A new chapter has emerged in the ongoing war of words between Eddie Hearn and Michael Bisping, a feud that can be traced back to the fallout from Tom Aspinall’s controversial title defense against Ciryl Gane at UFC 321. Aspinall’s return to action ended in dramatic fashion when a double eye poke from Gane forced the fight to be stopped late in the opening round.
Despite being given several minutes to recover and undergoing examinations from two cageside physicians, the British heavyweight informed officials that his vision remained impaired and that he could not continue. The situation proved far more serious than initially believed. In the months that followed, Aspinall was diagnosed with bilateral traumatic Brown’s syndrome and ultimately underwent double eye surgery.
While the heavyweight champion has since recovered and is now expected to rematch Gane following his victory over Alex Pereira at UFC Freedom 250, questions surrounding the severity of his injury lingered for much of the past eight months. Among those raising concerns was former UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping, who questioned the lack of transparency regarding Aspinall’s condition.
Eddie Hearn questions Michael Bisping’s motives behind his criticism of Tom Aspinall:
“Michael Bisping should be ashamed… These are people that are on the payroll. These are people that don’t have any backbone about them.
He is a fighter. He should stand up for what’s right… pic.twitter.com/FFAdFx07qk
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) June 24, 2026
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Bisping also scrutinized the timing of Hearn’s decision to sign Aspinall, suggesting that the Matchroom chairman’s strained relationship with Dana White may have played a role. Those comments drew a strong response from Hearn, who accused Bisping of failing to support a fellow British fighter during a difficult period. The veteran promoter went as far as labeling Bisping a corporate stooge, arguing that his role with the UFC prevented him from speaking independently and describing him as a puppet for the promotion.
Now, Bisping has fired back. Speaking on his Believe You Me podcast alongside fellow UFC veteran Paul Felder, ‘The Count’ challenged Hearn’s criticism and suggested the two settle their differences face-to-face rather than through social media. He said, “He wants to have a debate? I’m not having a debate online, but I’m very happy, next time I’m in London, to sit down face to face, man to man, and have a conversation like that. Ok, Eddie? Let’s see if he keeps the same energy.”
Bisping continued by addressing Hearn’s accusations directly, claiming the Matchroom Head had repeatedly misrepresented his stance on the situation. “Eddie Hearn was talking shit about me and (about Felder too), really, but he only named me. He said he wants a debate. He said again he wants a debate. He said the word. ‘I should be ashamed because I don’t want Tom Aspinall to get paid.”
The UFC Hall of Famer then strongly rejected the notion that he was opposed to fighters earning more money, insisting that his criticism had nothing to do with Aspinall’s pay and everything to do with what he views as Hearn’s personal issues with Dana White.
He added, “Why should I be ashamed? I have no idea the money that Tom is getting paid. I’m not a part of that. All I ever said, and I think anyone with half an ounce of intelligence can see it, is that Eddie Hearn is muddying the waters with something between him and Dana White and his perceived war and beef that he has with Dana. That’s all I said.”
Bisping continued to dismiss Hearn’s criticism, making it clear that he has never had an issue with Aspinall earning more money. In fact, the former 185lbs champion said he hopes the heavyweight star secures the most lucrative deal possible. He said, “I never mentioned a goddamn word about his compensation. I hope Tom Aspinall gets paid shitloads. I hope you can go out there and get him a contract for $30 million per fight. It’s no skin off my nose. That’s what I want for all fighters. What the fuck are you talking about, Eddie?”
Michael Bisping responds to Eddie Hearn’s request to debate after comments on Tom Aspinall’s return timeline. pic.twitter.com/IG2Kw6GsmW
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) June 30, 2026
Bisping went on to explain that his original comments were never about Aspinall’s pay. Instead, he said his observations centered on the timing of Hearn’s involvement with the heavyweight champion and the uncertainty surrounding Aspinall’s return during his lengthy recovery from eye surgery. The UFC Hall of Famer also described Hearn’s response as misguided, reiterating that while he openly acknowledges being employed by the UFC and having loyalty to the promotion, that does not diminish his support for the athletes who compete inside the Octagon.
He concluded with, “I just said it’s a bit weird that he’s not fighting, and Eddie Hearn is now managing him. We all know that. It’s absolute horse shit what Eddie Hearn is saying, and he wants to have a debate? Eddie, all you little shits out there, I don’t want you to get it twisted: I care about fighters. We care deeply about this sport, and this is why we are commentators. There’s nothing wrong with that.”
With both men standing firmly behind their positions, the war of words shows no signs of slowing down. It remains to be seen whether Hearn accepts Bisping’s invitation for a face-to-face debate, but one thing appears certain: the unresolved business between Aspinall and Ciryl Gane is expected to be settled inside the Octagon.
Reports suggest the UFC is actively working on Aspinall’s return, setting the stage for a highly anticipated rematch that could finally bring closure to one of the most controversial endings in recent heavyweight history.
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