Sonnen Says White-Hearn Feud Hotter Than Fury-Joshua

Chael Sonnen thinks the promotional war between Dana White and Eddie Hearn has eclipsed the December 11 heavyweight clash they are supposedly marketing together.

The UFC analyst told listeners of his You're Welcome podcast that the dispute over White's role in Tyson Fury vs. Anthony Joshua has captured more attention than the fight card itself, at least stateside. "The much more clicks, the much more views, the much more requests for interviews is for the fight between Dana White and Eddie Hearn," Sonnen said, per MMA Fighting.

🎟️ Get tickets: Buy tickets to Dana White's Contender Series, Season 10, Week 8 on Ticketmaster →

White and Hearn Cannot Agree on Promotional Roles

White insists he is promoting the Cardiff bout in an official capacity alongside Saudi backer Turki Alalshikh. Hearn maintains the UFC CEO has no contractual involvement and cannot appear on stage, in press releases, or at media events tied to the December card. Hearn has cited specific contract language that he says names White, Zuffa Boxing, and TKO as excluded parties.

Sonnen questioned whether the back-and-forth is orchestrated to drive headlines but stopped short of accusing either man of dishonesty. He noted that White, as CEO of a publicly traded entity, has legal obligations that constrain what he can say publicly, while Hearn has been more explicit about the terms he claims are in writing. "I don't believe either side is lying," Sonnen said.

🎟️ Get tickets: Buy tickets to Dana White's Contender Series, Season 10, Week 8 on Ticketmaster →

The former middleweight contender suggested Netflix may eventually have to weigh in if the dispute continues, though he predicted any corporate arbiter would side with White for "purely social reasons." For now, Sonnen advised fans to treat the feud as entertainment before it fades. "Enjoy the battle. It's going to be gone soon."

Fury and Joshua meet at Principality Stadium on December 11, with both camps now deep in training camp.

Reported via:

• MMA Fighting — Chael Sonnen: Dana White vs. Eddie Hearn feud ‘much hotter’ than Tyson Fury vs. Anthony Joshua