UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall has signed with Eddie Hearn’s newly established Matchroom Talent Agency.
The signing and the establishment of Matchroom’s new agency was announced on Thursday in a huge move for both Aspinall and the British promoter.
Hearn, who is chairman of Matchroom Boxing and has guided the careers of former two-time heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua and two-weight undisputed women’s champion Katie Taylor, will now manage and advise Aspinall in his first move into MMA.
The UFC champion had teased an announcement on social media Thursday with the caption “back to business.”
Matchroom will host a news conference in London on Friday.
Hearn said he believes the move is an ideal next step for both him and Matchroom and hailed Aspinall as the perfect first signing.
“It has become a guiding principle to seek out people who are humble but heroic in equal measure. Their journey is our journey. Their triumph, our purpose,” Hearn said.
“UFC world heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall is the perfect embodiment of that — and he is the ideal, inaugural member of our team.”
Welcome to the team UFC Heavyweight Champ @AspinallMMA – Time to get what’s yours 👑
Matchroom Talent Agency 🚀 pic.twitter.com/dAWes5KsR4
— Eddie Hearn (@EddieHearn) March 5, 2026
The move comes amid a growing rivalry between Hearn and UFC boss Dana White, who is now also leading Zuffa Boxing.
The two promoters have gone back-and-forth in the media in recent weeks, with White landing a significant blow by signing British fighter Conor Benn from Hearn, who Matchroom had hoped would be their biggest star in the coming years.
Meanwhile, Aspinall, who remains under fighting contract with the UFC, hasn’t fought since he defended his title in October against Ciryl Gane.
The fight was stopped when Aspinall was poked in the eye on multiple occasions. He has since undergone surgery. He has now opted to have Hearn help guide his next moves.
“I’m really excited to welcome Eddie [Hearn] and the Matchroom Sport group in a commercial and advisory role, and to become the first athlete to join the new Matchroom Talent Agency,” Aspinall said.
“Eddie has built one of the biggest brands in Sport and understands how to take athletes to the next level, both inside and outside of competition.”
