Liverpool UFC fighter Paddy Pimblett has slammed Jake Paul after his Dana White fighter pay claims and stating that he'll step into the UFC octagon.
Paul has attacked White publicly on numerous occasions over UFC fighter pay and what they take home after competing in comparison to boxers.
The YouTuber turned boxer has gone back and forth with White for more than a year and even threatened to retire from boxing if White increases fighter pay.
On Twitter, he posted: “Happy New Year @danawhite. Here is a real challenge for you… I will immediately retire from boxing and fight Jorge Masvidal in the UFC if you agree to:
“1) Increase min fighter pay per fight to $50k (it’s $12k now).
“2) Guarantee UFC fighters 50% of UFC annual revenues ($1bn in 2021).
“3) Provide long term healthcare to all fighters (you previously said brain damage is part of the gig… imagine the NFL said that). There are many UFC alums who have publicly said they are suffering from brain damage.
“You have 5 days to accept and to implement the above by March 31, 2022. Once implemented I will immediately retire from boxing, enter USADA and agree to a 1 fight deal with UFC to fight weak chin Jorge [Masvidal].
“To all UFC fighters – time to take a stand and create value for yourselves and peers. 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.”
And whilst Paul has been praised for doing so, Liverpool's Pimblett is not a fan.
Pimblett believes Paul is using the verbal war to build his own profile and stature, whilst being seen to be doing something positive.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, he said: "I’ll be honest, that’s the thing that p***ed me off.
"He’s going on, he’s trying to act like a martyr, like he’s helping MMA fighters. He’s not, lad. He’s just doing that for his own publicity.
"That’s why the only thing that’s p***ing me off about it, people are like, ‘Ah, he’s actually being good for MMA fighters.’ He’s not. He just wants to make a show of Dana White and that’s the perfect way of doing it."
After a 5-0 professional record in his boxing career so far, Paul has stated that he will make the move to MMA if White agrees to his deal.
This is something Pimblett vehemently doubts.
He added: "The way he’s saying, ‘I’m gonna end up getting in the cage.’ You’re not, lad. You’re not, stop lying.
"If you wanna have an MMA fight, I’ll fight you in my ma’s garden tomorrow. You know what I mean?"
Pimblett is set to fight Rodrigo 'Kazula' Vargas at UFC London on March 19.
Paul, meanwhile, is set to take a break from boxing before returning later in 2022.
