Dana White lays into Eddie Hearn in X-rated tirade after winning Conor Benn battle

UFC president Dana White did not mince his words about boxing promoter and Matchroom boss Eddie Hearn as they continue to fire shots at each other

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UFC President and CEO Dana White had some unsavoury words for Eddie Hearn(Image: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)

Dana White continued his tirade against Eddie Hearn after continuing his push into boxing by signing Conor Benn to Zuffa Boxing from Matchroom. Hearn had previously cited his disappointment with the move, and UFC president White suggested his rival was a “p****” on Saturday night.

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Back-and-forth barbs have been fired between the pair in recent days. Zuffa chief White first attempted to put down Hearn by stating ‘he works for his dad’. Hearn hit back and suggested White has ‘got a new daddy called Turki Alalshikh’ at Zuffa.

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But things perhaps felt more personal as the promotion claimed Benn’s signature, after a decade-long partnership 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 move has since seen Hearn claim that his former stable star will not be taken care of as well by White. The Matchroom boss appeared to irk his American counterpart with his comments.

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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.”

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Dana White is looking to make a splash in the boxing world(Image: PA Wire)

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Hearn had lambasted White’s approach to business following the announcement that Benn had signed an eight-figure deal for one fight. “Look at what they did to [ UFC heavyweight champion] Tom Aspinall,” he said.

“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, while 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.”

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Hearn and White previously shared an amicable relationship. They remain in touch.

“I’ve not spoken to him [White] for a couple of weeks; I had a couple of texts with him,” Hearn revealed. “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.”