Jake Paul has been vocal about his opinions on UFC fighter pay and has not been afraid to express his thoughts on UFC CEO Dana White. Recently, Paul was involved in the faceoff between former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou and 2023 PFL heavyweight champion Renan Ferreira. This event took place in preparation for the main event of PFL’s Oct. 19 pay-per-view card in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
During a press conference after the PFL event, Jake Paul made bold claims about Dana White. He suggested that White is too afraid to make a potential fight happen between Ngannou and UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones. According to Paul, White’s reluctance stems from his fear of losing Jon Jones, who he considers as a valuable asset. Paul went on to criticize White for not prioritizing the desires of MMA fans and accused him of avoiding risky fights like Ngannou vs. Jones.
While Jake Paul sided with Francis Ngannou as the “Baddest Man on the Planet,” Dana White has a different perspective on the situation. White claimed that Ngannou left the UFC because he was hesitant to fight Jon Jones, whereas Ngannou insisted that he was actually pushing for the matchup. Regardless of the differing narratives, Dana White’s stance on co-promotion makes the possibility of Ngannou vs. Jones slim.
In Paul’s eyes, Renan Ferreira has the opportunity to dethrone Francis Ngannou and claim the title of the greatest heavyweight in MMA. He believes that a potential upset by Ferreira would shake up the combat sports world and solidify Ferreira’s status as a top competitor. While the likelihood of this outcome remains uncertain, the excitement surrounding the matchup is undeniable.
Jake Paul’s ongoing criticism of Dana White and his involvement in the promotion of the Ngannou vs. Ferreira fight has sparked interest and controversy within the MMA community. As the fight date approaches, all eyes will be on the octagon to see if Renan Ferreira can live up to the expectations set by Jake Paul and potentially change the landscape of heavyweight MMA.