Michael Bisping has answered Eddie Hearn’s call for a debate on UFC fighter pay, pushing back on the boxing promoter’s recent criticism over comments related to heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall.
Hearn criticized Bisping on "The Ariel Helwani Show" after Bisping questioned the timing of Hearn signing Aspinall to his agency and suggested Hearn might have an issue with UFC president Dana White. Hearn then proposed a debate with Bisping about how UFC athletes are compensated.
Bisping responded that he’s open to a discussion, but only in person. "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 said.
The former UFC champion and current commentator, who acknowledges he is an employee of the UFC, also rejected the idea that he doesn’t want Aspinall to be paid. "Why should I be ashamed? I have no idea the money that Tom is getting paid. I'm not a part of that," Bisping said, adding that Hearn is "muddying the waters with something between him and Dana White" and insisting, "I never mentioned a goddamn word about his compensation."
Tom Aspinall, the UFC heavyweight champion, recently fought Ciryl Gane at UFC 321, a bout that ended in a no contest after Aspinall sustained a serious eye injury.
