‘Make That Change And I’ll Shut The F*ck Up’
Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images
Jake Paul isn’t staying quiet about Ultimate Fighting Championship’s (UFC) fighter pay.
Fighter pay will forever be an ongoing issue. Whether you agree with it or are against it, someone will speak up. Since arriving in combat sports as a boxer, Paul (10-1) has notably gone after UFC and its CEO, Dana White, requesting they increase to higher margins.
Once the change is made, if it ever is, Paul will be happy.
“The only thing I’ve really asked for is for the minimum fighter pay, which is $12,500, to be changed to $50,000,” Paul said on BS w/ Jake Paul. “So that fighters who have to work multiple jobs, if they fight once a year even, they would still be able to live off of that. If they were twice a year, they would make $100,000, which is great.
“Now, if they’re fighting once a year, it’s like $12,500 or twice a year would be $25,000,” he continued. “That’s been my only ask to Dana to change and that would only cost the UFC $20 million annually. So, it seems like, ‘Oh, you made $3-$4 billion why not just give a little bit more to the fighters? It’s only $20 million.’ That’s been my biggest thing. Make that change and I’ll shut the f*ck up.”
Aside from his boxing career, Paul has joined forces with Professional Fighters League (PFL) as a spokesperson and mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter if he ever leaps into the cage. While the promotion is optimistic that we’re getting closer to seeing that idea become a reality, there’s been no indication from Paul, who will box Mike Tyson on Nov. 15, 2024.
Ultimately, Paul believes he’s the only one willing to push White towards making the change.
“When I started talking about this, that’s when Dana White was like, ‘Oh, Jake Paul does steroids, Jake Paul’s fights are rigged, Jake Paul this, Jake Paul that,’” Paul said. “So, he’s the one that started all the personal rumors. Jake Paul doesn’t sell, Jake Paul won’t fight Anderson Silva. He’s been the biggest voice of oppression to me because I’m the only one literally in the whole entire fight business who can talk back to who him — there’s probably four people who can. I’m the only one who has the balls to do it.”
