Dana White manufacturers Eddie White ‘a p****’ after Conor Benn leaves Matchroom Boxing
Dana White and Eddie Hearn have been involved in an almighty war of words in recent days, with the UFC president suggesting his rival is a “p****” after striking a deal with Conor Benn
UFC President and CEO Dana White had some unsavoury words for Eddie Hearn(Image: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)
Dana White has escalated his war of words with Eddie Hearn following his successful poaching of Conor Benn to Zuffa Boxing from Matchroom. Hearn had previously expressed his frustration with the transfer, prompting UFC chief White to brand his rival a “p****” on Saturday night.
The pair have been trading increasingly personal insults in recent days. Zuffa supremo White initially attempted to belittle Hearn by claiming ‘he works for his dad’.
Hearn fired back, suggesting White has ‘got a new daddy called Turki Alalshikh’ at Zuffa. However, tensions appeared to intensify further when the promotion secured Benn’s signature, ending a decade-long association with Hearn.
“It’s been a journey beyond anything we could have imagined, and for their belief, support, and guidance, I will always be truly grateful, but Zuffa Boxing presented me with an opportunity I simply couldn’t refuse,” said Benn.
“I’d love Eddie to continue to be part of my team and for our partnership to evolve in this new chapter.”
The switch has prompted Hearn to suggest that his former stable star won’t receive the same level of care under White’s guidance. The Matchroom chief’s remarks appear to have wound up his American rival.
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“I think you saw this week I am really beating up babies,” White said following a UFC Fight Night event. “Is there a bigger p**** than Eddie Hearn?
“Is there a bigger p**** than Eddie Hearn? This guy’s supposed to be a friend. F****** crying? He’s [Benn] going to make more money, and [Hearn] had the right to match it. He could have matched it. What a crock of s***. Yeah, we’re literally beating up babies.”
Hearn had slammed White’s business methods after it emerged that Benn had penned an eight-figure deal for a single bout. “Look at what they did to [ UFC heavyweight champion] Tom Aspinall,” he said.
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“Tom Aspinall literally had his eye gouged out in a fight, and Dana White basically called him a crybaby and cast him aside, humiliated him in front of everybody, whilst the guy is having operations to save his eyesight.
“Dana White wouldn’t do what I did for Conor Benn. But we’re different people, and we have a different passion for the sport. You’re a pawn in the game if you’re Conor Benn, aren’t you? We’re different organisations.
“I’ve said it before: these guys are very, very powerful, ruthless people. They don’t care about the sport of boxing. In my opinion, they don’t care about the fighters – it’s just a business to them.”
Hearn and White previously enjoyed a cordial relationship. The pair remain in contact.
“I’ve not spoken to him [White] for a couple of weeks; I had a couple of texts with him,” Hearn disclosed. “It’s going to be a long, hard battle.
“But I’m also privileged and honoured that it seems to be a battle between me and him. And I’m well up for it. I think it’s a blessing to be in those kind of battles.”
