UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall has stunningly joined forces with Eddie Hearn.Aspinall, who hasn’t fought since being brutally eye-poked at UFC 321 in October, was announced on Thursday as the first signing to Hearn’s newly-launched Matchroom Talent Agency.Aspinall is the UFC heavyweight champion, but there’s no doubt the move will anger his boss, Dana WhiteGettyWhat is Tom Aspinall’s role with Eddie Hearn?It’s unclear what Aspinall will be doing under Hearn, but it’s been labelled as a ‘commercial and advisory role.’Just last month, the 32-year-old admitted he ‘hated’ the business side of operations in the fight game when discussing his return to the UFC.Aspinall was diagnosed with bilateral traumatic Brown’s syndrome after his fight with Ciry Gane in Abu Dhabi and underwent double-eye surgery last month in Manchester.White had claimed the champion suffered ‘no damage to the eye’ when speaking on the Gane fight weeks later — comments that left Aspinall ‘very disappointed.’ View this post on Instagram Aspinall delighted to work with Hearn as ‘journey back into the cage’ continues“I’m really excited to welcome Eddie [Hearn] and the Matchroom Sport group in a commercial and advisory role, and to become the first athlete to join the new Matchroom Talent Agency,” Aspinall said.“Eddie has built one of the biggest brands in Sport and understands how to take athletes to the next level, both inside and outside of competition.“I’m really looking forward to working together and exploring some exciting opportunities as I continue my journey back into the cage.”The new partnership likely means Hearn will sit at the table for any future fight negotiations of Aspinall’s in the UFC, which will no doubt leave rival White uneasy.Of course, the news of Aspinall’s deal with Hearn comes just weeks after White signed Conor Benn to Zuffa Boxing.White shocked the combat sports world last month when he signed Benn to his new boxing promotion, leaving rival Hearn, who looked after the British boxer since his professional debut, devastated.Hearn bringing Aspinall on board is seemingly a big response to White signing BennInstagram @zuffaboxingReports suggested that Benn’s contract with Zuffa Boxing is a one-fight deal worth $15m, with the 29-year-old set to face Regis Prograis on the undercard of Tyson Fury vs Arslanbek Makhmudov in London next month.Hearn and White have traded grim verbal blows since, with the latter suggesting entering the sweet science was like ‘beating up babies.’The former said he wasn’t expecting White to be ‘flustered so early’ after White accused him of lacking vision in boxing.Speaking on his deal with Aspinall, Hearn said: “I started my professional career in athlete management and over the past 30 years, I have built a wealth of experience in building global superstars.”“We believe in partnership and transparency with our clients, but most importantly, always delivering exceptional and innovative work.“Grounded in honesty and fierce commitment, Matchroom Talent Agency is about transforming careers through relentless ambition and telling it straight.UFC ScheduleFor all the upcoming fights and results this year, check out talkSPORT.com’s UFC schedule.“At the heart of everything we’ve done as a business over the last 40 years is identifying ordinary people who have extraordinary talent.“It has become a guiding principle to seek out people who are humble but heroic in equal measure. Their journey is our journey. Their triumph, our purpose.“UFC world heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall is the perfect embodiment of that – and he is the ideal, inaugural member of our team.“We believe in creating opportunities where others see obstacles in turning potential into greatness. So, the message is loud and clear to all: Join us on this journey. We are officially open for business.”Speaking before the announcement on the Piers Morgan Unsensored YouTube channel, White discussed his current relationship with Aspinall. “He is my heavyweight champion…” White said in the conversation set to air tonight.“The company has talked to him. I haven’t talked to him. And Tom and I obviously need to talk.“He came out recently or his dad [did] too, saying that they felt like I was, I don’t know how they said it, but that I had sort of s*** on him – in the way that I had spoken about his eye injury, which was absolutely, positively not the case. “Tom Aspinall is a guy that I respect. He’s been great to work with, the whole time he’s been here in the UFC and never once did I question his injury or speak negatively about it.“I said something once, that I said, ‘I think he’s okay, and I think he’s going to be good’. And they came out and said, ‘No, that’s not the case’. “And they said, ‘I haven’t even talked to Dana and I don’t know why you would say that’. But, you know, obviously, my medical team is talking to him and that was what I had thought. “And they thought that I had knocked him in some way, which I absolutely, positively didn’t. And wouldn’t. “I like him very much and respect him. I’ve never had a problem with Tom Aspinall.”Asked if he will fight again, White was upbeat, saying, ‘I do.’He explained: “Well, he’s still dealing with whatever’s going on with his eyes. “And obviously, over the last 30 years of being in this business, I’ve seen injuries that I questioned whether guys would come back from and they always have, including eye pokes, but who knows? “But if you ask me, sitting right here, right now, ‘Do I think Tom Aspinall will compete again?’ I would say, ‘yes’.”