Paul: UFC dying under White

Jake Paul has stepped up his long-running criticism of Dana White, claiming the Ultimate Fighting Championship is heading in the wrong direction under its current leadership. 

Speaking on the This Past Weekend podcast, Paul questioned White’s ability to steady the promotion, pointing to what he sees as a growing disconnect between the company, its fighters, and its audience.

His argument focused heavily on the build-up to UFC Freedom 250, a June 14 card set for the White House. 

Paul singled out the proposed main event between Ilia Topuria and Justin Gaethje, suggesting the matchup does not fit the occasion. 

He also referenced the absence of Jon Jones, arguing that failing to secure one of the sport’s biggest names reduces the event’s pull.

In his words: “Just look at what he’s doing. You don’t get Jon Jones on the White House card? First of all, Justin Gaethje is going to lose to Ilia (Topuria) on the White House card. So you have a Spaniard beating a white American on the patriotic White House card? Big mistake.

“Why are you not going to pay Jon Jones? They’ve gotten greedy. They’ve forgotten their heart as a company. 

That’s the problem. It’s dying because the best people in the sport become wrestlers, and they just hold on. Khabib, Khamzat, boring. 

No one wants to watch that. When they’re paying fighters like 15 percent of the revenue, by the way, down to 10 percent. What is Paramount? Who has that?”

Beyond the fight card itself, Paul pointed to broader concerns around decision-making at TKO Group Holdings. 

He described a shift toward financial caution, where returns take priority over building stars or delivering standout fights. 

In his view, that approach has made it harder for the promotion to create the kind of matchups that once drove widespread interest.

The comments come as Paul prepares to promote his own event under Most Valuable Promotions, with a debut MMA card scheduled for May 16. 

The show is set to feature Ronda Rousey against Gina Carano, a matchup he is touting as a different model, pushing recognizable names and broader reach through streaming.

Paul’s dispute with White has largely centred on fighter pay, but it has widened into a broader argument about where the sport is heading. 

With his own promotion entering the space, Paul is now tying those criticisms to a competing vision, one he believes can draw attention away from the UFC and benefit his promotion.