Jake Paul's broadcast partner Showtime claim they were denied access to footage of Anderson Silva's UFC career.
Paul will make the biggest step-up in his boxing career this weekend when he battles UFC legend Silva in Phoenix on Saturday night. The Brazilian has prior experience in the squared circle which has seen him defeat the likes of Julio Cesar Chavez Jr and Tito Ortiz, but he is primarily known for his long and successful stint in the UFC.
The YouTube star has had a strained relationship with Silva's former promotion, particularly with UFC president Dana White who has been left angered by Paul's relentless attempts to draw his fighters into crossover bouts. And president of Showtime Sports Stephen Espinoza believes the UFC could feel threatened by Paul's rise in the boxing world.
“The UFC hasn’t been cooperative in giving access to fight footage — usually that’s a courtesy that’s given without that much controversy,” Espinoza said in an interview with MMA Fighting when asked about the involvement of the UFC. “Here we didn’t get that. It didn’t affect our promotion, it would have been nice to be able use some of his old fight footage. I’m sure Anderson would have appreciated being able to get access to his old fights.
“It wasn’t a big thing. I think it was a series of little things and a series of comments over weeks and months that made it very clear that they’re hoping that this does not succeed. I think [the UFC is] uncomfortable whenever someone brings up the issue of fighter pay. They’re very defensive. There are issues there to look at. The structure and the treatment, a lot of what Jake says has a lot of merit.
“But I also think that there’s a threat in what Jake is doing in the entrepreneurial sense. Yes, he’s aligned with Showtime now, he’s been aligned with other platforms before but he is literally taking his business, his life’s dream. You don’t have to be with a huge promotion throughout your career and I think that is a threat to the established order of combat sports.”
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Paul has been critical of the UFC for a number of issues including fighter pay and the inability for fighters to negotiate other opportunities outside of the promotion. He has also accused White of trying to hurt the event this weekend, claiming that the UFC kingpin is fearful of his rise.
He tweeted: "Dana White is doing everything he can to hurt the Anderson Silva PPV promotion. The same Silva he said I would never fight. The same Silva he has kept out of UFC Hall of Fame. Just shows how much he fears what I’m doing. Trust me change is coming and we are getting organised."
