CLEVELAND, OHIO: Logan Paul and Dana White may get along well, but Jake Paul and White do not. Due to the subject of fighter salary, "The Problem Child" and the UFC president are at odds.
Additionally, Paul recently discussed Dana White's business strategies for the UFC's lesser-known fighters on "Hotboxin' with Mike Tyson."
The media has covered extensively the conflict between the YouTuber-turned-boxer and the 54-year-old promoter.
Jake Paul has in the past criticized White and fought for fighters to get a bigger cut of the profits. His most recent remarks, meanwhile, suggest a more sophisticated outlook.
Unfair minimum pay for UFC fighter
It is a known truth that UFC competitors who generate large crowds get compensated well. Jake Paul, meanwhile, asserts that the boxers who are smaller suffer more.
He said that although these fighters earn the minimum wage of $12,500, the promoter had to try to raise it to at least $50,000. He said, “The fighter minimum in the UFC is $12,500. It should be at least $50,000.”
“The Problem Child” stated that the sum of money the UFC should be required to pay would make a big difference. Due to the income rise, several fighters who currently hold other occupations would be able to devote more time to fighting.
Similar to that, the wage raise would make it easier for them to pay for gym memberships and nourishing food. “If they made it $50,000, that would change the smaller fighters’ lives in a big way,” said Jake Paul.
Jake Paul suggests $50k minimum pay for UFC fighters
Jake Paul believes that giving UFC fighters who are just starting out a sizable salary increase from the company will increase the level of competitiveness.
Since he started competing in combat sports, Paul has been a proponent of fighter compensation, which has resulted in tense arguments with UFC president Dana White.
The head of the UFC recently made it clear that he doesn't "hate" Paul and that both Jake and his brother Logan Paul have achieved success in the combat sports industry.
“I don’t hate him either, I just want him to pay fighters more,” Paul said on “Hotboxin’ with Mike Tyson”.
He added, “You know, now that the company is making billions of dollars a year, and the fighters are only getting 15 percent of it. That’s really where all of it stems from, is wanting higher fighter pay and long-term health care for the fighters.”
Along with his business partner and former UFC chief financial officer Nakisa Bidarian, Paul has proposed a few recommendations and ideas over the years on ways to increase fighter compensation, but his most recent offer is one that will help UFC rookie fighters.
“The fighter minimum in the UFC is $12,500. It should be at least $50,000. If they made it $50,000, that would change the smaller fighters’ lives in a big, big, big way. They wouldn’t have to work other jobs, they could afford gym fees, they could afford the proper food. Right now, they’re working other jobs barely scraping by,” Paul said.
He also added, “If they changed the fighter minimum to $50,000, it would only cost the UFC $20 million per year. But that $20 million would be going into the smaller fighters’ pockets and it’s a world of a difference. Meanwhile, they’re making $3 billion.”
