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Dana White responds to whether he sees Jake Paul as an ‘asset to the sport’
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- Dana White responds to whether he sees Jake Paul as an ‘asset to the sport’
Photo by Leonardo Fernandez/Getty Images
Dana White has given his latest thoughts on Jake Paul during a recent interview with Piers Morgan.
The UFC president has had a long-running public feud with the YouTuber-turned-boxer, with the pair regularly exchanging criticism over the past few years.
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Paul has repeatedly targeted White over fighter pay and the UFC's business model, while White has questioned Paul's boxing credentials and the legitimacy of many of his fights.
Dana White says Jake Paul has 'played the heel perfectly'
Photo by Harry How/Getty Images
Despite their history of criticism towards each other, White acknowledged that Paul has been successful in building attention around his boxing career.
Speaking on Piers Morgan Uncensored, the 56-year-old businessman suggested 'The Problem Child' has effectively used his controversial image to attract viewers.
White said: "Jake Paul is doing his thing. The guy obviously made a lot of money and people have been interested, and he plays the heel perfectly.
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"Even if you hate what he's doing and you hate all the stuff about him, you hate him so bad that you're tuning in to see him get knocked out. So he's played the thing the right way.
"And I'll tell you this, he got hit. If you look at what 'AJ' did to Francis Ngannou, right? The Jake fight, it was a terrible fight. And, you know, he kept trying to tackle him. He did everything he could to avoid a fight. But once he got hit with that shot, and he went down, broke his jaw, 'AJ' didn't knock him out. He definitely didn't knock him out the way he knocked Francis out.
"So if I give Jake Paul any credit, I'll give him that. He's built himself a business and he's made a lot of money."
Jake Paul and Dana White recently crossed paths due to Donald Trump
Despite their rivalry, the two figures were recently seen in the same setting.
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In January, a viral clip circulated online showing Paul alongside White during an appearance connected to Donald Trump in a college football game, highlighting how their circles sometimes overlap despite their public feud.
The moment sparked buzz among combat sports fans, particularly given the years of criticism both men have directed at each other.
While their relationship remains far from friendly, White's latest comments suggest he at least recognises the commercial impact Paul has managed to create in boxing.
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