MMA Daily Roundup: Aspinall Signs With Hearn, Oliveira's GOAT Claim & UFC 326 Weigh-In Day — March 6, 2026
- Dana Black
- Mar 6
- 6 min read
Overview
March 6, 2026 — UFC 326 weigh-in day — and the biggest story isn’t even about Saturday’s fight card. UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall has signed with Eddie Hearn’s brand new Matchroom Talent Agency in a bombshell move that sets up a direct collision between Hearn and Dana White. Charles Oliveira has made the extraordinary claim that he ranks himself above both Khabib Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev on the UFC GOAT list. Demetrious Johnson has turned down a RAF wrestling matchup with Henry Cejudo. Aljamain Sterling has gone nuclear over UFC fighter pay. And with weigh-ins today, UFC 326 is less than 24 hours from fight night.
Contents
The eve of UFC 326 has been completely hijacked by one of the biggest off-cage stories of the year. Tom Aspinall has made a power move that will define the next chapter of his career — and send shockwaves through the UFC’s front office. Simultaneously, the main event’s protagonist Charles Oliveira has been firing on all cylinders in fight week interviews, and the wider MMA landscape is buzzing with fighter pay tensions and cross-promotional drama. Here is your full breakdown of everything that happened on March 6, 2026.
Aspinall Signs With Hearn’s Matchroom Talent Agency
In one of the most surprising announcements of the year, UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall has signed with Eddie Hearn’s newly formed Matchroom Talent Agency. The 32-year-old Brit becomes the inaugural signing of Hearn’s new management division, which operates separately from Matchroom Boxing’s promotional arm. The deal is a commercial and advisory arrangement, meaning Hearn and his team will now handle Aspinall’s business dealings inside and outside of fighting — including his UFC contract negotiations. Aspinall, who has never previously had professional representation beyond his father Andy, confirmed his excitement at the partnership, stating he is ready to explore new opportunities as he recovers from eye surgery following his controversial title defence against Ciryl Gane at UFC 321 last October.
Hearn vs. White: The Feud Escalates
The timing of the announcement is no coincidence. Just weeks ago, Dana White and Zuffa Boxing delivered a major blow to Hearn by poaching Conor Benn from Matchroom’s stable with a reported £15 million offer. Hearn has now responded by signing White’s own heavyweight champion — the most marketable fighter in the UFC today. The move has been widely described as a direct act of retaliation in an increasingly bitter feud between two of combat sports’ most powerful figures. Dana White responded to the signing at the UFC 326 pre-fight press conference, and MMA Junkie’s Ariel Helwani noted that the UFC has historically refused to negotiate through certain managers, raising immediate questions about how this will affect Aspinall’s standing within the promotion.
What This Means for Aspinall’s UFC Future
Aspinall remains under UFC contract and is still recovering from double eye surgery. His next fight has yet to be announced. However, the signing of Hearn as his representative opens the door to far more lucrative commercial deals, a potential future in boxing, and a vastly more powerful negotiating position with the UFC. Hearn has built global superstars in combat sports for over three decades, and analysts believe his involvement could result in Aspinall becoming one of the highest-paid athletes in MMA history. The Matchroom chairman made clear this is just the beginning — declaring the Matchroom Talent Agency “official open for business” and inviting other fighters to join.
Oliveira Claims He’s Above Khabib & Islam on GOAT List
Charles Oliveira has ignited debate across the MMA world on the eve of UFC 326 by placing himself above both Khabib Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev on his personal lightweight GOAT list. With 21 consecutive finishes and the most submissions in UFC history, Oliveira’s case is not without merit — but placing himself above the undefeated Khabib has inevitably drawn strong reactions from fans and pundits alike. The claim arrives at perfect timing for fight week, adding an extra dimension of motivation for Oliveira as he looks to defeat Max Holloway and stake an even stronger claim to lightweight supremacy.
