Jake Paul is prepared to let Dana White off the hook – with one situation.
Ever since Paul made the transition from YouTube influencer to skilled boxer, he has argued for higher fighter pay in each boxing and MMA, the latter of which has drawn the eye and ire of UFC CEO White. Paul and White have engaged in a public confrontation over the subject, with the feud changing into more and more private.
On his BS podcast, Paul laid out the circumstances underneath which he would again off from the dialog, together with his withdrawal contingent on White rising pay for the lesser identified fighters on the UFC roster.
“The one factor I’ve actually requested for is for the minimal fighter pay which is $12,500 to be modified to $50,000,” Paul mentioned. “In order that if fighters who should work a number of jobs, in the event that they combat every year even, they’d nonetheless have the ability to dwell off of that and if it was twice a 12 months, they’d make 100 grand, which is nice.
“However now, in the event that they’re combating every year, it’s $12,500, or twice a 12 months could be $25,000. In order that’s been my solely ask to Dana to vary, and that might solely value the UFC $20 million yearly. So it looks like you made three, 4 billion {dollars}, why not simply give slightly bit extra to the fighters? It’s solely $20 million. That’s been my largest factor. Make that change and I’ll shut the f*ck up.”
White’s identify got here up when visitor Steve-O claimed that he and White really watched Paul’s August 2023 bout towards former UFC star Nate Diaz collectively. That story would contradict White’s declare that he “stopped paying consideration” to Paul’s combating profession after “The Drawback Little one” misplaced to Tommy Fury seven months previous to the Diaz combat.
In Paul’s eyes, the one cause there’s beef between them in any respect is as a result of White doesn’t wish to hear what he has to say with regards to boosting fighter compensation.
“I might speak about all of the intricate particulars about this shit all day lengthy, however it’s undoubtedly after I began speaking about this, that’s when Dana White was like, ‘Jake Paul does steroids. Jake Paul’s fights are rigged. Jake Paul this, Jake Paul that,’” Paul mentioned. “So he’s the one which began all the private rumors. ‘Jake Paul doesn’t promote. Jake Paul gained’t combat Anderson Silva.’
“He’s been the largest voice of oppression to me as a result of I’m the one one, actually in the entire complete combat enterprise, who can speak again to him. There’s most likely 4 individuals who can, however I’m the one one who has the balls to do it.”
Longtime MMA veteran Josh Barnett mentioned his points with Paul’s plan on X.
Simply goes to point out you could be given a mic however that does not imply you realize what you are speaking about.
There’s ZERO issues with “minimal pay” within the UFC.
-Contract construction and clauses? You’ve got received an argument there.
-Pay and Incentives for essential occasion and people whose IP is… https://t.co/pY5SwMuYDy— (@JoshLBarnett) September 20, 2024
Simply goes to point out you could be given a mic however that doesn’t imply you realize what you’re speaking about.
There’s ZERO issues with “minimal pay” within the UFC.
-Contract construction and clauses? You’ve received an argument there.
-Pay and Incentives for essential occasion and people whose IP is used to advertise the combat? 100%
-Pay for the decrease and mid tier fighters? Nope. As themselves, they normally value the UFC greater than they carry in.