Jake Paul says Ronda Rousey is getting paid better for MVP MMA than one of the UFC’s current champions.
Speaking with Jorge Masvidal in a video shared by FULL SEND MMA, Paul claimed Rousey’s payday for her MVP MMA main event with Gina Carano is “a lot more” than Ilia Topuria makes in the UFC. He also said the lowest-paid fighter on MVP’s card is still making more than the lowest-paid UFC fighter.
Topuria is the current UFC lightweight champion, a former UFC featherweight champion, and an unbeaten fighter who became the first Georgian and Spanish UFC champion. Rousey is a former UFC women’s bantamweight champion and Olympic judo bronze medalist. Carano went 7-1 in MMA and was one of the early faces of women’s MMA before moving into acting.
Paul framed MVP’s pay model as part of what the promotion wants to change.
“Yeah, well, that’s what we’re trying to change when people work with MVP and giving people their record, fighting,” Paul said.
Masvidal asked what the lowest-paid fighter on the card is making. Paul said he did not know the exact number, but still compared it directly to UFC pay.
“I don’t, I don’t,” Paul said. “But definitely more than the UFC by a lot.”
Masvidal pushed back by pointing out that UFC entry pay can be helped by bonuses and show-and-win money.
“I mean, y’all let me know what that number is, because UFC pays decent, too,” Masvidal said. “In the beginning, because you get that $50,000 bonus and you making 10 and 10 because on the regional, you ain’t making nothing.”
Paul then brought up Rousey’s purse and compared it to Topuria.
“I know, here’s what I can say,” Paul said. “I know how much Ronda Rousey is making for this event. And it’s a lot more than what Ilia Topuria makes for fighting.”
Watch the full video below:
Jake Paul says that Ronda Rousey is making a lot more for her main event with Gina Carano than Ilia Topuria is when he fights for the UFC.
He also adds the lowest paid fighter on MVP’s card is still making more than the lowest paid guy in the UFC. pic.twitter.com/D12PP5Du21
— FULL SEND MMA (@full_send_mma) May 13, 2026
Paul Says Rousey’s Purse Beats What Topuria Makes In UFC
MVP has pushed Rousey vs. Carano as a major Netflix event, and fighter pay has been part of the promotion’s pitch. Rousey has already promoted MVP’s minimum purse as a direct contrast to UFC entry-level pay.
Paul did not give exact purse figures, so the specific dollar gap cannot be verified from the video alone. His claim was that Rousey’s number beats what Topuria makes, and that MVP’s bottom-end pay is higher than the UFC’s bottom-end pay.
Masvidal sounded surprised by the Topuria comparison.
“That’s interesting to know, right?” Masvidal said. “Because obviously, I think Ilia, when you mentioned guys like that, should be the highest-paid guys, period, you know?”
Paul agreed that elite names should be getting huge money.
“Crazy money coming their way,” Paul said.
He also gave Rousey credit for her role in MMA’s growth.
“But, you know, I’m happy for Ronda, man,” Paul said. “That’s good for her, man, because she did a lot for the sport. She blew it up.”
