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

Chael Sonnen believes the public feud between UFC president Dana White and boxing promoter Eddie Hearn has become more compelling than the Tyson Fury versus Anthony Joshua heavyweight title fight they are both promoting. The conflict centers on White's involvement with the December 11 Cardiff bout, which is being financed partly by Saudi businessman Turki Alalshikh.

Hearn has insisted White has no official role in Fury-Joshua and claims contractual language explicitly bars White's participation. White has countered that he is actively promoting the fight. On his You're Welcome podcast, Sonnen questioned whether the feud is genuine or orchestrated to generate media attention for the boxing event. "Is Eddie working?" Sonnen asked, speculating that Hearn might be creating conflict deliberately to capture headlines and boost viewership for Joshua and Fury.

Sonnen acknowledged that in North America, the White-Hearn clash generates far more clicks, views, and interview requests than the heavyweight fight itself. He suggested the addition of Netflix to the equation could elevate the drama further. However, Sonnen argued he does not believe either man is lying; instead, their conflicting positions reflect different truths shaped by contractual obligations and regulatory constraints. White, as UFC CEO and TKO executive, faces stricter disclosure rules than Hearn.

Ultimately, Sonnen predicted Netflix may serve as the arbiter of who is correct, but he advised enjoying the spectacle rather than worrying about the outcome. "The feud between Eddie and Dana is much hotter than the suggested match that we here greatly wanted to see 14 years ago," Sonnen said, urging fans to appreciate the entertainment value while it lasts.