Eddie Hearn has landed one of combat sports' biggest names for his newly launched Matchroom Talent Agency, signing UFC Heavyweight Champion Tom Aspinall as its first major client, it was announced Thursday.
The deal pairs the 31-year-old British champion — currently sidelined and recovering from a serious eye injury — with Hearn's new management venture, a separate arm from his well-established Matchroom Boxing promotional outfit. The signing marks a significant power play for Hearn in the combat sports world and represents a new business direction beyond boxing promotion.
Tom Aspinall 'Looking' Ahead
The news comes four months after Aspinall's ill-fated title defense against Ciryl Gane, which ended in a no-contest in October 2025 after the Frenchman landed a double eye poke that left Aspinall unable to continue. Aspinall was subsequently diagnosed with bilateral traumatic Brown's syndrome — a condition affecting ocular mobility — and has undergone surgery on both eyes. As recently as February 2026, Aspinall disclosed he still had a persistent black spot in his vision and had not yet been medically cleared to return to training.
TKO vs. Matchroom: Shots Fired
The signing has an unmistakable political dimension. Hearn had been publicly critical of the UFC's treatment of Aspinall in the aftermath of the Gane no-contest, with UFC CEO Dana White controversially suggesting Aspinall was unwilling to continue the fight and questioning the severity of the injury. Hearn called out White's handling of the situation on multiple occasions, stating White "humiliated" the champion. Aspinall's father also disclosed publicly that his son has approximately three fights remaining on his current UFC contract.
The timing of the signing also comes on the heels of Hearn losing one of his top Matchroom Boxing stars, Conor Benn, who recently departed for an eight-figure deal with Dana White's Zuffa Boxing. Hearn responded by launching the Matchroom Talent Agency — a management-focused entity — and wasted no time securing Aspinall as its marquee first signing.
Aspinall remains the reigning UFC Heavyweight Champion. His next title defense, return timeline, and future contractual situation with the UFC remain unknown pending his full medical clearance.