Tom Aspinall: Conor Benn deal convinced me to partner Eddie Hearn, says UFC heavyweight champion

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

Briton Aspinall joined Hearn’s Matchroom Talent Agency on Thursday in a “commercial and consulting” deal rather than a promotional deal, meaning the 32-year-old will remain signed to the UFC.

The move – an attempt by Aspinall to maximize his earnings outside the UFC – came two weeks after boxer Ben left Hearn’s Matchroom promotion to join Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing.

Penn’s deal with UFC president White’s boxing promotion has angered many UFC fighters, including Aspinall, who earn significantly less than their boxing counterparts.

“I think if one person got $15 million [£11m] The other man gets $15,000 [£11,000]“This is a big thing to do, which is part of the reason I want to explore other options,” Aspinall said during a news conference on Friday.

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

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

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

Aspinall has ruled out boxing in the near future because he is still under contract with the UFC, which prohibits fighters from competing in other combat sports without obtaining permission.

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

“And also making sure he gets exactly what he deserves with the commercial power he has as a fighter.”