Matchroom Launches Talent Agency with Tom Aspinall & Sport Industry Deals Roundup
Matchroom Sport is expanding its reach beyond boxing and darts with the launch of Matchroom Talent Agency, and has immediately signaled its intent by signing UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall. The move, announced on Thursday, , represents a significant foray into the mixed martial arts world for the prominent sports management company, and comes at a time of increasing tension between the UFC and the boxing world.
The agency will focus on commercial and advisory services for Aspinall, rather than outright promotion, meaning the 32-year-old Brit remains contracted to the UFC. Matchroom Talent Agency, a new subsidiary led by Chairman Eddie Hearn, will manage Aspinall’s business and commercial interests, including publishing, digital, broadcast, and legal support. Aspinall will continue to work with his existing management team.
The timing of the announcement is notable, occurring just two weeks after boxer Conor Benn departed Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing to join Zuffa Boxing, the UFC’s newly formed promotional arm under Dana White. This move has been widely interpreted as a direct challenge to established boxing promoters like Hearn, and Aspinall’s decision to align with Matchroom appears to be, in part, a response to that development. According to Aspinall, seeing Benn secure a lucrative deal with Zuffa Boxing – reportedly worth £11 million for a single fight – highlighted the potential for MMA fighters to increase their earnings outside of the octagon.
“I think if one guy gets $15m [£11m] and the other guy gets $15k [£11,000], that’s a big deal to make, which is part of the reason I want to explore other options,” Aspinall stated during a press conference on . “I want to be a trailblazer for MMA fighters who can make a lot of money and be successful outside the octagon as well as inside.”
Hearn echoed this sentiment, describing Aspinall as “the ideal inaugural member of our team” and emphasizing the agency’s commitment to maximizing his commercial potential. “Grounded in honesty and fierce commitment, Matchroom Talent Agency is about transforming careers through relentless ambition and telling it straight,” Hearn said. “We believe in creating opportunities where others see obstacles in turning potential into greatness.”
The deal doesn’t signal an immediate move by Aspinall into professional boxing. He remains focused on recovering from multiple eye surgeries sustained during his October fight against Ciryl Gane, where he was repeatedly poked in the eyes. His priority is to defend his heavyweight title as soon as he is medically cleared. “Eyes are a little bit tricky, [they] take a little bit longer,” Aspinall explained. “So they are definitely getting better, moving in the right direction, but still, I do have to follow the doctors’ orders right now and I’m still taking my time with it.”
The creation of Matchroom Talent Agency and Aspinall’s signing represent a strategic shift for Hearn’s organization, demonstrating a willingness to engage directly with the UFC’s talent pool. This move is likely to further escalate the ongoing rivalry between Hearn and White, as both promoters seek to expand their influence across the combat sports landscape. The agency will manage and service talent across sport and entertainment, suggesting a broader ambition beyond simply countering White’s moves in boxing.
Elsewhere in the world of sports business, Manchester City and PUMA have deepened their partnership with a new youth soccer collaboration with PUMA King Club and Charlotte Soccer Academy (CSA). Two full-time Manchester City coaches will relocate to Charlotte to implement the club’s development methodology within CSA’s Foundation Phase program. The collaboration aims to enhance technical skills and coach development, with CSA players also gaining opportunities to travel to Manchester for competitive matches.
In The Hundred, the Birmingham Phoenix have secured a multi-year lead partnership with Skechers, with the footwear brand’s logo appearing on the team’s shirts from the season. This partnership coincides with a new ownership structure for The Hundred, with Warwickshire County Cricket Club now holding a majority stake alongside Knighthead Capital Management.
MatchWornShirt (MWS) is celebrating International Women’s Day with its largest ever women’s football auction, featuring over 70 teams and shirts worn by stars like Lauren James and Hannah Hampton. The auction includes items from WSL clubs Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur, as well as international teams from Scotland, Wales, and the United States.
Finally, Qvest has renewed its gold sponsorship of SVG Europe and has partnered with the Premier League to design and implement a new media production facility for international coverage, while Glasgow Warriors have signed a new sponsorship deal with steel solutions provider Cairnhill Structures, and the FIM EnduroGP World Championship’s Welsh round has renewed its title partnership with Forsiteservices Ltd for the event.