“Little Insecure Boys”- Jake Paul Accuses UFC of Piggybacking Off Netflix Fight Night
Credit: Olivia Rodrigo jokingly compares career paths with Jake Paul during #SNL monologue: When I was 13, I was on a Disney show called ‘Bizaardvark’. We had an incredible cast, which included Jake Paul. We'd always talk about our futures, me and Jake. I'd say, 'I really want to create music that explores the complexities of girls my age.' And he'd say, 'Well, one day I really want to beat up old guys on Netflix.' And we both did it! Hurray!"/Buzzing Pop Via X.
Credit: Olivia Rodrigo jokingly compares career paths with Jake Paul during #SNL monologue: When I was 13, I was on a Disney show called ‘Bizaardvark’. We had an incredible cast, which included Jake Paul. We'd always talk about our futures, me and Jake. I'd say, 'I really want to create music that explores the complexities of girls my age.' And he'd say, 'Well, one day I really want to beat up old guys on Netflix.' And we both did it! Hurray!"/Buzzing Pop Via X.
Jake Paul calls out UFC, accusing them of piggybacking off the Netflix fight night. Even though Jake Paul's Most Valuable Promotions took center stage this weekend, UFC CEO Dana White made every effort to divert attention from MMA's Netflix debut. The historic MMA debut was facilitated by the clash of two titans - Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano, both being the pioneers of women's combat sports.
On Saturday, while Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano faced off in front of a live audience at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, MVP and UFC went against each other, with the latter hosting UFC Vegas 117 inside the Meta Apex. White went live on Instagram from the Apex, announcing Conor McGregor's comeback as former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou started his walkout for his bout against Philipe Lins on the Netflix main card co-headlining the Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano event on May 16.
The former two-division champion will fight Max Holloway at UFC 329 on July 11 in Las Vegas. He hasn't fought since July 2021. There were speculations that White might make a significant announcement to rain on MVP's parade, and he did so with his Instagram live. Speaking at the Los Angeles press conference following the bout, Jake Paul interpreted the move as a clear indication from the rival.
"That just shows how pressed they are. Little insecure boys trying to piggyback off our event and trying to put some news over top of us. Not gonna work, buddy," Paul said.
Presenting a respectable rival to the UFC was one of the primary objectives of the MVP card marketing. The event's main attraction, Rousey, spearheaded that effort with a 17-second armbar victory, and the non-title featherweight exhibition fight concluded almost instantaneously.
Anyhow, Jake Paul was not the only one to speak out against the move that Dana White pulled.
Ronda Rousey also speaks her mind
Jake Paul, in his usual style, expressed his opinion of Dana White’s Instagram stunt, but there were others who also did not hold back their thoughts. Like Paul, the champion of the night, Ronda Rousey, saw the announcement of the Conor McGregor fight as more of a praise.
“It’s kinda catty. But it also shows that they see MVP MMA as a threat that they would do it in that moment. It’s also a compliment because it elevates MVP MMA and makes their [declaration] that they see us as a real rival,” Rousey said.
White's timing was all the more intriguing because of who it came at the expense of. The announcement came just in time, the Francis Ngannou vs. Philipe Lins fight went underway. However, despite the long-standing animosity between Ngannou and White, Ngannou just wants to put it behind him.
What do you think of Dana White's move against MVP? Share your thoughts.
Written by
Harshit Kumar
Edited by
Hriddhi Maitra