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Tag: Jake Paul

  • Claressa Shields Revisits Then Drops Jake Paul Beef While Giving Him Credit

    Olympic gold medalist Claressa Shields spoke on conflict with Jake Paul and seemed willing to drop their beef.

    Since 2016, Claressa “T. Rex” Shields has dominated women’s boxing. She is the first American boxer to win consecutive Olympic medals and has won multiple world championships in three separate weight classes.

    Claressa Shields
    Claressa Shields, Photo Credit:  STEPHANIE TRAPP/ TRAPPFOTOS/ SHOWTIME

    12-0 in her professional boxing career, Claressa Shields is easily a revered champion. And in 2021, the superstar made a switch to mixed martial arts.

    She won her MMA debut against Brittney Elkin by TKO at PFL 4 last June. However, later in the year, Shields lost via split decision against Abigail Montes, and immediately following that loss, Jake Paul had a few choice words.

    “The only beef I have with Jake Paul is don’t ever disrespect me, you know what I’m sayin’? Like, he tried to kick me when I was down and also going into a new sport,” Shields said in an interview with TMZ Sports. “I lost a split decision. I didn’t get submitted, I didn’t get knocked out, I didn’t get beat up, it was a split. And I’m also brand new at MMA. And when he made that comment, calling me a loser and stuff, that’s what really made me want to fight him.

    “And then it’s like, you can’t call me a loser because you don’t box better than me and you damn sure don’t do MMA better than me. You don’t do nothing better than me. That’s it. To kick somebody while they’re down but never give them their props when they’re up, that was kinda wack to me and that’s why I didn’t have no respect for him,” Shields explains on TMZ Sports.

    But their beef between them did not start there. Claressa Shields claims undefeated Jake Paul would be an easy opponent for her and requested a sparring match. She later threatened to sue Paul and his team for claiming that she had requested to be on Paul’s undercard.

    Claressa Shields & Jake Pau Squash Beef

    On January 7, Paul took to Twitter to squash their disagreement.

    “Let’s put this behind us and work together to continue to build women’s boxing,” Paul tweeted.

    Recently, Jake Paul helped promote a highly anticipated boxing match between undisputed champions Amanda Serrano and Katie Taylor, which Shields expressed an appreciation for and thus met Paul halfway in his olive-branch extension.

    “But now, I just wish him the best,” Shields said. “I wish him the best. If he ever wanna spar, it’s always up in the air. It’s always an option. Because I do owe him a couple blows,” Shields said half-jokingly. “But other than that, I think what he’s doing for Amanda is great. I think him getting involved in helping the fight with Katie Taylor getting made is great for Amanda, and Katie, and it’s great for women’s boxing. So I appreciate him for that,” Shields continued.

    Considering women’s boxing is a high priority for both athletes, perhaps their quarrel can now be swept under the rug.

    Do you think this is the end of the Claressa Shields and Jake Paul beef?

  • Al Iaquinta Doubts Jake Paul’s Sincerity On Fighter Pay

    Al Iaquinta has doubts about Jake Paul’s intentions regarding fighter pay.

    The topic of fighter pay has become a hot-button issue lately among fighters and media. Jake Paul is one man who is leading the way to help improve the pay structure with MMA. He has been vocal about wanting the UFC to pay their fighters more money and has targeted UFC President Dana White in this battle. However, some people are having doubts about Paul’s true intentions in this fight, including Al Iaquinta.

    Al Iaquinta
    Image Credit: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

    Paul has blown up in the boxing world over the last few years. He has made his way by fighting former UFC fighters such as Ben Askren and Tyron Woodley. In these bouts, the former UFC fighters are reported to have made much more than they did in their time with the MMA organization.

    This led Paul on his crusade against the UFC and White. He even released a “diss track” criticizing White and his low payment of fighters. Iaquinta feels that Paul’s whole charade is for self-promotion rather than helping the fighters in need.

    “I don’t know how sincere it is or not, but I don’t think it can be that sincere because it hasn’t really affected him,” Iaquinta said to MMA Fighting. “If it had affected him then it would be super sincere, see I think it works for him as he’s getting promotion out of it. That video got a lot of views. I think he’s young, smart, wealthy, and he’s not bound to anything. He’s gonna be successful.”

    Iaquinta was on a similar mission as Paul. He was one of the first UFC fighters to begin complaining about the payments in the UFC. Iaquinta was a perennial top ten fighter throughout most of his career. His shining moment was perhaps his UFC 223 title shot against Khabib Nurmagomedov. He later sat out two years due to contract negotiations problems and wanting more money.

    Iaquinta, who is also a licensed real estate agent along with being a fighter, once claimed that he would quit fighting and just sell houses if he was not paid well. It is claims such as this one that have led Paul to step in.

    Paul recently bought shares of the UFC’s parent company Endeavor in an effort to bring about change. It is unlikely that his purchase will give him and say in this kind of decision-making, but that is not stopping him from trying. As for Iaquinta, his last bout could have been his last and thus may not be affected by Paul’s change or lack thereof.

    Do you believe that Jake Paul is actually trying to raise fighter pay in MMA?

  • Jon Anik Explains Why CM Punk Was More UFC Likely Than Jake Paul Is

    UFC commentator Jon Anik has serious doubts regarding Jake Paul’s aspirations of fighting in the UFC.

    Paul is coming off of an eventful 2021 in which he continued his undefeated boxing career. He earned back-to-back wins over former UFC champion Tyron Woodley after knocking out former welterweight Ben Askren in a matter of seconds.

    Paul has recently alluded to transitioning to MMA at some point in time and more specifically fighting in the UFC. He’s challenged UFC President Dana White to sign him to a one-fight deal if White agrees to make changes to fighter pay and other components of the promotion.

    But Anik isn’t so sure that Paul is serious in his alleged desire to fight on MMA’s biggest platform. During a recent interview with DAZN, Anik compared Paul’s aim to fight in the UFC to that of professional wrestler and former UFC fighter CM Punk.

    “I just don’t think that he wants to scratch that competitive itch,” Anik said of Paul. “I think he is legitimately passionate about boxing. CM Punk, for lack of a better example, he needed to scratch that itch. It didn’t go the way he wanted it to. It didn’t go the way he thought it would. But he needed that for his own peace of mind. I think Jake Paul needed that in boxing.

    Jake Paul
    Jake Paul, Image Credit: RYAN HATTAWAY

    “But Jake Paul’s not going to have a better retirement or enjoy any part of his life by scratching that MMA itch. I don’t think that he wants to devote his training life the way he’d need to become a mixed martial arts athlete. I don’t think we see Jake Paul in the UFC. But if we do, hopefully, the matchmaking is done in an appropriate way.”

    Paul has shared footage of him practicing leg kicks in preparation for a potential move to MMA and has received interest in fighting for Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Eagle FC promotion, among others.

    Punk, otherwise known as Phil Brooks, fought for the UFC in 2016 and 2018. White and the UFC brass gave him an opportunity to compete in the promotion despite little MMA experience, losing to Mickey Gall at UFC 203 and a no-contest against Mike Jackson at UFC 225.

