UFC heavyweight championTom Aspinalladdressed the media for the first time since signing with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Talent Agency, explaining his reasons for partnering with one of boxing’s most powerful figures during a press conference at Battersea Power Station in London on Friday.
Aspinall, 32, was announced as the inaugural client of the newly formed Matchroom Talent Agency on Thursday, March 5. The deal is commercial and advisory in nature, meaning Hearn’s team will handle Aspinall’s business dealings and brand-building while his father, Andy Aspinall, remains his manager and head coach at Team Kaobon in Atherton, England.
At the press conference, Aspinallopenedup about the role his father has played throughout his career and what this new chapter means for MMA fighters at large. Heexplained:
“Anyone who’s followed my career knows how close me and my dad are. He’s my manager and trainer, and has been from the very beginning. Hopefully this will be the start where other MMA fighters can look at what I’m doing and think, ‘Look at the money he’s making. Look at the opportunities he’s getting with Matchroom and Eddie Hearn.'”
The Salford-born fighter, who holds a professional MMA record of 15-3 with oneno contest, made it clear that his motivation goes beyond personal gain. He wants to set a precedent for how MMA fighters approach their earning potential.
“I want to be a bit of a trailblazer for MMA fighters, to show that you can be successful and make good money outside theOctagonas well as inside it. A lot of fighters complain about pay, publicly and privately, but at the end of the day, that’s what we signed up for. There are other opportunities out there for fighters; it’s up to us to go after them.”
Aspinall hasn’t fought sinceUFC 321in October 2025, where his first title defense against Ciryl Gane ended in a no contest after a series of eye pokes in the first round. He was subsequently diagnosed with “significant traumatic bilateral Brown’s syndrome” and persistent double vision, and underwent surgery onboth eyesin February 2026. That experience clearly shaped his thinking.
“As athletes, we only get a short window to make money. With what’s gone on in my career, including injuries, I want to make as much as I can and set up my family for generations. That’s what I’m looking to do with this new opportunity.”
The champion also moved to shut down speculation that theMatchroom dealsignals a switch to boxing.
“Now, obviously, people are going to ask questions about me working with Eddie Hearn and Matchroom. Some might think I’m moving into boxing, but that’s not my intention right now. Maybe one day before I retire, but at the moment, MMA is where I’m at.”
Source: LowKickMMA.com
