Dana White says he has “no issues” with Eddie Hearn after UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall signed for the boxing promotor’s new talent agency.
Britain’s Aspinall joined ‘Matchroom Talent Agency’ on Thursday in a “commercial and advisory” deal rather than a promotional one, meaning the 32-year-old remains signed to the UFC.
The move comes two weeks after boxer Conor Benn left Hearn’s promotional outfit Matchroom to join White’s Zuffa Boxing.
Hearn, 46, has been publicly feuding with UFC president White since the launch of Zuffa.
Speaking before UFC 326 on Saturday, White compared the deal to his relationship with Tito Ortiz – a fighter White used to manage prior to a long-lasting feud.
“We don’t have any issues with Eddie, they can get whoever they want to represent them,” said White.
“Tito Ortiz used to represent people but we got it done.”
Aspinall has been dealing with eye problems since his title fight with Ciryl Gane last October had to be stopped because of repeated eye pokes.
He had double eye surgery in February and it is unclear when he will be able to return to action.
Aspinall became embroiled in the Matchroom-Zuffa Boxing feud when Hearn suggested White “humiliated” him by not backing the fighter after the eye controversy.
Earlier in the news conference, White confirmed the fights for the UFC’s unprecedented show at the White House on 14 June will be announced on Saturday.
The UFC is spending $60m (£44.3m) to host the one-of-a-kind event in Washington DC to mark 250 years of American independence.
A number of fighters have expressed interest in competing on the card including Jon Jones, Conor McGregor, Alex Pereira, Amanda Nunes, Nate Diaz and Islam Makhachev.
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