Business Side of Tom Aspinall Signing with Dana White’s Rival Explained by Paddy Pimblett

UFC lightweight Paddy Pimblett has explained the business reasons behind the deal Tom Aspinall signed with Dana White's rival, Eddie Hearn.

Business Side of Tom Aspinall Signing with Dana White’s Rival Explained by Paddy Pimblett

Tom Aspinall and Dana White (via Fighters Only, Business Insider)

In Short
  • Tom Aspinall has signed with Eddie Hearn, indicating a rift with UFC president Dana White.
  • Paddy Pimblett believes Aspinall's deal will lead to better sponsorships and financial opportunities.
  • The feud between Dana White and Eddie Hearn has escalated, with both promoters publicly exchanging barbs.

Heavyweight champion, Tom Aspinall, and his relationship with the UFC seems to have gone sideways recently. Nothing was a bigger indicator than him signing with Dana White‘s rival, Eddie Hearn, while he and White are openly feuding. Fellow Englishman, Paddy Pimblett, has now explained the intent behind this deal.

Pimblett explained to IFLTV that he has always been managed by Graham Boylan, the president of Cage Warriors. However, Tom Aspinall has never had a professional manager. As such, the UFC heavyweight champion has been managed by Andy Aspinall, his father since the start of his career.

In Pimblett’s mind, Aspinall has always needed a ”proper manager”, which is why he “can understand” why the latter signed with Eddie Hearn. The Scouser then explained the exact nature of this deal and how it could benefit his fellow UFC fighter.

He’s probably going to get him more sponsorships and more money than he’s ever had. It’s not promotional, it’s kind of on the marketing and commercial side. Yeah, and Tom’s always said he wanted to go into boxing, so you never know. Tom might end up, when he retires from MMA, going into boxing and being a boxer.

Paddy Pimblett on Tom Aspinall’s deal with Eddie Hearn

As Tom Aspinall and Eddie Hearn, themselves explained during the announcement, this deal is not promotional. Hearn himself called it a “commercial representation in an advisory capacity.” He claimed it was necessitated by the “disgraceful” contract they had the Englishman signed to. Nonetheless, Paddy Pimblett’s breakdown of the deal lines up perfectly with what they said.

The British lightweight then revealed that he and Aspinall were good friends. He wished for Hearn to earn Aspinall “millions and millions of dollars, [or] pounds.” At the same time, Pimblett stressed that he would not criticize Hearn’s rival, Dana White or the UFC, claiming he was “happy” there. Even so, ‘The Baddy’ had a harsh assessment of the feud between Dana White and Eddie Hearn.

Paddy Pimblett jokes about Dana White and Eddie Hearn drama

The bizzare feud between Eddie Hearn and Dana White has been heating up for sometime now. First, they called out each other publicly. Then, White crossed Hearn by poaching Conor Benn to Zuffa Boxing. This was countered by Hearn’s aforementioned deal with Tom Aspinall. All this seems to have amused the former UFC interim lightweight title challenger, Paddy Pimblett.

Paddy Pimblett, Dana White
Paddy Pimblett on Dana White fighting Eddie Hearn [via Bloody Elbow]

Hearn and White even went as far as to suggest the possibility of a fight between them in the boxing ring. The English promoter even posted a training video, and recently claimed that their fight would sell over a million PPVs. However, Pimblett apparently cannot take this rivalry seriously, giving his two cents on it to IFLTV.

It’d be hilarious, but you know, first and foremost Dana’s an MMA promoter. First and foremost, Eddie’s a boxing promoter. They’re having a little bit of a mad spat at the minute. Without being disrespectful to either of them, it’s very teenage girlish, but they’ll get over it. They’re both going to end up being sweet, so we crack on for now.

Paddy Pimblett on Dana White and Eddie Hearn’s feud

Pimblett also revealed that he believed Dana White would prevail over Hearn if the two ever fought. He said White would “spark out” Hearn. Even so, he agrees that the bout would generate a lot of interest. Moreover, he lamented the fact that it would lead to the two promoters making more than anyone on either of their respective rosters.

Ultimately, a fight between Hearn and White will probably never materialize. But stranger things have happened so one can never rule it out. However, Tom Aspinall’s move may end up being more tangible and consequential than any hypothetical bout between the promoters. This is especially if he intends to box like Paddy Pimblett suggested.

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