YouTuber turned boxer Jake Paul has launched another attack at the UFC and its boss Dana White, giving a stunning ultimatum.
The 24-year-old posted on social media that he would agree to trade the boxing ring for the octagon and fight Jorge Masvidal, should White give in to several demands.
He requested fighters be paid a minimum of $50,000 USD ($68,880 AUD) per fight – a near-400 per cent increase on the current minimum – as well as a guarantee that UFC fighters would get half of the organisation’s annual revenue, and to provide long-term health care to all fighters, past and present.
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Paul has emerged as an unlikely ally of the labour movement in combat sports, repeatedly picketing White and the UFC to pay fighters more.
A poll of professional fighters in The Athletic last year show that fighters were overwhelmingly in favour of unionising, and in 2019, it was reported that more than a third of professional athletes in the UFC earned less than $45,000 USD a year.
“To all UFC fighters – time to take a stand and create value for yourselves and peers,” Paul wrote.
“You deserve higher pay, you deserve long term healthcare and above all you deserve freedom.
“Support each other. I am not your enemy, I am your advocate … who selfishly wants to KO a few of you to make some big bank.”
https://twitter.com/jakepaul/status/1477365412744552454
Paul has previously fought UFC alumni Ben Askren and Tyron Woodley, as well as ex-NBA great Nate Robinson, and Paul’s fellow YouTubers, AnEsonGib and Deji Olatunji.
He has beaten everyone he has faced by either knockout or TKO, Woodley losing on points in their first match-up before being knocked out in the sixth round last month.
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