    Punk has returned to professional wrestling via AEW and remains a commentator for Cage Fury Fighting Championships. As for Paul, he remains at odds with White and the UFC as he works his way back to a boxing return later this year.

    Do you think Jake Paul will ever fight in the UFC?

  • Jake Paul Provides Clarity Surrounding Possible MMA Move

    Jake Paul won’t be making the transition from boxing to MMA anytime soon after clearing the air in a recent interview.

    Paul is coming off of an eventful 2021 in which he proved to be one of boxing’s biggest names. He won back-to-back fights over former UFC champion Tyron Woodley while also earning a quick knockout over former UFC fighter Ben Askren.

    Paul has hinted at moving to MMA at some point, as evidenced by a recent video he posted on social media showing him practicing leg kicks. He has claimed to be in contact with American Kickboxing Academy to eventually train there, but AKA coach Javier Mendez has denied it.

    During a recent interview with Fox Business, Paul clarified if and when he’ll make the move to the cage from the ring.

    “I won’t be doing MMA anytime soon,” Paul said. “But eventually, I think I could see myself doing a fight because I have a wrestling background. So if just learn how to do some kicks, Jiu-Jitsu, rear-naked chokes, then I could be doing some damage in there.” (h/t EssentiallySports)

    Paul has recently called out some of the UFC’s biggest stars for fights in the boxing ring. This includes Nate Diaz, Jorge Masvidal, and Conor McGregor.

    Paul has also been in an ongoing feud with UFC President Dana White for months regarding how UFC fighters are treated and, more specifically, the issue of fighter pay. He has been vocal in his desire to enact change in how the roster is compensated for their efforts in and out of the Octagon.

    The Paul-White feud took a drastic turn when the two sides accused the other of using drugs. White accused Paul of using steroids while Paul alleged that White has a problem with cocaine use.

    It’s unclear when Paul will eventually move to MMA full-time, but it appears he has some unfinished business to take care of in boxing. He’s anticipating a return to the ring later this year, potentially against Julio César Chávez Jr.

    How do you think Paul would do in MMA?

  • Paulie Malignaggi Makes His Pitch For Being Jake Paul’s Next Opponent

    Paulie Malignaggi is all for being Jake Paul’s next opponent.

    Jake Paul is currently 5-0 in his professional boxing career. He has been taking it nice and easy thus far with his opponent selection, only fighting a fellow YouTuber, a retired NBA player, and a pair of MMA fighters with zero pro boxing experience.

    Many fans and sports pundits have called on Paul to begin testing himself against professional boxers. However, as Paul himself has pointed out, he did attempt to do that against Tommy Fury last December fell apart through no fault of his own. Furthermore, recent interest in fights against Julio César Chávez Jr. and even Anderson Silva, who holds a victory over Chávez, have also demonstrated an openness from Paul to make that leap upwards in competition.

    Now, a new name has entered the Jake Paul sweepstakes, and it is someone who the MMA community is very familiar with: former WBA welterweight champion Paulie Malignaggi.

    Paulie Malignaggi | Bleacher Report | Latest News, Videos and Highlights
    Paulie Malignaggi

    Of course, while Paul usually jousts with MMA fighters in trash talk on social media, Malignaggi’s internet headbutting is known more for being with MMA fans.

    This began after Malignaggi went back and forth with fans over leaked sparring footage between him and McGregor in 2017, with Malignaggi disputing whether or not he was dropped and continuing to brand McGregor fans as “groupies.”

    Malignaggi once even took a moment to thank MMA fans for their “stupidity” in thinking that his bare-knuckle boxing match with Artem Lobov would be competitive so that he could profit off of the lopsided contest. Lobov would go on to win that fight via decision.

    Since the loss to Lobov, Malignaggi has not competed in any other professional combat sports competition. But as he thought aloud about what attributes and characteristics would be required of Paul’s next opponent, he ultimately landed on himself as the most logical conclusion.

    “If he’s gonna fight a real boxer, I think it’s gonna be an older guy, obviously, as they all have been a little older,” Malignaggi began on his YouTube channel. “Despite the non-boxers he fought, they’ve all been a little bit older. But he needs to fight a guy with some notoriety. It can’t just be an older guy who nobody’s ever heard of, right? So he’s always fought smaller guys, so the boxer would definitely have to be smaller if the other guys that he’s fought have been smaller, right?

    “So a little bit older, a little bit smaller…you don’t want him to be too big of a puncher. Because let’s face it. Paul is the star here. You wanna make sure you groom the star the right way in fights where he’s at risk but he’s gonna be able to win the fight.

    Jake Paul
    Getty Images

    “So we’ve got a little bit older, a little bit smaller, gonna hit him so maybe not the biggest puncher, uhh…Paulie Malignaggi,” Malignaggi concluded with a dramatic pause while briefly staring into the camera.

    Malignaggi is 41 years old. His most recent professional boxing match was in a 2017 KO loss to Sam Eggington. On the other side, Jake Paul is only 25, and he was on the giving end of a KO in his most recent bout, which took place last December against Tyron Woodley.

    Last year, Malignaggi was critical of Ben Askren for his showing against Paul, stating that Askren fought with a lack of self-worth. Should he be selected as Paul’s next opponent, perhaps “The Magic Man” can show Askren and Paul’s other three victims how it’s done.

    Would you be interested in watching a boxing match between Jake Paul & Paulie Malignaggi?

  • Jake Paul Changes Tone On Potential Anderson Silva Fight

    Jake Paul has pivoted from his previously ambivalent stance towards a potential boxing match against UFC legend Anderson Silva.

    Paul is coming off of back-to-back wins over former UFC champion Tyron Woodley in 2021 preceded by a first-round knockout of former UFC fighter Ben Askren. He’s aiming at another eventful year in the ring in 2022 with a return expected sometime later this year.

    Speculation has run rampant regarding who Paul could face for his next ring appearance. Paul has previously downplayed the idea of facing Silva in the ring, citing Silva being in the later stages of his combat sports career.

    His position on a fight with Silva has changed in recent days. During an interview on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani, Paul was asked whether or not he would consider a fight against Silva for his next boxing challenge.

    “Yes, definitely,” Paul said. “Definitely. I would love that fight.”

    Paul went on to detail how Silva was an inspiration for him growing up, and even got to meet him early in his childhood.

    “And interesting story, I think he was the first celebrity I ever saw. So right when MMA was blowing up, my dad was a super big fan and we went to this local MMA event. And they must have paid Anderson Silva to come because it was like in Ohio, so I don’t know why he would have been there.

    Getty Images

    “But I actually asked for his autograph. And we took a picture with him…I’m maybe like 12 years old. But I think he was the first celebrity that I met. So it would be fun to bring it back full circle and fight someone who was, I guess, one of my first idols.”

    Paul has also reportedly hinted at a potential matchup with one of Silva’s recent boxing opponents, Julio César Chávez. After defeating Chavez Jr. in a back-and-forth war, Silva knocked out fellow UFC alumni Tito Ortiz last year.

    Silva had also previously been rumored to fight Jake’s brother Logan in the ring. However, nothing ever materialized from those alleged talks.

    It’s unclear who Paul will face next in his boxing tenure, but Silva appears to be a potential option moving forward.

