Randy Couture is happy to see someone like Jake Paul taking the UFC to task over fighter pay.
Paul has never been shy in calling out Dana White over how he treats UFC fighters. Paul has slammed the UFC President for how he talks down on fighters during media appearances. “The Problem Child” recently criticized White for not paying Stephen Thompson his show money despite making weight, while his initially scheduled UFC 291 opponent Michel Pereira didn’t do his job, missing weight and thus, canceling the fight.
Focus on taking care of @WonderboyMMA purse. He’s pushing 41, you matched him against a 28 year old who totally disregarded the weight and you wanted to pressure him to fight. https://t.co/jYrRsCrBTV
— Jake Paul (@jakepaul) August 9, 2023
Randy Couture Heaps Praise On Jake Paul
Randy Couture, MMA legend and PFL color commentator, has taken notice of Jake Paul’s efforts to press the UFC over these issues. Appearing on MMA Junkie Radio, Couture gave Paul his seal of approval for tackling the issue of UFC fighter pay.
“If it takes a guy like Jake Paul to shine a light on the disparaging difference in our sport and the issue in our sport, then I’ll get behind that guy all day long,” Couture said. “I’m not a fan of the trolling and the rhetoric, but he’s backed it up. He’s stepped in there, he’s done the work, he’s talented, he’s got a great platform, and he’s helping all of us as MMA fighters by shining a light on that, by poking Dana White in the chest the way he does.”
Fighter Association Roadblock
Randy Couture then touched on the topic of a union for MMA fighters. He explained the difficulty in starting something that actually holds weight.
“That’s been the biggest issue with creating a fighter’s association is to get certainly that top tier, that top five percent of the fighters that are making good money,” Couture said.
Couture also said that fighters are signing “crappy contracts” and giving their ancillary rights away. He praised Francis Ngannou for attempting to create some change within the UFC before ultimately signing with the PFL.
