LOS ANGELES, CA: Jake Paul has been pushing for improved compensation for MMA competitors for a long time now. Even the UFC president Dana White came under fire from "The Problem Child" a few times over the subject.
When Paul took against Anderson Silva in October 2022, "The Spider" agreed to help establish an association for MMA fighters in exchange for losing. The most current Silva report also indicates that action has already begun.
'It’s moving, it’s all in motion'
Jake Paul and Anderson Silva established their handshake agreement before their bout during the press conference. “If you win, I will fight you in an MMA fight — OK, kickboxing — but if I win, me and you come together to create a united fighters’ association to help UFC fighters get better pay and better healthcare. You become the interim president and we unite to help these fighters once and for all,” Paul said to Silva.
In a recent episode of the Trocaço Franca podcast on MMAFighting.com, Silva acknowledged that things have started to advance as a result of Jake Paul.
“It’s moving, it’s all in motion. Jake is a very correct person, so it’s happening. To make sure it’s done the correct way and it’s enduring, it stays for future generations, it has to be well-planned and structured, and we’re working on it,” Silva said.
‘I’m trying to help them’
Silva's presence and contribution to this cause are huge pluses in Jake Paul's eyes. The 26-year-old claims that the only reason he is doing this is to assist fighters who are in need. Paul claims that his work with undefeated featherweight champion Amanda Serrano is proof positive. He's more than eager to undertake it because it's an endeavor motivated by altruism.
“I think that’s where people like Anderson Silva joining really helps, because they respect him. I think that fighters, regardless of if they hate me or love me, I’m trying to help them. They just should see that because I’m continuing to help fighters nonstop. They should see the things I’ve done for Amanda Serrano, the situation she was in,” Paul said in a January interview.
He further added, “I just want to help. So they can hate me, or not really even respect me, but we should be on the same team. That’s the whole point of this union — let’s band together and be strong as one. I might not even like a certain fighter that wants to be in the union, but it doesn’t matter. I’m putting my ego aside because this is going to benefit all of us.”