    Would you be interested in a Jake Paul vs. Anderson Silva boxing match?

  • Khabib Responds To Jake Paul’s Challenge: “Come On”

    Khabib Nurmagomedov isn’t taking Jake Paul’s challenge all that seriously.

    Former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov knows a trolljob when he hears one. When the Dagestani caught wind that Paul was teasing making a crossover into MMA, he offered to make his Eagle FC promotion the YouTuber’s MMA home. Paul then came back with the following counteroffer:

    “Deal,” Paul said. “Only if I fight you first.”

    Jake Paul has said in the past that Khabib is the only fighter that he would never troll and that if he ever did call him out, it would be respectful. So maybe this isn’t a trolljob after all but rather the respectful callout he prophesized last fall.

    When appearing on The Full Send Podcast, Khabib was asked to respond to Paul’s proposal. During his young career as an MMA promoter, the Dagestani has proven that he is fully committed to doing whatever it takes to grow the Eagle FC brand. But unretiring in order to fight an 0-0 Jake Paul is not a sacrifice this dedicated boss is willing to make.

    And Khabib believes that the former Disney actor is very fortunate that is the case.

    “Come on. Come on, Jake Paul. I don’t think so. In MMA, like couple minutes,” Khabib said of a potential bout between the two athletes.

    Khabib may be willing to give Paul an opportunity to gain experience in Eagle FC, but from the little bit of footage he’s seen, a competition between the two of them isn’t worthy of any serious deliberation.

    “He late a little bit. ’Cause I’m finished,” Khabib said. “Of course, they can think about this. I watched his—it was sparring or I watch some video (of him) doing MMA with someone. He have to learn a lot.”

    Khabib may be referring to a video Paul released of him training leg kicks. He may also be referring to a dated video of the YouTuber getting submitted by Bellator’s AJ Agazarm in 2017. Either way, the undefeated grappler thinks Paul would be better served fighting a more handpicked opponent that is more suitable for a beginner.

    “If he want, we can give him chance,” Khabib said. “We can sign him, and we can pay him. And we’ll see.”

    Would you have any interest in watching Khabib maul—I mean fight Jake Paul?

  • Paul To Critics Who Doubt His Sincerity On Fighter Pay: “You’ll See”

    Jake Paul says he is genuine in his quest to improve fighter pay, despite what some think.

    Jake Paul is on a mission in trying to get other fighters more money. Since Paul jumped onto the boxing scene, he has been making headlines and money. He is already one of the most successful boxers in the world and wants to use his success to help out other fighters. He is often vocal about this cause, but that doesn’t stop others from doubting him.

    Paul spoke recently with MMA Fighting about his desire to help and to address those doubters who believe he is not actually trying to make a change.

    “You’ll see. Because I’m not letting off the gas anytime soon and I’ve spent a bunch of my own money on this matter and pushing for these things, and I wake up every day with it as a purpose on my mind,” Paul explained. “And I think I’ve done more than enough to show for women’s boxing, fighter pay, quality fighters, boxing promoters, I’ve done more than enough in terms of actions.

    “And even my cards previously, almost every fighter that’s been on it it’s their highest payday, always. So I’ve gotten Tyron Woodley his highest payday, Ben Askren his highest payday. So these fighters who are always mistreated—I’m taking action, and I’m backing it up, and I’m not letting up anytime soon, and I actually care. I actually give a fuck.”

    Paul has announced that he is already in talks with a lawyer about setting up a fighters union. His bouts against former UFC fighters Askren and Woodley did fetch them a giant payday, more than they received as UFC fighters. He has taken this as a personal mission, in which he has been targeting UFC president Dana White. Paul has been urging White to up paying for his fighters and even bought stock in the UFC’s parent company to try to insight change.

    “And it’s nothing to me. I like this. I enjoy this. I feel the responsibility to be a part of this movement, and it’s getting traction. And that’s exactly what I wanted. I’m excited to continue to be one of the leaders of this conversation. So for people that don’t think I’m serious about it: you’ll see.”

    Paul is helping to promote the upcoming boing match featuring Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano. In this bout, Paul claims that each fighter will be making one million dollars. If Paul’s words begin to turn to actions, he will be helping grow both the sport of boxing, for men and women and the sport of MMA. Only time will tell if he can get this all done.

    Do you think Jake Paul can help improve fighter pay in MMA and boxing?

  • Jake Paul Claims Big UFC Stars Have Reached Out About Diss Track

    YouTuber turned boxer Jake Paul claims he has the support of some UFC fighters regarding his recent diss track aimed at UFC President Dana White.

    Paul continues to poke the bear when it comes to White and the issue of UFC fighter pay. He recently released a diss track aimed at the UFC headman regarding his treatment of the athletes.

    The Paul-White feud has become more intense in recent months, especially after the two of them challenged the other to voluntarily drug tests. Neither one went forward with the deal.

    During a recent interview on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani, Paul claimed that several anonymous UFC athletes have reached out to him following the diss track upload.

    “There are a lot of fighters, a lot of big fighters in the UFC who message me privately and say, ‘We love this. This is hilarious. Keep on going. But I can’t support this publicly,’” Paul said.

    Paul went on to address his reasoning behind his public criticism of the UFC brass and whether or not he gets bummed out when hearing these fighters are unable to be more vocal about their support for him.

    “No, they have to put food on their family’s table. And like I said earlier, I happen to have a platform to be able to do this. So I accept the responsibility, and I’m going to do it. I’ve made that decision. I’m going to war, and I’m not backing down no matter what happens. And I don’t need the fighters in the UFC to support this,” Paul said.

    Paul and his management are taking the fight directly to White and the UFC and have teased plans to create a potential fighter union in the future. This could potentially turn the tide and bring the controversy of fighter pay to the forefront.

    Paul is coming off of the most successful year of his boxing career to date, with wins over former UFC fighters Tyron Woodley and Ben Askren. While Paul remains a massive part of boxing, he says he isn’t giving up in his fight for the fair treatment of MMA fighters.

    Where do you stand on the Jake Paul-Dana White feud?

  • Shields Clarifies Leaked Email About Appearing On Paul’s Undercard

    Claressa Shields has opened up on her recent comments about never wanting to appear on a Jake Paul undercard.

    Shields and Paul have taken shots at one another ever since “The Problem Child” entered boxing. She also criticized any boxer for appearing on his undercard. But recently, it was revealed through a report in USA Today Sports that Shields’ representatives reached out to see if she can be on the same card as Mike Tyson vs. Roy Jones Jr., and Jake Paul vs. Nate Robinson.

    “First of all, this isn’t about Jake Paul, this is about Claressa Shields and Ema Kozin,” she explained at a press conference to promote her fight (via Mirror). “As it was said, I don’t email about this stuff – I have a manager and I have a promoter, their job is to make opportunities for me. What you need to know is I was supposed to be on a Mike Tyson and Roy Jones undercard, not ever under Jake Paul – let’s get that clear. I don’t know what the emails said, and I really don’t care, but we’re not going to talk about that and give him the shine of this press conference.”

