Dana White promises he’s not shy when it comes to expressing his disdain for somebody he doesn’t like but Jake Paul just doesn’t fall into that category for him.
Despite some ugly back and forth exchanges through interviews and social media over the years, the UFC CEO says he holds no animosity towards Paul — even if the YouTuber turned boxer loves to talk trash on him and the business he’s running. But White does find it hilarious that Paul and his business partner Nakisa Bidarian, who is a former UFC executive, have been threatening to file lawsuits over claims that he’s competing in fixed fights during his boxing career.
“I don’t hate your brother,” White told Logan Paul on his Impaulsive podcast. “You know what’s funny about your brother? So your brother talks more shit than anybody else on the planet. Now him and the warlock [Nakisa Bidarian] are running around trying to f*cking sue people? They’re trying to f*cking sue people? When people talk shit.”
Paul stated publicly that he plans to seek legal action against anybody attempting to defame his boxing career, especially after he engaged in an ugly interview with Piers Morgan ahead of his fight against Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. earlier this year.
Following the exchange on his show, Morgan took to social media and claimed Paul was ruining boxing “with this boring staged bullshit.” Paul then hired powerhouse attorney Alex Spiro to go after Morgan or anybody else claiming that he’s a willing participant in fixed fights, which is obviously a very illegal practice.
Morgan later clarified that he wasn’t saying Paul was participating in fixed fights with a pre-determined outcome but rather facing opposition like 58-year-old Mike Tyson that didn’t actually present with a real challenge.
“His fights have been predominantly against older, past-their-prime opponents, which may be lucrative for both sides, and may have entertainment value, but don’t reveal how he stacks up against currently ranked boxers and therefore are not a good look for the sport,” Morgan said in a statement. “I did not intend to suggest that the outcome was predetermined and certainly didn’t mean to suggest anything illegal.”
White understands that criticism because he has the same issues with Paul facing somebody as old as Tyson or even his next matchup against Gervonta “Tank” Davis where he’ll hold a significant size advantage over a 5-foot-5 tall opponent who typically competes around 135 pounds.
“There’s people out there saying they’re fake fights, they’re fixed and all this other f*cking bullshit,” White said. “I think what people mean when they talk about it, he’s going to fight f*cking Gervonta Davis. You guys need to fight guys your f*cking same size. When you fought Floyd [Mayweather], you are massive. You’re a massive f*cking dude. Floyd’s tiny.
“I’m sure when you were training, you’re like I’m going to hit this guy with a couple punches and grab him, tie him up. He did hit you with a f*cking bomb of an overhand right one time and you f*cking ate it. You ate that punch. Gervonta, I think hits way harder than f*cking Floyd but he’s too small. Your brother’s going to be able to get inside on him, put his weight on him, tie him up.”
In other words, White tends to agree with someone like Morgan when it comes to Jake Paul facing opponents that probably don’t have a great shot at actually beating him because they’re either old, past their prime or just way too small to actually challenge him.
But White doesn’t believe that Paul is actually fixing his fights, although he still doesn’t understand seeking legal action against anybody claiming otherwise.
“I don’t hate your brother,” White said. “You brother’s out there doing his thing but it cracks me up that they want to start suing people that are talking shit when your brother talks more shit than anybody talks.
“Not many of the fights are legitimate fights but not being fixed. What are you going to do if people are f*cking saying stupid shit? People say dumb shit about me, my business, all the time. Who gives a shit? F*cking just ignore it and keep doing your thing.”
If anything, White says Jake Paul seems to have a much bigger issue with him than he ever had with the now 28-year-old fighter.
“He’s always talking shit about the UFC and all this other stuff,” White said. “It’s like an obsession for him for some weird reason but I don’t hate your brother.”