Jake Paul rips Ilia Topuria over ‘NFL rookie’-level UFC pay

Jake Paul never shies away from critiquing UFC fighter pay.

Paul got into it with UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria (17-0 MMA, 9-0 UFC) over the phone. Topuria asked Paul what he means by saying UFC CEO Dana White is his dad, and the YouTube influencer turned pro boxer jumped at the opportunity to belittle him.

“You can’t do anything. You make probably $2 million a fight and he just paid Conor Benn $15 million,” Paul told Topuria during a live stream on Adin Ross’ Kick. “How come you weren’t on the highest-paid athletes’ list? … Brother, you get paid as much as an NFL rookie. Like, congrats.”

Topuria has emerged as one of the sport’s biggest stars after three-straight knockouts over Alexander Volkanovski, Max Holloway, and Charles Oliveira.

“Mmm, you’re wrong,” Topuria said. “The difference between me and you is that your value is based on perception, and you need to sell that. You need to tell all your fans how much you’re making because you need to fulfill something that you’re missing in yourself.”

White’s entry to boxing and the signing of Conor Benn to Zuffa Boxing for a one-fight, $15 million deal has irked numerous UFC fighters such as Sean O’Malley and Michael Page.

“He’s owned by Dana, and they just paid Conor Benn $15 million,” Paul said. “That should bother you.”

While fighter purses is rarely ever disclosed, Topuria made a bold claim in response.

“It doesn’t bother me because I make more than that,” Topuria said.

This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Jake Paul and Ilia Topuria argue over UFC fighter pay

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