Jake Paul fires back at 'real douche' Dana White over UFC fighter pay
Editor’s note: This article was originally published on DAZN.com.
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During his media session following UFC 261, UFC president Dana White was asked about Jake Paul being at the event and if there would be any interest in bringing him over to the UFC. White gave him a backhanded compliment before ripping into him and Triller Fight Club, the promotion under which Paul fought when he knocked out former UFC star Ben Askren on April 17.
“There is a market for that,” White said. “That is not what I do. That’s not what I do. People want to see that, and it’s great, and this kid’s going to make a couple bucks before this ride is over. It’s just not what I do.
“What I do is what happened tonight. What happened tonight is, we sold this place out, and it was packed, and the numbers that you’re hearing [Triller] did – they’re full of s—. They’re full of s—. OK?
“They didn’t pull those kind of numbers at all – not even f—ing close. What happened here tonight is what I do: The best vs. the best.”
It didn’t take long for the social media star-turned-boxer to hear White’s comments.
. @danawhite pic.twitter.com/SI48eGkoaO
— Jake Paul (@jakepaul) April 25, 2021
Paul took to Twitter on Sunday afternoon and fired back at White. He ripped White over fighter pay in the UFC, which is typically lower than that which top boxers make.
Paul said that if White truly wants to make fights involving the best vs. the best, then he should make Francis Ngannou vs. Jon Jones for the heavyweight championship. Jones and White reignited their feud this week as the latter claimed the former asked for $30 million to face Ngannou. Jones vehemently denied he asked for that much money.
Paul said: “Dana you claimed you would bet $1 million on me losing. Set up Askren to train with Freddie Roach … gave him full access to UFCPI … and he still got his ass handed to him. Seems like you are the real douche … not Ariel [Helwani].
“In my third fight I made more in total pay than any fighter in UFC history. Maybe it’s time to pay your fighters their fair share? No wonder they all want to get into boxing.
“Dana, you say you make the fights fans want to see … so hurry up and make Jones vs. N’gannou. Pay them their fair share … $10 million purse for each guy, plus PPV. Why are UFC fighters so underpaid vs. boxers?
“Why did I make more in my third fight than all but two, Khabib [Nurmagomedov] and Conor [McGregor]) UFC fighters have in history? I know why …”
Paul, who made $690,000 plus a percentage of the pay-per-view, caused a commotion when he entered the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Fla. to attend UFC 261. The crowd let him know right away they didn’t want him there as he was showered with boos throughout the Randy Brown vs. Alex Oliveira and Anthony Smith-Jimmy Crute fights.