    Jake Paul, Claressa Shields
    Jake Paul, Claressa Shields (Image Credits: Mike Ehrmann/Alex Livesey/Getty Images)

    Shields does make a good point that Tyson-Jones Jr. was the main event so she wouldn’t have been on a Jake Paul undercard as Paul’s management claimed, even though Paul was on the card. Shields even threatened to sue Paul’s management for suggesting she requested to be on a Jake Paul card.

    Claressa Shields later added that she was done talking about the subject and is only focusing on her title fight and remaining undefeated in boxing.

    “This is about me, this is about Ema, this is about world titles, this is about elite boxers,” Shields later added. “I’m just going to leave that there. Dmitry [her promoter, who was on the call] doesn’t even need to speak on it, managers do their job, promoters do their job and fighters train to get ready for our fights.”

    What do you make of these new comments from Claressa Shields?

  • Jake Paul Shares How Tommy Fury Could Get Fight Rebooked

    YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul has revealed what it would take for him to agree to a rescheduled boxing match with professional pugilist Tommy Fury.

    From fighting fellow YouTuber AnEsonGib to challenging a former UFC champion, Paul’s venture into the combat sports realm has certainly picked up in recent months, both in terms of prominence and competition.

    In his third professional fight last April, “The Problem Child” knocked out former ONE and Bellator welterweight titleholder Ben Askren. In another step-up four months later, Paul defeated former 170-pound UFC king Tyron Woodley on the scorecards.

    With two victories over MMA fighters, Paul’s next test was set to see him stand face-to-face with a pro boxer for the first time. That collapsed when his scheduled December foe, the younger half-brother of heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, withdrew due to injury.

    In his place on short notice stepped in Woodley. While “The Chosen One” targeted redemption and revenge, he was instead left with a second consecutive loss to Paul and, courtesy of a brutal right hand, likely a headache…

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CXp11JYOGY4/

    Paul Reveals The Fury Fight Isn’t Dead In The Water Just Yet

    Since extending his record in the ring to 5-0, talk has turned to who could be the next man attempting to get rid of Jake Paul’s 0. One man who has consistently held his hand aloft is Tommy Fury.

    When he pulled out of their December fight, “TNT” made it clear he wanted the bout re-arranged. That sentiment has continued into 2022, with Fury suggesting Paul can’t be serious about the sport if he doesn’t agree to reschedule their fight.

    But while Paul has previously appeared to hold no interest in re-booking his meeting in the squared circle with the Manchester native, he has now sprinkled some hope onto the matchup.

    During a recent appearance on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani, Paul suggested he’d be down to face Fury if he fights and defeats former opponent Woodley first.

    “I sort of want him to fight Tyron Woodley and see what happens there,” said Paul. “Because I think Tyron would knock Tommy out. And so I almost wanna have them fight. Because Tommy, people only know him because of me. And so I want him to like, go get some of your own fans, or clout, or go do some other thing, and then maybe we could run it back after that.”

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CXJ1ZUHDvHM/

    With many, including former two-division UFC title challenger Chael Sonnen, suggesting the same match as Paul, it appears Fury’s path back to “The Problem Child” will have to go through Woodley.

    Given his aspirations to climb the boxing ranks and become a champion, it remains to be seen if Fury will choose to delay those ambitions for two fights against a former UFC titleholder and a YouTuber-turned-boxer.

    How do you think a boxing match between Tyron Woodley and Tommy Fury would play out?

  • Jake Paul Believes Silent Dana White Has “Learned His Lesson”

    Jake Paul believes Dana White’s non-response to his diss track released last week had nothing to do with the cease-fire the UFC President recently declared.

    Jake Paul vs. Dana White beef? That’s so 2021. At least that’s what Dana White pretty much said last month when he vowed never to speak of Paul again. But ever since White laid down his verbal weapons, Paul has only reloaded in his continued onslaught of White and his business practices.

    The kill shot from the YouTuber came last week with the release of a Dana White diss track, which featured Paul raising the usual themes of UFC fighter pay, their absence of healthcare, and what he deems to be the promotion’s unethical business practices as depicted by a spoofed version of White.

    Despite the sheer vitriol found in the video—not to mention recent talk of firing up a fighters union—White has remained as silent as he said he would.

    In an appearance on The MMA Hour, Paul shared his theory on the real reason the world hasn’t heard any response from White in recent days.

    “I think he learned his lesson when he responded a couple of weeks ago while I was on vacation,” Paul said. “He responded with his little selfie video where he was rabid as a crab and clearly pissed off. First of all, it brought more attention to everything, and then he made himself look really stupid. And I think he is now being advised to just not respond.”

    The video Paul is referencing is a social media post by White where he accused the YouTuber of refusing to respond to his challenge to get steroid tested for 2 years in return for cocaine testing White for 10 years.

    Paul would then respond with a video of his own where he blasted White and called on the UFC boss to accept his terms: White could drug test him all he wants through USADA and Paul would retire from boxing altogether to fight in the UFC if White improved fighter pay and benefits.

    Jorge Masvidal
    Jorge Masvidal, Credit: Esther Lin, MMA Fighting

    White wasn’t the only target in Paul’s diss track. Another person referenced was Jorge Masvidal, whom Paul has butted heads with as of late. He, too, has been rendered silent by the unreturnable heat discharged with the YouTuber’s bars, says Paul.

    “And it silenced everyone,” Paul said of the song. “What could they say? The first line is, ‘First of all, Masvidal, you ain’t rich; 50 fights for 5 mill that ain’t shit.’ Like, what’s he gonna say? What can anybody say? I think it shut people up, and there’s a lot of important messages in there, and it spoke for itself.”

    Jake Paul does not currently have a fight booked. He most recently knocked out Tyron Woodley last December on pay-per-view.

    Should Dana White, Jorge Masvidal, or anyone else targeted in Jake Paul’s diss track respond, we’ll be sure to bring you the dirt right here on MMANews.com.

  • Paul Explains Dana White Diss Track: ‘This Is About Doing What’s Right’

    Jake Paul has opened up on his diss track against Dana White and why he did it.

    Paul and White have had an ongoing feud ever since Paul fought and knocked out Ben Askren back in April of 2021. Since then, he beat Tyron Woodley twice, including KO’ing him once, and he has taken shots at White over fighter pay.

    With nothing changing involving pay, Paul released a video on his YouTube channel where he released a diss track on White. Not only did he release a diss track, but Cris Cyborg and Antonio McKee, who were vocal about their displeasure about White and the UFC, were featured in it. For the brash YouTuber, he says he needs to speak up about the disrespect the UFC boss is showing his fighters.

    “Imagine if Adam Silver sent a lawsuit to Lebron James minutes before he took the floor for the NBA Finals, then, refused to present him with the NBA championship trophy after he won,” Paul said to MMAFighting when reacting to White not putting the title on Ngannou. “It’s pure disrespect to the athlete and the sport.”

    Jake Paul
    Jake Paul (Image Credit: Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)

    Jake Paul also added this is about fighters getting paid what they deserve and he says it is clear White has them in terrible contracts and most of them can’t speak up about their pay.

