Eddie Hearn sends UFC fans into meltdown after sharing photo with fighter Dana White won't want to lose
Eddie Hearn could be about to deal Dana White the biggest blow yet after sharing a photo of him with one of the UFC's biggest stars.
It's no secret that Matchroom Boxing chief Hearn and UFC boss White aren't particularly fond of each other, with the pair regularly exchanging blows online, particularly after White signed Conor Benn, who had worked closely with Hearn, to Zuffa Boxing.
Since then, Hearn has responded adding both former UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall and welterweight star Ian Machado Garry to his talent agency, and it looks like his business with the UFC's biggest names isn't done there.
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Although both Aspinall and Garry remain UFC fighters and their deal with Hearn is simply for the Matchroom boss to represent them as a commercial advisor, manager, and brand agent, it certainly won't sit well with White.
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Therefore, when the UFC President and CEO saw Hearn's latest Instagram post showing off a meeting with lightweight fighter Arman Tsarukyan, he won't have been happy.
The meeting between the pair took place in Marbella, with Hearn visiting the city to meet with Anthony Joshua ahead of his blockbuster bout with fellow British heavyweight Tyson Fury in December.
It is not known why Tsarukyan is visiting the Spanish city, but if he truly is considering signing with Hearn, it would be a major blow to White.
In the past two years, Tsarukyan has transformed himself into one of the biggest names in the UFC through his performances in the cage and at wrestling and grappling matches and his appearances on streaming and social media.
The 30-year-old boasts a 23-2 record and is currently on a six-fight winning streak leaving his place as the next lightweight title challenger all but certain.
Add to this the fact that he's a regular feature on livestreams with the popular Nina Drama and other streamers like Neon, who cornered Tsarukyan in his most recent UFC win, and it's no surprise that the 30-year-old is seen as one of the UFC's next big stars.
Reacting to the photo, one fan on social media wrote: "Dana is cooked right now, but Arman can say goodbye to his title shot."
While another added: "Aspinall. Garry. Tsarukyan. Hearn's not playing..."
With one joking: "Volk title shot chances just went up thanks Arman you a real one."
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Eddie Hearn savages Dana White with brutal James Bond claim
The photo comes just days after Hearn once again tore into White following the shock revelation that Zuffa had terminated their contract with multiple-weight world champion Shakur Stevenson before he'd even fought once.
Since the confirmation of Stevenson's departure, Hearn hasn't been shy of making his feelings about the deal collapsing known, claiming it shows that his rival promotion has already failed in their first year.
And in his latest interview, he admitted that he actually hopes Zuffa Boxing stay around for a bit longer simply because of how much he's enjoyed their rivalry over the last 12 months in a brutal rant.
“It doesn't matter how long they go on for because they have not got a clue about boxing," Hearn told DAZN Boxing.
"Like, he has to sit there at the end of the year and go, ‘Hands up, it’s been an absolute monstrosity. A disaster.’
“But then they won’t do it. They’ll go, ‘It’s been a really good start. It’s gone right. It’s gone much better than I thought it would do.’ Really?
“You’re a laughing stock of the sport, mate. That’s the reality. So humble yourself, do your work, study, get better, improve, come back.
“Because we’ve enjoyed it. I’ve loved it. I’ve loved this year. I’ve never been so popular. This guy is making me look like a mixture of the patron saint of boxing and James Bond.
“So please, Zuffa, don’t go anywhere, because I’ve got a lot of that to do.”
Topics: Eddie Hearn, Dana White, UFC, Boxing
Ben McCrum