DJ Turns Down Cejudo at RAF
Former two-division UFC champion and all-time pound-for-pound great Demetrious Johnson has turned down a Real American Freestyle wrestling matchup against Henry Cejudo. Cejudo, fresh off his tech fall win over Urijah Faber at RAF 06, had been calling out Johnson for a high-profile grappling showcase. DJ declined, and while no reason was given publicly, the decision keeps one of the most compelling potential grappling matchups on the shelf for now. The RAF circuit continues to attract big names from across combat sports, but landing the legendary “Mighty Mouse” remains elusive.
Sterling Explodes Over UFC Fighter Pay
Former UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling has unleashed a fierce public attack on the UFC over fighter pay, calling out the promotion’s spending on Zuffa Boxing while elite MMA athletes remain underpaid. Sterling’s comments come amid a wider discourse about fighter compensation that has intensified as the UFC continues to expand its commercial footprint through Paramount+ and Zuffa Boxing. With the promotion now boasting access to over 200 million potential subscribers following the Paramount-HBO Max merger announcement, Sterling argued there is no longer any excuse for fighters not receiving a fair share of revenue.
UFC 326 Weigh-In Day
Today is UFC 326 weigh-in day in Las Vegas. All eyes will be on Max Holloway and Charles Oliveira as both men tip the scales for their BMF title rematch. The card also features Greg Rodrigues vs. Brunno Ferreira 2 at middleweight, Raul Rosas Jr. looking to prove he belongs in the bantamweight top 15 against Rob Font, Drew Dober vs. Michael Johnson, and Cody Garbrandt vs. Xiao Long in the featured prelim. There is also a Caio Borralho vs. Reinier de Ridder middleweight contest on the main card. Henry Cejudo has backed Holloway to come through, while Oliveira’s own GOAT claims have made this a fight week to remember.
Final Predictions & What to Watch
Holloway enters as the slight favourite given his home advantage, elite volume striking, and legendary chin. But Oliveira’s submission game and heavy left hand make him dangerous at every moment. Holloway has revealed he is considering going for a submission himself — a remarkable statement that shows the lengths he is prepared to go to put on a show. Reinier de Ridder, who has been vocal about weight cutting reform during fight week, faces a stern test against the surging Caio Borralho. And Raul Rosas Jr., the youngest fighter ever to appear on a UFC main card when he debuted, will be desperate to prove he belongs among the elite as he looks to crack the top 15.
FAQs
Has Tom Aspinall left the UFC?
No. Aspinall remains under UFC fighting contract and is still recovering from double eye surgery. The Hearn deal is a commercial and advisory management arrangement, not a promotional deal with Matchroom Boxing. Aspinall will continue to compete in the UFC, but will now have Hearn and the Matchroom Talent Agency handling his business affairs and contract negotiations.
Is Charles Oliveira really a greater lightweight than Khabib Nurmagomedov?
The debate is entirely legitimate. Oliveira holds the record for most submissions and most finishes in UFC history, and went on a dominant title run. However, Khabib retired undefeated at 29-0 and never lost a round in the UFC. Both cases have genuine merit, and the conversation is exactly why fights like Saturday’s BMF title rematch matter so much for legacy.
What time are the UFC 326 weigh-ins and how can I watch?
UFC 326 official weigh-ins take place today, Friday March 6, 2026. The ceremonial weigh-ins and faceoffs are typically held the evening before the event and are streamed live on UFC’s YouTube channel and social platforms. The main event the following day, Saturday March 7, begins with early prelims at 5PM ET, with CBS simulcasting from 8PM ET and the full event live on Paramount+.
Could the Hearn–Aspinall deal cause problems with the UFC?
Potentially, yes. The UFC has a history of refusing to negotiate through certain managers, and given the public feud between Dana White and Eddie Hearn, the relationship between Aspinall and the promotion could become strained. Ariel Helwani flagged the risk immediately after the announcement. The situation bears parallels to the breakdown between White and Francis Ngannou, which cost Ngannou his UFC career. Aspinall and his team will be hoping for a more constructive outcome.
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