    “This isn’t about boxing or MMA,” Paul explained. “This is about doing what is right. UFC can and should do better given the control it has exerted over MMA fighters. Either treat them as independent contractors, like Uber does its drivers, or give them the compensation and benefits they deserve as employees. So my fund has invested in his company’s stock and I will be working to expose his constant exploitative practices, starting by putting out this song with all proceeds going directly to fighter causes.”

    There is no question Paul has made more people known about fighter pay. However, only time will tell if it will result in any actual change.

    If you missed the release of Jake Paul’s Dana White diss track, you can view it below.

  • Ben Askren Predicts Hypothetical Anderson Silva vs. Jake Paul Matchup

    Ben Askren is lending his thoughts on a potential bout between Jake Paul and Anderson Silva.

    Ben Askren has taken a step back from competing in combat sports. His short stint in boxing led to a loss at the hands of Jake Paul, now he is giving his thoughts on Paul’s most recent win and a potential matchup that could give Paul some trouble.

    Askren spent most of his MMA days fighting for Bellator and ONE Championship in Japan. When he finally got his chance in the UFC, unfortunately, it did not go his way. With one win in the UFC, followed by being made into a meme by Jorge Masvidal, Askren decided to try his hand at boxing.

    Askren was the first former MMA fighter to challenge Paul inside the squared circle and lost. Since then, Paul’s targeting of MMA fighters is becoming his signature move in boxing. He has been rumored to want a fight with former UFC champion Anderson Silva. Although this bout is far from confirmed, Askren is hoping that Silva can do what no other man has done yet, stop Paul in the ring.

    “I thought Tyron [Woodley] was going to. The first bout was obviously really competitive,” Askren told MMA Island. “Anderson Silva looked great in his one boxing match he did. It was against a guy who had a significant amount of boxing experience, so I would say yeah, I would think so. If Anderson can’t do it, then shit, Jake Paul is pretty damn good.”

    Silva has had four professional boxing fights since retiring from the UFC. He has won his last three bouts, including the win Askren referenced that came over Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. and most recently over fellow former UFC fighter Tito Ortiz. Silva has expressed interest in taking on Paul, but nothing has materialized on that fight being made as of this writing.

    Do you think Anderson Silva would be able to beat Jake Paul in the boxing ring?

  • Jake Paul & Stephen A. Smith Spar Over Career Progress & Canelo

    Jake Paul and Stephen A. Smith had a light back-and-forth about Paul’s career progression as a boxer and his ambitions of stepping into the ring with Canelo Álvarez.

    Love him or hate him, there is no question that Jake Paul has taken the combat sports world by storm since bursting onto the arena two years ago. What began as a dip into the celebrity boxing pool evolved into headlining cards against accomplished MMA fighters Ben Askren and Tyron Woodley. Through it all, the irreverent YouTuber has continued to make headlines and land KOs as his star has continued to rise.

    Nonetheless, after Paul defeated Askren and was booked to face Woodley, ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith had already seen enough of the YouTuber’s self-matchmaking.

    “Let me say this. I am not impressed, not one bit,” Smith began in a soliloquy last year on his Stephen A’s World last year. “While Logan Paul is taking fights way over his head, getting in the ring with boxing royalty like Floyd ‘Money’ Mayweather, risking a beatdown for the ages, by the way, Jake Paul is going the opposite direction…the complete opposite direction, fighting non-boxers.”

    Smith went on to lay out why neither Askren nor Woodley were appropriate matchups for Paul in his opinion and stated that the former Disney actor should be facing actual pro boxers.

    After Smith’s comments came to his attention, Paul killed Stephen A. with kindness, merely expressing that he ‘loves his fans’ in response to the renowned sports personality.

    Stephen A. Delivers His Criticism Directly To Paul

    Stephen A. Smith Won't Stop Talking | The New Yorker
    Photograph by Eric Helgas for The New Yorker

    Earlier this week, Jake Paul made an appearance on ESPN’s First Take starring Smith, and the outspoken figure took the liberty to restate his criticism straight to the YouTuber’s virtual face.

    “My problem with you, Jake—because we gotta be real here—I know you heard my position about this—my problem is: You are beating up on dudes that don’t box. They’re not boxers. Nate Robinson was a basketball player.  Ben Askren came out there with a pose looking like he’s Jake LaMotta, he was 19-1 in (MMA), but he was never a boxer. He was a grappler. And Tyron Woodley’s a striker. What was that?!”

    Paul would then issue the following prompt response.

    “Meanwhile, I was on Disney Channel while these guys were winning UFC championships. I was playing with Mickey Mouse while these guys were throwing armbars and winning UFC championships. So I’ve been training for the same amount of time as them.

    “And look, I’ve always gone against people where the odds are even. Canelo just fought Caleb Plant as like a -1400 favorite. Gervante Davis in his eighth fight fought a guy who was making his professional boxing debut. Floyd, in his fourth fight, fought a guy who was making his professional boxing debut.

    “So everybody’s analyzing my career, critiquing it, paying attention to it from day one, but you can’t tell me who was Mike Tyson’s first fight. You can’t tell me, Muhammad Ali, who was his first fight. No one knows. But everyone’s seen all of my fights. And I’m gradually progressing and increasing my level of opposition as I get better (in) the gym.”

    Paul also invoked the name of Tommy Fury as an example of his wilingness to fight a professional boxer as well as doubling down on his interest in fighting veteran second-generation slugger Julio César Chávez.

    Paul’s Confidence In Álvarez Fight Unwavering Despite Smith’s Dismay

    Jake Paul Canelo
    (via Triller & DAZN)

    Another name Paul has expressed an interest in fighting down the line is none other than boxing superstar Canelo Álvarez. Being well aware of these lofty goals, Smith had to hear it straight from the YouTuber’s mouth to believe it.

    “Now you say ‘line ‘em up, knock ‘em down’ and there was rumors about you and Mike Tyson. Mike Tyson basically put that to bed. And I’m sure you’re not trying to fight somebody in their mid-50s, but you did mention the name Canelo Alvarez,” Smith said. “And I want you to know, as much as I like you, Jake, you’re going into deep waters there! Now you’re getting out of control! Because you know Canelo is not the one to mess with! You know you’re not ready for that! Seriously, you do know that, right? This is Canelo we’re talking about!”

    Paul’s response served as a reaffirmation of his own confidence and perhaps an incidental installation of confidence in viewers worldwide about striving beyond others’ limitations.

    “That’s what other people think,” Paul said. “Other people try to place limits on what is possible for you when you are a unicorn doing something different. Other people try to place limits on what’s possible for you and on what you can accomplish because of their mindset and what they think they can accomplish as a human being. But for me, I can accomplish anything I set my mind to

    “And I know I can get after Canelo. I know I can go rounds with him. And the guy he fought the other time, ‘Turkish Warrior,’ quit after three rounds. He didn’t throw one punch. I’m bigger than Canelo, I’m faster than Canelo, I’m more athletic than Canelo. Can I box better? Probably not. But give me three years, and that’s gonna be a big fight. The two biggest names in boxing going after each other. Why not?”

    You can view the clip from Paul’s appearance on ESPN’s First Take below.

  • Watch: Jake Paul Roasts White, McGregor, Diaz, & Masvidal In Diss Track

    Jake Paul’s diss track of Dana White has arrived.

