5 UFC fighters who supported Jake Paul
Jake Paul is a divisive figure in the world of combat sports. Initially, his relentless callouts of the then reigning UFC champions were regarded as mere annoyances. Often-times, UFC fighters would warn 'The Problem Child' not to presume to take on true martial artists who have dedicated their entire lives to combat sports.
Over time, their annoyance with him magnified as Paul began earning more than most top-ranked UFC fighters. The hatred aimed at Jake Paul only worsened once he outboxed former world champions Tyron Woodley and Ben Askren, both of whom were aging wrestlers. Strangely, there exists a camp of UFC fighters who support Jake Paul.
His decision to constantly lambaste Dana White over fighter pay led some to regard Paul as an ally of fair and clean MMA. As his upcoming boxing match with MMA legend Anderson Silva looms ever closer, this list looks at 5 UFC fighters who broke away from the Jake Paul hate bandwagon.
#5. Randy Couture
Former two-division champion Randy Couture has had a well-documented feud with UFC President Dana White. Couture has always been a proponent of an improved pay structure for UFC fighters. His relationship with 'Uncle Dana' worsened when 'The Natural' left the UFC commentary booth to sign with the promotion's largest North American rival, aka Bellator MMA.
In retaliation, the UFC barred Couture from cornering his son in his UFC bouts.
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Paul echoed the sentiments of many fighters by highlighting the unequal distribution of revenue in the UFC. He found a strange supporter in Couture. While genuinely supporting Paul, 'The Natural' characteristically deemed Paul's words as the YouTuber "running his mouth."
Couture himself has long called for improved fighter pay. He stated that if the change only comes as Paul attacks Dana White over the issue of fighter pay, then 'The Problem Child' has his blessing. He then proceeded to say how perplexing it is that MMA fighters seem incapable of coming together to do the deed themselves.