Jake Paul went to the UFC 306 (Noche) card earlier this month in disguise. ‘The Problem Child’ did this purportedly because he is banned from attending UFC events. After all, the contempt and outright hatred that Dana White has for him is well-known, with the UFC CEO having called him a ‘clown’, a drug cheat, and having described his boxing career as a “circus act.”
But, Paul, who isn’t exactly one to pull his punches, has had a markedly conciliatory tone when talking about the UFC CEO of late. Exhibit A for this seeming change of heart is Paul’s recent podcast with Steve-O, where he revealed that his ‘only’ problem with White was that the UFC paid its lowest-tier fighter less than what Paul thinks is fair. However, former UFC star Josh Thomson doesn’t think this purported change is out of the goodness of Paul’s heart but is motivated by cold, hard business decisions of the Saudi Arabian kind.
“Jake Paul had a little something to say about Dana and him backing out of giving Dana a hard time and all of these things. Now, look, I believe, [in] my personal opinion there’s more to this story. We just don’t know. I believe that Jake Paul is probably working some sort of a side deal in boxing with probably Saudi Arabia or you know somewhere in the Middle East. He’s probably working some sort of little side deal so he’s going to have to play nice. It’s CU funny because this whole thing came about right after Noche and guess who else was there?… Turki [Alalsheik] was there,” he said on his ‘Weighing In’ podcast.
The Saudi government, of course, is trying to make the Kingdom a sports tourism hub. Over the past few years, the monarchy has hosted some of the biggest boxing cards in the world, including the first undisputed heavyweight clash in nearly half a century. This year, Saudi, for the first time, welcomed the UFC to its sandy shores and was also the title sponsor for the UFC 306 card via its ‘Riyadh Season’ brand. The point man for all of the combat sports-related business is Turki Alalsheik. The latter, of course, is Saudi’s Chairman of the General Entertainment Authority.
It is unclear why Paul would need to play nice with Dana White and the UFC even if he hopes to do some business with the Saudis. After all, it’s not like White is going to have any say on whom the Saudis do business with. After all, Jake Paul himself, despite all the criticism he gets, is one of the biggest names in the fight game.
Jake Paul to face Mike Tyson for Netflix’s combat sports debut
Of all the opponents Jake Paul has faced, none come close to the legendary figure he’ll step into the ring with in November. Mike Tyson, even 20 years after his retirement, remains a towering icon—arguably the most beloved and recognized fighter in the world. But this fight is more than just a spectacle between two big names; it’s a clash of eras and one that comes with a lot of intrigue, especially considering the state of Tyson’s health. At 58, Tyson has faced a slew of physical challenges, even being spotted in a wheelchair on occasion. Yet, his allure is so powerful that, despite these setbacks, he remains a global phenomenon.
On paper, the matchup seems like a lopsided affair. Jake Paul, 30 years younger and very much in his athletic prime, appears to have the upper hand in terms of fitness and stamina. But that’s exactly what makes this fight so captivating—there’s more at play than just youth versus experience. In fact, Netflix has chosen this very fight as its first major venture into the combat sports world, proving just how magnetic Tyson’s name still is. The streaming giant could have picked from any number of current boxing champions, but they went with Tyson—a testament to the Iron Mike mystique that still captures the hearts of fight fans across the globe.
As for Jake Paul, he’s no slouch in the promotion department either. Over the past few years, he’s managed to turn himself into a major PPV draw, surpassing even some of the reigning champions in the sport. His marketing prowess is undeniable, and rumors are already swirling about potential talks with Saudi Arabia to stage one of his future fights there. The global appeal of a Jake Paul-Mike Tyson fight is undeniable, and it’s not just about who wins or loses—it’s about the collision of worlds, the old guard versus the new, and the unpredictability that comes when two titans from different eras meet in the ring.
So what do you think of this fight? Is Paul simply riding on Tyson’s legendary status, or is there more to this showdown than meets the eye? One thing’s for sure: fight fans won’t want to miss it.
