“It’s the most profitable sports!” Jake Paul SLAMS Dana White and demands $50,000 base salary for fighters

Jake Paul highlights the need for fair compensation in UFC, proposing a raise in fighter minimum pay for a sustainable career in MMA.

“It’s the most profitable sports!” Jake Paul SLAMS Dana White and demands $50,000 base salary for fighters

Jake Paul blasts Dana White and the UFC with fighter pay argument (Image via: IMAGO)

Dana White and the UFC at present are facing a class action lawsuit from former fighters. If the plaintiffs are successful, the UFC would have to pay close to $5 billion in compensation to the fighters. Fighter pay is a controversial topic when it comes to the UFC. Many have called out Dana White and the UFC about it. Influencer Jake Paul was the most vocal among them.

Paul was a recent guest on George Janko‘s podcast. On the podcast, Janko asked Paul about his feud with Dana White. Janko, oblivious to fighter pay, was an admirer of White. However, that was not the case when Paul explained the pay structure in the UFC and the solution he offered. This is what Paul said about it. 

The fighter minimum payment is $12,500 for a fight, so even if they got three fights a year, they're still not making enough to get by because they have to pay for their own gyms, coaches, meals, camp, and travel. Right, so if the UFC raised the minimum fighter payment to $50,000 a year, not only would it improve the sport because you'd have more people in gyms more often, but the lower-level fighters would want to strive to be greater because they could focus only on that.
Jake Paul via George Janko podcast
YouTube video

Paul continued:

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They wouldn't have to be teachers or janitors, and they could focus on their craft. They could make $50,000 to $100,000 a year if they fought twice. That would cost the UFC $20 million a year, and in terms of what they make, which is billions and billions, it's the most profitable sport in the world.
Jake Paul via George Janko podcast

Paul stated that the UFC remains the most profitable sports organization in the USA. He also educated Janko about the fact that the percentage of profits fighters make in the UFC is less than 20 percent. Paul also stated that the bulk of the 20 percent was the compensation for Conor McGregor. One of the things that bothers Paul the most is that there is no union for fighters.

Paul’s latest fight was against Andre August, which he won via knockout. His upcoming fight is against Ryan Bourland in March. Paul also has plans to make his MMA debut with the PFL in 2024.

Jake Paul on relationship with Amanda Serrano

Jake Paul made his name as a social media influencer and as a Disney star. However, his current reason for fame is his involvement in combat sports. Paul recently became the unofficial patron of septuple boxing champion Amanda Serrano.

Amanda Serrano
Amanda Serrano (Image Courtesy: Boxing Scene)

Serrano is now Paul’s close friend. The two acquainted when Serrano fought in the co-main event of Jake Paul vs. Tyron Woodley. Paul revealed on George Janko’s podcast that Serrano fought for $ 5,000 before she made $100,000 on the Jake Paul undercard. Serrano would later fight Katie Taylor at Madison Square Garden, which was touted as the greatest women’s boxing fight in history. Paul co-promoted the PPV with Eddie Hearn.

Paul’s upcoming fight is a co-main event of the PPV that Serrano will headline. Serrano is now one of the highest-paid female boxers in the world. Serrano, along with Katie Taylor and Claressa Shields, are the faces of female boxing.

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