Eddie Hearn Sees 'Revolution' Brewing, Plans to Sign More UFC Fighters

Matchroom Boxing chief says UFC fighters are questioning pay disparity after Conor Benn's $15 million deal

Published on Mar. 10, 2026

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Eddie Hearn, the head of Matchroom Boxing, says he sees a 'revolution' brewing among UFC fighters who are questioning the pay disparity after Conor Benn's reported $15 million deal to face Regis Prograis. Hearn plans to sign more UFC fighters, saying dozens have already approached Matchroom for representation and education on the business. Hearn believes the UFC's new TV deal and revenue is not being adequately shared with fighters, and says if Matchroom ran MMA events, they would pay fighters 80% of the revenue pot compared to the UFC's 20%.

Why it matters

Hearn's comments highlight the growing tension between UFC fighters and the promotion over fighter pay, especially in light of the lucrative deals the UFC is securing with media partners. Hearn's strategy to sign more UFC fighters and educate them on the business could lead to a revolt against the UFC's pay structure, which Hearn sees as heavily favoring the promotion over the athletes.

The details

Hearn's comments come after the UFC signed Conor Benn, one of Hearn's top fighters, to a reported $15 million deal to face Regis Prograis. Hearn says this has led to numerous UFC fighters reaching out to Matchroom, asking for representation and education on the business. Hearn believes the UFC's new $7.7 billion TV deal is not being adequately shared with fighters, and says if Matchroom ran MMA events, they would pay fighters 80% of the revenue compared to the UFC's 20%. Hearn has also taken on UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall in a commercial advisory role, citing Aspinall's frustration with the UFC's treatment of him after a no-contest fight.

  • In October 2025, Aspinall's UFC heavyweight title fight against Ciryl Gane ended in a no-contest after Aspinall suffered eye pokes.
  • In March 2026, Hearn announced his commercial advisory role with Aspinall.

The players

Eddie Hearn

The head of Matchroom Boxing, who sees a 'revolution' brewing among UFC fighters over pay disparity.

Dana White

The UFC president, who has been frequently mentioning Hearn in recent interviews and press conferences.

Tom Aspinall

The UFC heavyweight champion who has joined Matchroom in a commercial advisory role, citing frustration with the UFC's treatment of him.

Conor Benn

A Matchroom Boxing fighter who recently signed a reported $15 million deal with the UFC, sparking pay discussions among other UFC fighters.

Regis Prograis

The boxer who will face Conor Benn in a fight that is part of Benn's lucrative UFC deal.

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What they’re saying

“I actually couldn't believe how broken this guy's confidence was in Tom Aspinall. Like, the first conversation that we had, he actually said to me, 'Why? Why are you interested in me? You know my reputation. [The UFC has] stitched me up. I'm just like damaged goods at the moment.'”

— Eddie Hearn, Matchroom Boxing head (Uncrowned)

“Dana White sat on a press conference last night and he says, 'You know, Conor Benn making all this money, it's great for UFC fighters.' Like, how? I mean, basically every UFC fighter is looking at that going, 'This just doesn't make sense.'”

— Eddie Hearn, Matchroom Boxing head (Uncrowned)

What’s next

Hearn plans to sign more UFC fighters in the coming months as he believes the pay disparity will lead to a 'revolution' among the athletes.

The takeaway

Hearn's comments highlight the growing tension between UFC fighters and the promotion over fighter pay, especially as the UFC secures lucrative media deals. Hearn's strategy to sign and educate UFC fighters could lead to a significant shift in the power dynamic between the fighters and the promotion.