Conor Benn Softens Break With Eddie Hearn After Zuffa Deal

Single-fight structure leaves room for promotional reunion

Conor Benn suggested his reported $15 million Zuffa deal could be a short-term arrangement rather than a full split from Matchroom. He later contacted Eddie Hearn after initial tensions.

The 29-year-old did not speak to Hearn before news of the deal became public, a decision that intensified an already strained relationship between Matchroom and Zuffa leadership. That absence of communication became part of the story as much as the signing itself, particularly given Benn’s status as one of Matchroom’s most recognisable fighters in Britain.

Benn later explained that he chose not to make the call while emotions were running high. “I didn’t choose not to speak to him, I didn’t want to go into the details of it,” Benn said to Boxing King Media about Hearn. “I think things were very heated with the teams, and knowing how I am as an individual, would the call have been beneficial? Would the call have been great for us? And I personally don’t think it would have.”

His explanation suggested the silence was deliberate rather than dismissive. Benn added that once tempers cooled, he reached out directly. “Once the dust had settled and it had calmed down I messaged Eddie saying, ‘I love you mate, and you know, this isn’t the end of the road, you know, the journey does continue’.”

Reports earlier in the week indicated that Benn’s agreement with Zuffa may be limited to a single fight worth $15 million. If accurate, the structure leaves room for Benn to return to Matchroom once that obligation is fulfilled, particularly if commercial terms suit both sides.

The ongoing dispute between Hearn and Dana White has played out publicly for months, and Benn’s decision placed him in the middle of that rivalry. He acknowledged that both sides could have handled the situation better in private. “When things get heated, I’ve said things in the moment from previous experiences where you regret saying them,” Benn said. “Why speak in the midst of hurt, ego, pride, anger? Nothing good comes from it. I think we both could’ve dealt with it better privately.”

That tone is noticeably conciliatory for a fighter who had just secured a lucrative new arrangement. It also signals that Benn understands the long-term value of maintaining working relationships in a sport where promotional alliances often shift depending on opportunity and timing.

His immediate focus now turns to his debut under the Zuffa banner. Benn recently called out Ryan Garcia following Garcia’s WBC welterweight title success, urging him to “keep the belt warm.” That ambition introduces another complication, given that Zuffa has indicated it will not recognise sanctioning bodies in the traditional model. Any bout involving a WBC titleholder would therefore require alignment on terms that do not currently exist under Zuffa’s stated position.

For Benn, the appeal of a high-profile fight in the United States is obvious, particularly against an opponent with Garcia’s profile. Yet his comments about Hearn show that he is careful not to close doors at home while pursuing that opportunity abroad. The messaging is measured rather than defiant, and that distinction matters in a sport where public fallouts can quickly become permanent.

Matchroom has invested heavily in Benn’s career, guiding him from domestic contender to international attraction. Even if this chapter includes a temporary separation, Benn appears keen to avoid turning it into a public feud that limits his options later.

The initial shock of the Zuffa signing suggested a dramatic shift in allegiance. Benn’s own words, however, paint a more pragmatic picture of a fighter taking a short-term opportunity without burning long-term bridges. That approach may not satisfy every promoter involved, but it reflects a boxer thinking about business as much as rivalry, and that is rarely accidental.