    Today marks one week to the day since we ran a story about Dana White vowing to never speak about Jake Paul again. In contrast, “The Problem Child” has ramped up his side of the feud to new levels.

    Friday morning, Paul released a rap song where he relentlessly roasts Dana White for over two minutes, and a few UFC stars were targeted as well.

    The video begins with “Dana White” and UFC executives pressuring a fighter played by Cris Cyborg to sign a three-fight contract worth $12,000 a fight. When the fighter asks about long-term health care, “White” snaps, “Don’t worry about that right now! Just sign on the dotted line or no one’s gonna know who you are.”

    At this point, Paul and his entourage crash the signing, and the YouTuber cracks “White” with a baseball bat. The music video then commences.

    Jake Paul Targets White & Three Big UFC Stars In Diss Track

    The biggest themes of the video are the UFC’s mistreatment of fighters, Dana White’s greed, and a wide-scale roasting of the UFC president in general.

    There were also some shrapnel that fell on UFC stars Jorge Masvidal, Nate Diaz, and Conor McGregor, three names that Paul has lobbied for fights against in the past. Here what he had to say about each fighter.

    Jorge Masvidal

    Jorge Masvidal
    Jorge Masvidal, Credit: Esther Lin, MMA Fighting

    “First of all, Masvidal, you ain’t rich. 50 fights for 5 mill’ that ain’t shit.”

    Nate Diaz

    Morning Report: Beer-spilling fighter who flinched at Nate Diaz wants redemption: 'I'll fight his ass for free' - MMA Fighting

    “I like havin money conversations. All that little Stockton shit is cool, but that lisp got me thinking Diaz speak a different language.”

    Conor McGregor

    Conor McGregor
    (via John Locher/AP)

    “McGregor, I ain’t seen you win in five years. You rich little weirdo, ugly ass veneers. Took so many losses wounded up at VMAs, tryna fight with MGK, no surprise here.

    Lamborghini boat but your career is sinkin’. Really got me wondering what Dee is thinkin’. I ain’t even dissin now I’m really speaking.  Wounded up in jail too many times with all dat liquor drinkin’.”

    You can peep the full, uncut video of Jake Paul’s diss track below.

    What are your thoughts on Jake Paul’s Dana White diss track?

  • O’Malley To Ngannou: You Can’t Bash The UFC & Expect No Backlash

    “Suga” Sean O’Malley has inserted his two cents into the UFC’s contract negotiations with Francis Ngannou.

    The conflict between Ngannou and the UFC has been marinating for about a year. To put it simply, Ngannou has been asking for more money and more freedom.

    Sean O’Malley posted a new video on his YouTube channel where he talks about last weekend’s UFC 270 fight card and how Francis Ngannou spoke about his UFC status leading up to the event (h/t MiddleEasy).

    “Dude, if you’re gonna go out there and just talk [expletive] about the boss and the company you can’t just expect no backlash…And I don’t wanna say talking [expletive] in a bad way. I guess he’s just talking facts but it is talking [expletive] and you can’t do that to the UFC. You can’t do that to Dana. You can’t do that to your boss.”

    O’Malley also defended White not putting the belt around Ngannou’s waist after the fight. In all fairness, Dana has since claimed that he had urgent business in the back he had to deal with. What that business is? We do not know, as he did not explain further than that.

    White also indicated that he has no issue with Ngannou at all, contrary to the common perception that trailed the event.

    Francis Ngannou is now set to have surgery on his right knee, which was injured coming into his UFC 270 title defense against Ciryl Gane.

    As for Sean O’Malley, the outspoken bantamweight last competed at UFC 269 in a first-round TKO win over Raulian Paiva, which earned him Performance of the Night honors.

    Do you agree with Sean O’Malley’s take on Francis Ngannou’s comments about his UFC negotiations?

  • Jake Paul Says He Intends To Create A ‘Fighters Union’

    Jake Paul says he wants to make real change in the combat sports world.

    The boxer and entertainer has previously mentioned how he believes UFC fighters are mistreated by their promotion. He has called out UFC President Dana White and in the past has demanded that White take steps to better accommodate his fighters.

    Paul now says he wants to get a union for fighters in MMA and boxing. This statement came during an interview on ESPN, where he mentioned how fighters deserve better pay and healthcare.

    “I want to create a fighters’ union,” said Paul during a recent appearance on ESPN’s “The First Take.” “This is my goal to really impact the whole entire sport, both MMA and boxing, and leave an everlasting stamp. I just so happen to not be beholden to anybody. A lot of these UFC fighters they are beholden to Dana White. They can’t speak out against him, so I’m using my platform because I’m one of a very few people who actually can.”

    A New Chapter In Jake Paul vs. Dana White?

    Paul has constantly gone after UFC and their brass as of late. In early January, Paul put out an ultimatum to the Dana White, saying he would join the promotion if they met a list of his demands. This list included providing healthcare to fighters and raising the minimum pay for a fighter.

    Paul is now teasing a diss track that will be directed towards White. He recently posted a photo of him inside a spoof MMA cage that looked to be used for a music video shoot. This post was captioned “Tomorrow. Diss track,” and had White tagged in the post. Meanwhile, White recently vowed to never discuss Jake Paul ever again.

    Some have questioned whether Paul is actually campaigning for better fighter pay, or if he is simply going after the UFC for popularity. Many people, including UFC fighter Anthony Smith, have argued that Paul is likely genuine in his message.

    Do you think Jake Paul will make real change for fighter treatment in MMA?

  • Ngannou Says UFC Wanted To Sue Manager For Talks With Jake Paul

    Francis Ngannou claims he received a threat from the UFC right before UFC 270.

    Francis Ngannou has just successfully defended his UFC heavyweight title for the first time. In the leadup to the fight, a good portion of the attention he was getting was regarding the relationship between him and the UFC.

    Over the last several months, Ngannou was having a difficult time dealing with the UFC and negotiations. It seems the trouble continued right up until fight night.

    “I walked into the room waiting for my manager, my coach,” Ngannou explained on The MMA Hour (via ESPN). “And they were like, ‘Wow.’ I’m like, ‘What’s going on?’ They told me they just received an email from the UFC saying they’re going to sue [Marquel Martin] for talking with this guy, Nakisa. Yeah. I’m like, ‘Who is Nakisa?’ I wouldn’t recognize him if you put him in front of me.”

    Ngannou has been talking about his desire to box for a while now. When he was having trouble securing the purse he wanted from the UFC, he mentioned wanting to try out boxing because of the significant pay differential. A few former UFC fighters have made the switch over and made more than they ever have in the UFC. Ngannou wants to get in on that money but his contract prevents him from doing so.

    Now that Ngannou has beaten Ciryl Gane, he will not officially be a free agent until at least the end of the year. In the meantime, it is unlikely that he will be allowed to set up a fight with Tyson Fury as he had publically wanted. He also wanted more money from the UFC, and it is unclear if that will happen.

    “You can be free and fight for the UFC,” Ngannou said. “I just want to be free. We are supposedly independent contractors. [An] independent contractor is technically a free person. That’s the reason why they need some adjustments in that contract. That’s what I’ve been fighting for. It doesn’t look like they want to talk to me anymore.”

