative contracts hanging in the balance.
