Jake Paul and Dana White backed to work together despite bitter rivalry

YouTube star Paul has proven a thorn in White’s side at multiple points this year, including causing havoc at two UFC events, and neither man has been complimentary of the other

Video Loading

Video Unavailable

The video will auto-play soon8Cancel

Play now

John Kavanagh “would love” to train Logan and Jake Paul

Jake Paul has been backed to finally get to work with UFC boss Dana White by MMA referee John McCarthy.

Paul has called out a number of White’s contracted fighters for massive boxing crossover fights, including Jorge Masvidal, Nate Diaz and Conor McGregor.

But despite White consistently telling Paul that there is no chance he will get his wish against any of the UFC stars, McCarthy believes it will soon become undeniable for the promotional boss.

Paul has already fought former UFC fighters Tyron Woodley and Ben Askren, including knocking out ex-welterweight champion Woodley in a brutal sixth round finish earlier this month.

And McCarthy believes that Paul will eventually find his way into the UFC, where he can use his high school wrestling background as well as his new-found striking skills.

“Jake has already said that he’s moving to MMA,” McCarthy said during an episode of his podcast Weighing In .

“So, if that’s true, he’ll have plenty of places that he can shop his wares.

“If the UFC was gonna give someone like CM Punk [Phil Brooks] a shot, why wouldn’t you give Jake Paul a shot?

“Especially with all the stuff he’s been saying, all the things he’s been doing, and then the win streak he has against some of your ex-fighters and stuff like that?

“It would be easy to sell and you would make a ton of money. If there’s one thing I know Dana is not against, he is definitely not against making money.

“He loves to sell pay-per-views, so I think it would be a beneficial partnership for both.”

White infamously handed two UFC fights to professional wrestling star CM Punk in 2016 and 2018, where he was submitted within seconds by Mickey Gall and brutally beat down over a 15-minute fight by Mike Jackson.

Punk was 38-years-old when he made his fighting debut under the UFC banner, and had considerably less impressive combat sports credentials than Paul.

And the YouTuber has said that his ultimate plan is to become a world champion in boxing before making the switch to MMA, where he can use his wrestling credentials.

“For sure, 100 per cent I think it could happen,” Paul responded when asked about a possible MMA fight at a press conference ahead of his fight with Woodley.

Would you like to see Jake Paul move over to the UFC? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below!

“Why not? If I can learn how to box in two years and beat people like [Woodley], then why can’t I learn how to do MMA in two years and beat people like him?

“That’s my answer, it will happen at some point, 100 per cent.”

And later in the day, he spoke at a media scrum about his ambition to work with Nurmagomedov and his trainer Javier Mendez.

“For sure I will,” Paul added. “People seem to forget that I was a state wrestler, division one in Ohio.

“That’s one of the hardest wrestling states and I don’t see why if I can do boxing at this high of a level that I couldn’t do MMA at this high of a level.

“I’m going to go and get coached up by Javier Mendes, Team Khabib and that’s that.

“They’re down, 100 per cent – I’ve got to go 10-0 or 12-0 in boxing first and then I’ll hit that MMA fight.”