    Ngannou is not the only fighter on the UFC roster who has publically spoken about their unhappiness with payment and contracts. Dana White did not stay for the post-fight press conference at UFC 270, and there has been no word from his or the UFC’s side on this matter.

    Do you think Francis Ngannou deserves the freedom to try boxing if he wants to?

  • Jake Paul Has Purchased Stock In UFC Parent Company To ‘Help Fighters’

    Jake Paul is inserting himself in UFC affairs.

    Paul cannot help himself when it comes to rustling the UFC and Dana White’s feathers. Paul has made himself famous by beating former UFC fighters inside the boxing ring, but he might be equally as known for his hot takes on how the UFC conducts their business. He is constantly calling out Dana White on fighter pay and the treatment of fighters under the UFC banner. Now, Paul is actively trying to make some changes in that organization.

    He announced on Tuesday morning that he has decided to invest his money and purchase stocks of the UFC’s parent company called Endeavor (EDR).

    “I’ve invested in EDR (UFC) stock with my partner @geoffreywoo 2 focus on UFCs ESG standards relating to fighters,” he wrote on Twitter. “We believe EDR can drive long-term economic value by increasing UFC fighter pay & providing them healthcare. Reaching out to @EngineNo_1 to partner on this “endeavor.”

    Jake Paul’s Business Partner Comments

    Paul’s business partner, Geoffrey Woo, also released a series of tweets addressing the move.

    “Jake Paul, our partners, and I are excited to announce our latest @antifundvc investment — Endeavor (NYSE: EDR), the parent company of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (@UFC) — and our goals for the business as impact investors & venture capitalists.

    “My partner Jake has lead the way in changing the business of combat sports by not just talking about it, but being about it — fighter pay, healthcare, & championing women’s sport. And today is our next step in our vision of revolutionizing the industry.

    “UFC has faced a rising chorus of criticism for the exploitation of its athletes — the [heart] of biz. The ratio of revenue going to athletes vs. owners & leagues is well below industry standard. This disparity hurts long-term shareholder value & this is not going to magically change.

    “Jake is the archetype of the future, where individual transcends the machine. This is happening across all sectors — media, entertainment, & tech start ups where dynamic, innovative individuals & creators are bargaining toe-to-toe w the owners, the institutions, and the academy.

    “We believe the best way to accelerate this inevitable revolution is to lead it from within the UFC as co-owners & impact investors. We will use our investment stake to rally fans, athletes, fellow shareholders, and management to do the right thing.

    Who am I? I come from Silicon Valley & web3/crypto. Skin in the game, shared equity, and long-term alignment is the underlying incentive model that made Silicon Valley and crypto the most impactful business models of the last 20 years. We intend to apply these models to the UFC,” Woo wrote.

    Jake Paul & Fighter Pay

    Since his fight with Ben Askren, Jake Paul has made it clear that he wants his opponents to be paid well. He was vocal about his feelings that UFC fighters do not get paid sufficiently. Askren and Woodley both stated that their paydays for the Paul fights were their biggest to date. Woodley was a former UFC champion and still made more for his boxing match, according to him.

    Paul thinks the UFC can do better and has been calling out Dana White to make things right. He feels that by buying these shares of EDR, he can somehow make a change to the UFC pay structure and healthcare options.

    The amount of stock purchased was not revealed, and it seems unlikely that Paul will have voting rights on such issues. Endeavor is a publicly traded company that purchased the UFC back in 2016 for $4 billion.

    Do you think Jake Paul will have any success at changing the UFC pay structure as a shareholder?

  • Khabib More Open Than Cormier To Doing Business With Jake Paul

    Former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov wants to sign the polarizing YouTuber turned boxer Jake Paul to Eagle FC in the future.

    Nurmagomedov is just days away from hosting Eagle FC 44 in Miami, FL. The card will be headlined by kickboxer Tyrone Spong taking on former Bellator standout Sergei Kharitonov.

    Nurmagomedov has managed to sign elite talent to Eagle FC since putting his promoter hat on. He most recently signed former UFC interim title challenger Kevin Lee following his dismissal from the UFC.

    But Nurmagomedov has bigger plans for the promotion’s future and is interested in signing Paul for his planned transition to MMA. This is in direct contrast to his friend Daniel Cormier, who expressed his refusal to train Paul if he were to join American Kickboxing Academy.

    During a recent tweet, Nurmagomedov expressed his interest in eventually adding Paul to the Eagle FC roster.

    “The doors of [Eagle FC] always open for you and your team,” Nurmagomedov said.

    Paul then agreed to Nurmagomedov’s proposition under the condition that the former UFC champion agrees to fight him.

    “Deal,” Paul said. “Only if I fight you first.”

    Cormier and Nurmagomedov made their rise to championship status through their training at AKA. At present, Nurmagomedov seems more game to help Paul in his eventual move to MMA than Cormier is.

    Cormier and Paul also have a bit of history, with the two of them coming face to face cageside at UFC 261. They also went back and forth last year on social media and in various interviews.

    In addition to Eagle FC, the PFL and Bellator have remained interested in adding Paul to their respective rosters. It’s unclear how Paul will proceed going forward, but Nurmagomedov seems open to negotiations with the controversial boxer.

    How do you think Jake Paul would fare in MMA? Should he sign with Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Eagle FC?

  • Jake Paul Reveals MMA Weight Class, Ignores White’s Cease-Fire

    The often polarizing YouTuber turned boxer Jake Paul isn’t letting UFC President Dana White off the hook for his previous remarks.

    White has recently alluded to being done with his back-and-forths with Paul on social media and in interviews. However, Paul doesn’t appear to be done with White just yet.

    Paul has hinted at a future move to MMA after a few more boxing fights and has allegedly contacted American Kickboxing Academy to train there. Promotions such as Bellator and the PFL have reportedly been interested in Paul’s services.

    Despite White’s calls of a cease-fire between him and Paul, “The Problem Child” isn’t willing to oblige as evidenced in a recent tweet.

    “[Dana White] when I make my MMA debut, I could cut 20 pounds and do it at welterweight/170 pounds,” Paul said. “That’s what all UFC fighters do and many have destroyed their bodies and minds doing it. But I’m gonna do it at Middleweight (185). Health first. PS Conor [McGregor] walking around at 190.”

    Paul wrapped up his stellar 2021 boxing calendar year with back-to-back wins over former UFC champion Tyron Woodley. He also knocked out former UFC welterweight Ben Askren in seconds last spring.

    Paul has criticized White and the UFC for their treatment of fighters. He has specifically targeted the issue of fighter pay as a primary focus of his outside of the ring.

    It had appeared that the White/Paul drama had briefly died down, but it didn’t take long for Paul to take shots at his combat sports adversary.

    Do you think the Jake Paul/Dana White drama will ever end?

  • Woodley Explains Why He Posted Jake Paul KO Meme Challenge

    Tyron Woodley has opened up on his decision to post the meme challenge following his KO loss to Jake Paul.

    Back in December in their rematch, Woodley suffered a vicious KO loss to Paul in the sixth round. The former UFC champion was out cold and after the loss, he took to Instagram to offer a $5,000 payout to whichever fan could create the funniest meme of his knockout.

