Dana White delivers a big surprise to Eddie Hearn as Zuffa signs a British fighter away from Matchroom
Dana White and Eddie Hearn’s rivalry looks like it’s here to stay after Zuffa Boxing signed a British fighter right from under Matchroom Boxing’s nose.
The drama started when Conor Benn secretly signed with White-backed Zuffa, causing tension between the two promoters. While Dana White, Saudi Arabia’s Turki Alalshikh, TKO Group Holdings, and Sela are busy growing Zuffa’s boxing lineup by signing top talent, Hearn has also stepped into the MMA world by launching the Matchroom Talent Agency.
This new agency recently signed UFC heavyweight champ Tom Aspinall and Ian Machado Garry. They help manage their careers, brands, and business deals outside the Octagon.
Along with the controversial signing of Benn, Zuffa also grabbed four-division world champ Shakur Stevenson last weekend, and talks of a fight between Benn and Stevenson are ongoing. Earlier in 2026, former two-time IBF cruiserweight champ Jai Opetaia, who once worked with Matchroom, also joined Zuffa.
Then, on Monday, July 13, Zuffa announced they had signed another fighter who used to be with Hearn’s Matchroom. British heavyweight and fan favorite Johnny Fisher, known as the “Romford Bull,” is now with Zuffa. He’s set to fight in London on September 26 at Zuffa Boxing 11, though his opponent hasn’t been announced yet.
Fisher has an impressive pro record with 14 wins out of 15 fights. His only loss was to fellow Brit David Allen in May 2025. He had been working with Matchroom Boxing since 2021 but recently revealed he got a much bigger offer from Zuffa—six or seven times more than what he was earning under Hearn.
Hearn responded by saying he wouldn’t have matched Zuffa’s offer, even if they’d offered half the amount. In June, he told IFL TV, “It’s over six times what I would pay [Fisher to fight] that opponent. If Zuffa offered half the money, we wouldn’t have matched it. Good luck, mate. I’m actually pleased for Johnny.”
After officially joining Zuffa, Fisher shared his excitement: “The most exciting chapter of my professional career begins. Thank you to Dana White, Nick Khan, and the Zuffa Boxing team for this opportunity. Everything has led to this point. Bull Army, get ready to assemble. Bosh!”
In a chat with Sky Sports, Fisher talked about why he made the switch beyond the money. “I’m really excited to be on Sky Sports,” he said. “It’s the home of football, the home of all sports in the UK, and I want to be part of that massive platform. I want to take my career to the next level, and I think this is the place to be.”
He added, “I bring blood and guts, war, and tear-ups to your Saturday nights. People love heavyweight boxing, and I go in there looking to fight hard—and sometimes I might get fought hard too. That makes for exciting watching.”