Aspirnall's manager Eddie Hearn risks champion's peak years with UFC standoff

Tom Aspinall, 33, holds the UFC heavyweight title with no successful defenses and is currently dealing with an eye injury, while manager Eddie Hearn's public confrontational rhetoric toward the UFC risks leaving the champion idle for years. With at least two years remaining on his contract, a boxing crossover appears unlikely to be sanctioned by the UFC, and demanding higher pay would set an unwanted precedent for the promotion. The analysis notes that Jones, Ngannou, and Aspinall have collectively fought just four undisputed UFC title bouts over the past five years, making any prolonged inactivity especially damaging to Aspinall's legacy.