Jake Paul and Dana White have spent years sniping from opposite corners of the combat sports world, but Paul’s latest comments suggest the rivalry might not be permanent.
Speaking on Theo Von’s podcast, the YouTuber-turned-boxer said he’d be willing to sell or partner his promotional outfit, Most Valuable Promotions (MVP), with White, the UFC president now pushing into the sweet science via Zuffa Boxing.
Jake Paul says he’s open to selling MVP to Dana White
Paul has built MVP into a serious boxing promoter since launching it in 2021 alongside Nakisa Bidarian, landing major cards and big-name fights while keeping himself at the centre of the spotlight.
Now, with White putting his weight behind Zuffa Boxing, Paul has turned his attention to what he sees as early missteps — and he didn’t exactly whisper his critique.
On the podcast, Paul took aim at the reported decision to pay Conor Benn $15 million for a boxing bout, arguing it clashes with the UFC’s established pay structure where even top MMA stars often earn far less than that for headline fights.
From Paul’s perspective, it’s not just sticker shock. He framed it as a strategic error: set the market too high too early, and the entire model becomes harder to control.
Then came the eyebrow-raising part. Paul suggested White would be better off buying MVP outright or joining forces with them, adding that he’d be willing to work together and doesn’t see ego as a barrier.
Why Zuffa Boxing vs MVP matters to UFC fans
For UK-based UFC followers, the Paul-White dynamic isn’t just online drama. If Zuffa Boxing becomes a genuine player, it could reshape where combat sports athletes go for opportunities — and what they can demand when contracts are negotiated.
The UFC has long dominated MMA’s global structure, and White’s brand of promotion is built on central control: one umbrella, one set of champions, and a tight business model. Boxing, by contrast, is famously fragmented, with fighters and promoters pulling in different directions.
Paul’s angle is simple: MVP has already learned how to sell fights in the modern attention economy, and it’s already operated outside the UFC’s system. If White wants to avoid expensive lessons, Paul’s basically offering a shortcut — for the right price.
Whether White would ever consider it is another matter. Their public history isn’t exactly partnership-friendly, and White typically prefers owning the conversation rather than sharing it.
MVP MMA 1 announced for May 16: Rousey vs Carano headlines
Paul’s bigger play, though, might be what comes next. MVP has announced a move into MMA in 2026, and it’s kicking the door in with a debut card that reads like a fever dream from a 2015 message board.
The first event, titled MVP MMA 1, is set for May 16 in Inglewood, California, in partnership with Netflix. The main event is Ronda Rousey vs Gina Carano, a bout with enough name value to spark interest well beyond hardcore MMA circles.
There’s also a major heavyweight attraction on the bill. Former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou is booked to face Philipe Lins in the co-main event, giving the card immediate credibility with fans who care about elite-level violence as much as celebrity.
Elsewhere, it’s a mash-up of familiar faces, cult favourites, and legitimate talent. Nate Diaz vs Mike Perry is the kind of chaotic matchmaking that sells itself, while Junior Dos Santos returns again, and Muhammad Mokaev adds a serious sporting layer in a flyweight matchup against Adriano Moraes.
Whatever you think of Paul as a promoter, he’s clearly trying to cover every base: nostalgia, star power, and real divisional relevance — from heavyweight all the way down to flyweight.
What a Jake Paul–Dana White partnership could look like
If you strip away the personalities, there’s a fascinating business question here: would a Dana White–Jake Paul alliance actually work?
White has the UFC machine — world-class production, proven matchmaking infrastructure, and the sport’s deepest roster. Paul has Netflix relationships, crossover marketing instincts, and a knack for turning “non-traditional” combat sports ideas into mainstream events.
But the pitfalls are obvious. Paul’s brand is built on disrupting the traditional hierarchy; White’s brand is built on being the hierarchy. Even if a partnership made financial sense, it’d require both sides to give up control in ways neither has ever shown much appetite for.
Still, Paul putting the idea out there is meaningful. It signals MVP sees itself as a long-term player, not just a vehicle for one man’s fights. And it also puts pressure on Zuffa Boxing to prove it’s not just a headline, but a sustainable league.
What happens next
The immediate next step is simple: all eyes move to MVP MMA 1 on May 16. If the Netflix numbers hit and the show feels polished, Paul will have real leverage — the kind you can’t dismiss with a soundbite at a press conference.
As for Dana White, the ball is in his court. He can ignore the offer, mock it, or surprise everyone and explore it quietly behind the scenes. In combat sports, yesterday’s enemy has a funny way of becoming tomorrow’s business partner when the money’s right.
Either way, the UFC’s orbit is about to get busier. Between Zuffa Boxing’s launch and MVP’s MMA ambitions, the fight game’s next power struggle might not happen in the cage — it could happen in the boardroom.
FAQ
Did Jake Paul really say he’d sell MVP to Dana White?
Yes. On Theo Von’s podcast, Jake Paul said he’d be open to Dana White buying or partnering with Most Valuable Promotions, framing it as a way to avoid “mistakes” in boxing.
What is Zuffa Boxing and how is it linked to the UFC?
Zuffa Boxing is Dana White’s boxing venture under the Zuffa banner, the same company historically tied to the UFC. It’s positioned as a new attempt to promote boxing with a UFC-style model.
When is MVP MMA 1 and what’s the main event?
MVP MMA 1 takes place on May 16 in Inglewood, California, with Ronda Rousey vs Gina Carano headlining. The event is being staged in collaboration with Netflix.
Who is Francis Ngannou fighting on the MVP MMA 1 card?
Francis Ngannou is set to fight Philipe Lins in the co-main event. Ngannou is the former UFC heavyweight champion, making his presence a major talking point for MMA fans.
Is Muhammad Mokaev fighting on MVP MMA 1 and what weight class is it?
Yes, Muhammad Mokaev is on the card against Adriano Moraes in a flyweight bout. It’s one of the more competitively significant matchups on a card packed with star names.
