Randy Couture is not a fan of Jake Paul’s antics, but praises him for helping MMA fighters get paid.
Paul thinks Dana White is severely underpaying his fighters, and has ripped the UFC president at every available opportunity. “The Problem Child” went as far as becoming a brand ambassador for PFL to help MMA fighters get an increase in pay and a larger share of the revenue.
UFC Hall of Famer and current PFL commentator Couture sees Paul’s moves as pivotal for the sport, and credits him for kicking things off by boxing MMA fighters, and giving them the opportunity for much larger paydays.
“Why is Jake Paul the mouth for MMA when he hasn’t fought in MMA yet?,” Couture told MMA Junkie Radio. “Because he brought in some MMA guys like Tyron Woodley, and Ben Askren, and Anderson Silva to do these Trillers, and those guys made more money from that one boxing match than they’ve ever made in MMA which is ridiculous.
“And if it takes a guy like Jake Paul to shine a light on the disparaging difference in our sports, and the issue in our sport, then I’ll get behind that guy all day long. I’m not a fan of the trolling and the rhetoric, but he’s backed it up. He’s stepped in there, he’s done the work, he’s talented, he’s got a great platform, and he’s helping all of us as MMA fighters by shining a light on that and by poking Dana White in the chest the way he does.”
Paul is expected to compete in MMA under the PFL banner. After defeating ex-UFC fighter Nate Diaz by unanimous decision in a boxing match this past Saturday at American Airlines Center, Paul offered Diaz a $10 million purse for an MMA rematch – something he vows he’s very serious about.
For more on the matchup, visit MMA Junkie’s hub for Paul vs. Diaz.
