Editor’s note: This article was originally published at MMAJunkie.com.
Whether you want to call Jake Paul the proverbial fly in the ointment or say he’s simply poking the bear, the YouTube star-turned-professional-boxer wants to be taken seriously when he speaks out on fighter pay.
He’s done a lot of that for the past year or so, mainly targeting Dana White and the UFC for underpaying athletes and tying them to restrictive contracts that limit earning potential despite being independent contractors. Paul largely has been praised for his message, but his motivations have been questioned, with some believing he’s only looking out for his own brand.
In an interview with Stephen A. Smith on ESPN’s “First Take,” Paul sounded as serious about the issue as he ever has.
“It’s really about the fighters,” Paul said. “I’ve been in the gym, and I’ve seen how hard these guys work and how mistreated they are and how underpaid all of them are.
“So it’s really about fighter pay and getting them healthcare and poking the bear and disrupting (White’s) whole entire business.”
Paul has promised a diss track will drop Friday, teasing it on Instagram with a photo of him surrounded by ring girls holding “F*ck Dana White” cards. His post tagged the accounts of White, Conor McGregor, Jorge Masvidal, and Nate Diaz, all fighters he’s called out repeatedly.
Aside from taking shots left and right, Paul said he means business and mentioned his desire to “create a fighters union,” although he’s yet to lay out how he’ll do that.
“I’m not stopping anytime soon, but this is about the fighters,” Paul said. “I want to create a fighters union. This is my goal, is to really impact the whole entire sport – both MMA and boxing – and leave an everlasting stamp.
“And I just so happen to not be beholden to anybody. A lot of these UFC fighters are beholden to Dana White. They can’t speak out against him. So I’m using my platform because I’m one of the very few people who actually can.
“I’ll say whatever. I’ll speak the truth. I’m just doing what my responsibility is as a fighter and as someone who cares about other fighters.”
Paul, 25, fought three times in 2021, defeating former UFC fighters Ben Askren and Tyron Woodley. Paul knocked out Askren, then won a split decision against Woodley before knocking him out in their December rematch.
