Jake Paul Takes Fire at Dana White, Jon Jones: ‘I Think Dana Is Scared’

When given the opportunity, YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul did not shy away from a chance to criticize UFC head Dana White.

On Thursday, Paul hosted the press conference for the upcoming Professional Fighters League event titled “Battle of the Giants: Brace for Impact.” Paul, who has engaged in repeated back-and-forth exchanges with White over the years, re-ignited his fire towards the Ultimate Fighting Championship brass. Among his grievances towards the UFC include the issue of fighter pay as well as his desire to have boxing matches against active UFC fighters.

When asked about the winner between Francis Ngannou and Renan Ferreira potentially facing current UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones , Paul said he did not believe White would take the risk of doing so. Currently a rival businessman in the combat sports world, Paul suggested that the leading MMA league does not treat its fans properly.

“I think Dana [White] is scared to make that happen,” Park remarked about Ngannou or Ferreira vs. Jones. “He doesn’t want to lose his horse to Jon Jones . I love Jon Jones , but that is too much of a risk for Dana to take. Francis is one of the baddest, if not the baddest, man on the planet. I think Dana is scared and he doesn’t want to do that. But the MMA fans want that. But Dana never does anything for the fans.”

Former UFC heavyweight king Ngannou left the organization and the sport to pursue a pair of encounters in the boxing ring. The Cameroon-born competitor nearly picked up a decision over pound-for-pound great Tyson Fury , and then suffered a knockout at the hands of Anthony Joshua . His return to MMA in October will be his first fight under the PFL banner, and the first MMA fight for Ngannou since January 2022. In that most recent outing, Ngannou outworked Ciryl Gane to defend his heavyweight throne, only to surrender it later and enter free agency.

Brazil’s Ferreira earned the chance to take on “The Predator” by smiting Ryan Bader at the Bellator vs PFL: Champs vs. Champs event in February. The titanic 6-foot-8 striker blazed through the Bellator MMA heavyweight kingpin with ease, closing the show with a 21-second knockout to earn the “superbelt” at that event. In his career, the man who calls himself “Problema” has earned 12 of his 13 victories inside the distance.

As both men prepare for battle at The Mayadeen in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the debate will continue as to who will be the top heavyweight in the world. Sherdog’s Official Rankings do not include Ngannou in the heavyweight ranks due to his inactivity in MMA, while Jones sits at the no. 2 spot beneath Tom Aspinall . Paul believes this to be different, proclaiming that the winner between Ngannou and Ferreira should be considered the best heavyweight in the sport.