Jake Paul (Credits: Yahoo)
Jake Paul applauds Luke Rockhold’s courage to speak up against the UFC over fighter pay
Jake Paul took to Twitter to react to Luke Rockhold’s pre-fight media interview where he blasted the UFC over fighter pay dispute. Fighter welfare issue has been plaguing the UFC for quite some time, and many fighters have voiced their concerns over the same. UFC middleweight Luke Rockhold was the latest entrant to boldly challenge the UFC by speaking candidly over the issue.
Luke Rockhold is all set to make a return to fighting at UFC 278 against Paulo Costa. He was last seen in the octagon against Jan Blachowicz at UFC 239. He is full of confidence and mettle leading up to the fight.
Addressing the issue of fighter pay, Rockhold said:
“Everything I’m saying is justified and truthful. Just because I should be in a position of power before I say this sht? Fck off. I have nothing to lose. I don’t need this business. I love fighting, and I’m here to fight the best motherfckers, and this happens to be the place where it’s done. The company is fcking growing, and they’re implementing other little stupid-ass bonuses – $5,000 here, $5,000 there. $50,000, man? We’ve been stuck on this motherfcker for 20 fcking years. I mean, back when GSP was fighting Jake (Shields), I mean, what was it? $100,000? F*cking it was growing.” [via MMA Junkie]
He added,
“When Lorenzo and Frank (Fertitta) were running the show, there was real grounding wires. These guys don’t know what they’re doing, and they’re letting Dana just run the show and suppress the sport. They need to grow. This whole fcking thing needs to grow together. Our lives are on the fcking line. Healthcare needs to be taken care of. Our f*cking health needs to be taken care of. Mine has not been taken care of. Do you know what I mean?
“There’s a lot of people and things that need to change. I’m just not going to be afraid to say it. Everyone wants to fcking get that title shot. They want to move up. I’ve fcking done it all. It’s like, yeah, this is business. Every business is like this. It’s about leverage. It’s a game of leverage and life. It’s about fcking always keeping the upper hand. It’s not just here. It’s everywhere. And if you let these motherfckers think they have this leverage, it’s only going to grow above you. It’s just people understanding their worth.”
Jake Paul was amongst the first to react to Luke Rockhold’s tirade against the UFC. ‘The Problem Child’ has been on a mission to improve fighter pay in the UFC himself.
He has resorted to open challenges, and mockery to protest against the UFC. Reacting to Rockhold’s interview, he wrote:
“Shoutout to Luke for speaking up. Imagine if all the champs came together and voiced the same. UFC has achieved amazing things…now it can & should step up and provide these fighters their fair share.”
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