Dana White Mocks Eddie Hearn, Mokaev Fires Back

Dana White says he has no problem with Tom Aspinall, but he can't help laughing at fighters who sign with Eddie Hearn, and Muhammad Mokaev is not letting the comment slide.

At the UFC 331 post-fight press conference in Los Angeles, White addressed Aspinall's advisory agreement with Eddie Hearn's Matchroom operation. Aspinall vacated the UFC heavyweight title on September 14 while recovering from injury, and White made clear that his absence from the belt has nothing to do with any beef between the two men. But when the topic turned to Hearn, White couldn't resist a shot: "When guys sign with Eddie Hearn, we fucking crack up laughing. It's hilarious. Anybody else who wants to sign with Eddie Hearn as their fucking manager, fire away."

White's target was Hearn's role, not Aspinall's decision to seek outside representation. The UFC boss said fighters are free to hire whoever they want, but questioned what Hearn had actually delivered for Aspinall since the arrangement began. It's a notable crossover either way: Matchroom is a heavyweight name in boxing promotion, while Aspinall remains under contract to the UFC as an MMA fighter, so Hearn's involvement is limited to advising rather than promoting his fights.

Why Muhammad Mokaev Clapped Back at Dana White

Muhammad Mokaev, the unbeaten former UFC flyweight, responded to White's comment with a short but pointed message: "Deal with the fighters directly then." The reply reframes White's joke about Hearn into a broader argument fighters have made for years about the imbalance of power in UFC contract negotiations. Mokaev didn't elaborate beyond the one line, but the subtext is clear: fighters turn to outside managers and advisors when they feel they need leverage the promotion isn't giving them directly.

Eddie Hearn's Messy Split With Conor Benn

Hearn's week got more complicated on the boxing side, where his split from Conor Benn has turned personal. Benn has left Matchroom to join Dana White's Zuffa Boxing project, and Hearn did not hide his frustration, saying he felt Benn and his team had "stabbed me in the back" after building several of the biggest events of Benn's career.

Hearn has since raised the idea of working with Chris Eubank Jr., Benn's longtime rival, if the two ever meet for a trilogy fight. Benn and Eubank Jr. fought twice at middleweight under a 10-pound morning rehydration clause, and Hearn has acknowledged that setup was built to favor Benn against the naturally larger Eubank Jr. Asked whether Benn could beat Eubank Jr. at a full 168 pounds with no rehydration clause, Hearn said plainly, "I don't know." He was careful to note nothing is close to being finalized, but floated a potential trilogy at super middleweight with a fairer weight structure than the first two fights.

What It Means for the Betting Markets

None of this changes anything about Aspinall's heavyweight status or timeline, since his advisory deal with Hearn is a management matter, not a promotional one, and the UFC still controls his fights. The more interesting betting angle sits on the boxing side. If Hearn and Eubank Jr.'s camp ever agree to a third Benn fight at 168 pounds without the rehydration clause that shaped the first two bouts, oddsmakers would likely treat it as close to a pick'em fight rather than lean toward Benn the way markets did in the earlier clashes. Removing the weight-cut advantage changes the calculus enough that bettors should not assume the previous lines would simply carry over. For now, though, Hearn has stressed a third fight isn't imminent, so there's no live line to speak of yet.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did Dana White joke about Eddie Hearn?

Dana White said he laughs whenever a fighter signs with Eddie Hearn as a manager, a comment made after Tom Aspinall entered an advisory agreement with Hearn's Matchroom operation.

What did Muhammad Mokaev say to Dana White?

Muhammad Mokaev responded to Dana White's comment about Eddie Hearn by writing, "Deal with the fighters directly then," pushing back on the idea that fighters shouldn't need outside representation.

Why did Conor Benn leave Eddie Hearn's Matchroom?

Conor Benn left Matchroom to join Dana White's Zuffa Boxing project, a move Eddie Hearn described as a betrayal after the two built several major events together.