    Woodley then posted the winner and seemed to enjoy the process. Now, he has explained why he decided to do it.

    Tyron Woodley
    Paul/Woodley 2 Post-Fight Presser

    “It was one of the worst mistakes I ever made in a fight. But at the same token, had I not dropped that hand, had I continued to fight the way it was going, we’da been looking at something different,” Woodley said on The MMA Hour. “So I gotta just take the bitter with the sweet and just keep moving.

    “That’s why I did that challenge, you know what I mean? I’m not finna let the motherfuckin’ internet or nobody else make me crawl up in a shell and not come outside, not post, or not say nothing for three, four, five, six months. I can’t afford to do that. I got too much shit that was coming out before this fight even happened to even let a pause. So that’s why I did the challenge.”

    Although Tyron Woodley created the meme challenge, he does admit the loss still hurt him. However, he is focused on fighting a few times in 2022 and eyes a March return in boxing before he goes back into MMA. When and who Woodley will fight in his return is uncertain. However, he has been linked to a bout with Dan Hardy in the past.

    Looking back on the Paul fight, Woodley has made the decision not to allow anyone to define the experience he had leading into and on the night of December 18. The creation of the meme contests helped Woodley take control of the narrative.

    “I won’t allow people to take away the fact that, one, I stepped up when nobody really was available. I was in shape. I was prepared. I was ready. I won every round—I think he might have won the second round when I looked back at the fight. I won every round, even was winning that round up until that one moment. So I won’t let my hand dropping for one second and him perfectly timing a punch at the same time make me completely take away everything that happened,” Woodley said.

    What do you make of Tyron Woodley creating the meme challenge?

  • Dana White: You Will Never Hear Me Talk About Jake Paul Again

    Dana White is chucking up the deuces to his lengthy feud with YouTuber turned boxing star, Jake Paul.

    Over the past year, UFC President Dana White has been involved in a war of words with Jake Paul. After it was announced that Floyd Mayweather would be fighting Logan Paul, White trashed all the fans who had any interest in watching either of the Paul brothers compete in legitimate sports. It was at this time that White also stated Amanda Nunes would leave Jake Paul comatose.

    The feud didn’t really kick-off, however, until Paul vs. Askren was announced last year. In an appearance on the “Hotboxin’ with Mike Tyson” podcast leading up to the April fight, White said he would be willing to bet $1 million on Askren. Paul then challenged White to double up the bet and make it $2 million.

    White claims he never actually bet any money on Askren, but that did not stop “The Problem Child” from rubbing his KO win over Askren in White’s face.

    Ben Askren's reaction post-match goes viral after getting knocked out by Jake Paul | Fox News

    Of course, this was only the beginning of this odd feud. White would again figuratively bet against Paul by predicting that his former UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley would knock Paul out.

    Instead, it was Paul who would knock Woodley out last month after defeating him via split decision in August. Paul would then talk much more trash than he did after his Askren KO, telling White that he had just embarrassed his entire promotion.

    But of course, the biggest theme of the White/Paul feud has been the topic of UFC fighter pay. Paul has continued to criticize White and the UFC for the way the promotion compensates its fighters, and he hasn’t stopped at just talking. The YouTuber even took money out of his own pocket to help UFC women’s flyweight Sarah Alpar pay for her training-camp expenses.

    White/Paul Drama Reaches Its Climax

    Another subject that has risen multiple times during the White/Paul feud is Paul’s claim that White is a “cokehead.” In fact, the former Disney actor opted to dress up as a “coked-up Dana White” for Halloween accompanied by “his hookers.”

    After Paul made this accusation one time too many, the UFC boss decided to make Paul a little offer. He would allow Jake Paul to drug test him for cocaine for the next 10 years if he, in turn, could drug test Paul for performance-enhancing drugs for two. Paul would respond by agreeing to be tested by USADA in a UFC fight if White agreed to a list of terms regarding improving the pay and benefits of the UFC roster.

    White considers Paul’s counterproposal to be a non-response. And not only did it terminate his original offer, but it also killed any desire the UFC president had to address Paul ever again.

    During an appearance on The Full Send Podcast, White was asked what Paul would have to do to earn his respect. It was at this point White broke some news about his feud with the outspoken YouTuber.

    “It’s not that he doesn’t have my respect. I don’t even know the kid, at the end of the day,” White said. “I don’t even know the kid. And you know what? To be honest with you, I’ll tell you right here right now: This is the last time you’ll hear me talk about him. I’m done.

    “I put out the challenge, he said, ‘You do coke,’ I said, ‘I think you use performance-enhancing drugs. Let’s do it.’ He never responded to it, so fire away, kid. Do your thing.”

    White went on to say that his decision was made after he realized that his feud with Paul, with whom he has no professional ties with whatsoever, is going nowhere.

    “I’m sitting here, I’m arguing with this kid that doesn’t fight for me and is never gonna fight for me, so what’s the point of he and I going back and forth with each other?” White asked.

    White may be done addressing Paul, but it’s highly unlikely Paul is done talking about White, UFC fighters, or the subject of fighter pay. Therefore, it would seem inevitable that reporters will continue to ask White to chime in on Paul’s latest antics and statements. Therefore, White may become very well-acquainted with the phrase “no comment” heading into the future.

    On the other hand, he might get worked into breaking this promise by inquiring media members or directly by the king troll himself, “The Problem Child” Jake Paul.

    Do you believe Dana White when he says he will never talk about Jake Paul ever again?

  • Woodley To Haters & Online Trolls: Jake Paul Would Knock You Out, Too

    Tyron Woodley is firing back at the people hating on his loss to Jake Paul.

    It’s been just over a month since Tyron Woodley was knocked out by Jake Paul in their second fight against each other. Woodley has been catching some heat from haters and people online since the loss. Woodley has some words for those who are criticizing his loss and, in turn, is giving some credit to Paul.

    “And a lot of people are saying that, ‘Aw, you lost to him again! Aw, you got knocked out!’ He would literally fuck a lot of y’all up, like MMA fighters and other people that are just bumping at the gums, he’s an athletic kid that don’t have no job beyond this,” Woodley told MMA Fighting. “He don’t have no kids. He don’t have no business running. He can have the best trainer, the best coaches, the best nutrition, the most focus. He can separate himself.”

    Woodley was a last-minute replacement this time around when Paul’s original opponent, Tommy Fury, dropped out. Woodley first faced Paul in August and lost that fight by decision. In his second attempt, Woodley was vocally more confident that he could defeat Paul, however, he was mistaken. Woodley is now giving Paul the credit he deserves.

    Now that Woodley and Paul have run their course fighting each other, “The Chosen One” is not ready to just sit down and retired from boxing. One rumored possibility for his next opponent is fellow UFC alum Dan Hardy.

    As for Paul, he is still moving forward with his boxing career after winning an award for “Breakout Boxer of the Year”. He was recently rumored to be fighting with Mike Tyson, but Tyson shot those rumblings down instantly. Paul has also been hinting at a move to MMA. If he does follow through with that plan perhaps he might consider giving Woodley another shot.

    Do you think you personally could beat Jake Paul in a boxing match?