NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 29: Most Valuable Promotions founder Jake Paul speaks during the Weigh-In leading up to the World Lightweight Title fight between Katie Taylor (not pictured) and Amanda Serrano (not pictured) at The Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden on April 29, 2022 in New York, New York. The bout will be the first women's combat sports fight to headline Madison Square Garden. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
Jake Paul reacted to UFC lightweight contender Tony Ferguson, who blasted the UFC boss man Dana White for exploiting his fighters
Easily one of the most exciting and anticipated fight of the UFC 274 card, is the feature fight between Tony Ferguson and Michael Chandler. Ferguson has built a reputation around himself for being too temperamental and unpredictable when it comes to his fight style and personality outside octagon.
The ‘El Cucuy’ is one of the most fearless fighters of all time, and much like his demeanor inside the octagon, Ferguson isn’t afraid to take aims and digs at the UFC top brass, and speaks his mind unapologetically. During his pre-fight media scrum, he was asked about his famous tag line ‘Dana White privilege’, his fight against Chandler, and fighter pay.
“I don’t think it’s very funny,” Ferguson said. “Everybody is looking at it. They’re smiling and laughing, but nobody is saying sht. I’m the kid that’s up here with Dana Brown privilege, I guess, or whatever you want to call it. I don’t think it’s very funny anymore. I don’t think you guys should think that’s very funny. I’m taking this weekend very fcking seriously. I’ll kick this Dana White boy’s ass.”
“I think we’re underpaid, personally, to be real,” Ferguson said. “… I asked Dana to box. He said, ‘Fck no.’ I’m like, ‘Why? I want to go play baseball. I want to go do other pro sports. I’m an athlete. I grew up playing different sports at a high level. … I want to go do all these couple things but then I have this guy right here acting like a fcking drug dealer telling me I can’t go and do this sh*t. I want to go make more money for my family.
“… You make your money by showing up, winning and having good performances. Right now, we’re getting paid crypto, I guess, huh? They’re following everybody’s suit. They’re waiting for everybody to speak up. They’re waiting for everything else like that.”
Youtuber turned boxer, Jake Paul has been on a relentless tirade against the UFC and Dana White for fighter’s welfare and better pay. He has made it his mission to speak for the fighters, and many fighters including UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou have openly supported ‘The Problem Child’s’ efforts.
‘The Problem Child’ also used it as an opportunity to take another dig at UFC President Dana White, urging fans to listen to the plea of Ferguson and understand the broader picture. He posted a tweet saying, ‘ Don’t listen to me, listen to a UFC fighter, @tonyfergusonXT, who has the courage to speak up. Dana White is a billionaire while fighters are itching and clawing to make ends meet. “Dana White the drug dealer.”
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