Conor McGregor has hit out at "wally" Jake Paul after he announced he had signed a deal to make his MMA debut.
The YouTube star has fought six times in the boxing ring without defeat against the likes of former UFC stars Tyron Woodley and Anderson Silva, but has always spoken of his desire to compete in the cage. On Thursday, Paul announced that he had signed a deal with MMA promotion PFL to make his debut in the cage, where he will fight in their new pay-per-view 'super-fight' division.
Paul will also receive equity from the promotion as part of the deal and is also taking up a new role as Head of Fighter Advocacy. Despite showing excitement ahead of the commencing of his new contract, UFC superstar McGregor has questioned the partnership, tweeting and deleting: "Numbnuts gave away fifty per cent of his future purse if he does an MMA fight.
"Wow what an idiot. Joint partnership what? For what you wally. Wally." McGregor is clearly not a fan of the partnership, which could be largely down to Paul's repetitive trolling of the Irishman in a bid to entice him into a boxing clash.
A fight between the pair could open up if McGregor ever elects to return to either the boxing ring or cage outside of the UFC, where his contract is set to expire in two fights' time. Paul has been campaigning for improved MMA fighter pay and conditions since his arrival in combat sports, and this will likely be his latest step to becoming more involved with the sport.
Paul explained that he will be heavily involved with business outside of competition, and intends to see PFL fighters generating half of the promotion's revenue. He said: "I've officially signed as an MMA fighter to the fastest-growing sports league in the world, the PFL. Not only am I'm an MMA fighter but I'm also a co-founder of the new PFL pay-per-view super-fight division.
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"I personally will be deeply involved in making sure the PFL is the best place in the world for fighters, with the launch of this new division our fighters will be receiving 50 per cent of the revenue. A partnership that allows fighters to be individual and for them to monetise their own sponsorship deals which, as we know, isn't allowed in the UFC.
"I've already disrupted boxing but now it's time to disrupt in MMA, I know this is such a tough sport and it's not going to be easy. But if I did it in boxing I can do it in MMA. I'm so dedicated that I've offered Nate Diaz a two-fight deal, first we box then six months later we fight in the PFL SmartCage. If that's not balls, then I don't know what it is."
