Highlights
- Jake Paul and Dana White’s feud started over allegations of fake PPV buys and an illegal $1 million bet.
- The feud escalated with Paul accusing White of cocaine use, leading to a diss track music video from Paul.
- Jake Paul’s move to MMA with the PFL might intensify the rivalry with Dana White, who isn’t a fan of his matchups.
Jake Paul and Dana White have gone at it in recent years, with fans wondering how everything all began.
Jake Paul’s Transition To MMA, Explained
Jake Paul has envisioned a career as an MMA fighter and has already signed to the PFL.
Many know White as the UFC’s boss, who isn’t afraid to speak his mind. And Paul is a YouTuber turned boxer who has fascinated social media and the combat sports community. Both are entertainers who have collided in a big feud.
How Dana White And Jake Paul’s Feud Started
White Claims Paul Lies About PPV Buys
- White fired back at Paul after he said he sold 1.5 million PPV buys from his fight with Askren.
- The Youtuber turned boxer responded by accusing White of losing a $1 million bet.
Things appeared to have commenced after Jake Paul fought Ben Askren, a former UFC Welterweight contender, in a professional boxing match. The 27-year-old knocked out Askren with an overhand right in the first round.
White claimed Paul and Triller Fight Club lied about the pay-per-view buys, which came out to 1.5 million, according to the YouTuber turned boxer.
“There is a market for that. 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,” White said, via CBS Sports.
Jorge Masvidal Unleashes Scathing Assault on Jake Paul, Reveals UFC’s Stance On Working With Him
Jorge Masvidal puts Jake Paul on blast and explains why Dana White and other UFC executives won’t work with him.
He added while comparing it to UFC 261, “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.”
But Paul fired back on Twitter, now known as X, and accused White of making a $1 million bet on him losing to Askren and slammed him for fighter pay in the UFC.
White denied the accusations that he made an illegal bet and said he did not owe Snoop Dog money. When it comes to fighter pay, White has insisted publicly that UFC combatants get paid what they are supposed to. However, according to multiple reports, the company pays fighters only between 17-20 percent of the revenue share. Meanwhile, other major sports leagues, including the MLB, NHL, and NBA give their athletes around 50 percent.
Other Entertaining Moments Between Paul And White
Cocaine Versus Steroid Claims
- Paul dropped a Dana White diss track.
- White isn’t a fan of the Tyson and Paul boxing match.
- The feud between the two will likely intensify once Paul fights for the first time in the PFL.
But the feud between the two hasn’t stopped there. Paul then went on to repeatedly accuse White of being a cocaine addict. In response, the 57-year-old UFC President hit the social media influencer with a challenge. He would agree to get tested for cocaine for the next 10 years in exchange for Paul getting randomly tested for steroids over the next couple of years.
The challenge never went anywhere – but Paul dropped a diss track music video in January 2022, where he used satire to slam UFC pay, poor treatment of fighters, and White’s alleged cocaine use. The video features Paul rapping “*f**k Dana White” and a cameo of Cris Cyborg, a former UFC champion, who has tested positive for banned substances.
More recently, it was announced that Jake Paul was set to fight boxing legend Mike Tyson this summer. And let’s just say White isn’t a fan of the matchup.
“There will be a 31-year age difference between these two. Jake Paul did fight a kid his age [Tommy Fury] and he lost,” the Connecticut native told the Pound 4 Pound podcast.
“I just saw this thing on the Internet yesterday, I reposted it where it says if he beats Mike Tyson, he’s going to fight Clint Eastwood next. Clint Eastwood’s 93 years old.” What Jake wants, is Jake wants to make money. The people who follow Jake Paul don’t buy Jake Paul’s fights. So Jake Paul has to fight people who can actually sell pay-per-views.”
Dana White’s UFC 300’s Bonuses Show Just How Bad The Fighters Have It
Dana White has promised that four fighters at UFC 300 will be getting $300 000 bonuses. But this just shows how sad the state of fighter pay is.
But after the Tyson fight, it sounds like Paul will enter the MMA space and could intensify the rivalry with White. Paul has signed a multi-fight contract with the PFL to compete in the league’s new PPV Super Fight Division, which will offer fighters 50 percent of the revenue from the events.
Paul’s first fight is expected to take place by the end of the year. While the opponent is unknown as of now, Donn Davis, chairman and founder of the MMA league said that he had offered former UFC star Nate Diaz up to $15 million to fight Paul.
Once Paul’s first opponent becomes official, it will be interesting to see what White weighs in with. But the feud isn’t over between the two, and it will likely continue as Paul looks to steer fighters away from the UFC.
