Paul proposes a fight against McGregor OR Masvidal

The YouTube influencer-turned-boxer said Saturday he would sign a one-fight UFC contract to compete against McGregor or Masvidal in MMA with a bet on the line.

Paul proposes that if he wins, UFC should set up a plan to pay fighters 50% of the company’s revenue and provide them with full medical care. If Paul loses, he said he would donate all of his money to UFC fighters who make less than $50,000 per fight “and I will never mention the UFC again.”

Documents cited in the antitrust lawsuit filed against the UFC put fighters’ salaries at between 18% and 20% of the company’s revenue.

“Fighting Conor is what I want most, but I would also fight Masvidal,” Paul said. “I know it may seem impossible to beat these guys in MMA, but when you believe, you can accomplish anything. I would ask for six months to train.”

UFC has not responded to Paul’s idea and it would be outside the norm for the promoter to do so. But UFC president Dana White, who publicly feuded with Paul over the past year, wouldn’t close the door on Paul fighting one day in UFC, he said in an interview earlier this year with TSN.

Paul and his team said they are serious about the proposition. In his statement, Paul referenced a desire to emulate Marvin Miller, the Major League Baseball Players Association executive who built the baseball players’ union into one of the strongest unions in the United States. UFC fighters are not unionized and are designated as independent contractors.

“This is bigger than me,” Paul said. “This is my Marvin Miller energy.”

Paul said he would seek a UFC purse to fight McGregor or Masvidal of similar value to what CM Punk or Brock Lesnar were paid. Punk reportedly made about $1 million per fight, while Lesnar’s guaranteed purse for his last fight, UFC 200 in 2016, was $2.5 million.

Paul said that would be less than what he currently earns in boxing. In 2021, Paul defeated former UFC fighter Ben Askren and former UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley twice, most recently by one-punch knockout last December.

“If I lose, I would donate my winnings from the fight to fighters who make less than $50,000 per fight, with a larger share going to athletes who make less but have been in UFC longer,” Paul said. “And I’ll never mention UFC again.”

Paul said if he wins, he would like the UFC to commit to a five-year plan that would gradually give fighters 50 percent of earnings, plus “year-round health care,” including benefits that would continue after a fighter’s UFC career “based on tenure.”

“There are no losers in this proposal,” Paul said. “UFC has a massive event that generates revenue. If I win, Dana will change the future of UFC fighters forever. If I lose, there will be a one-time bonus for a lot of fighters, MMA never has to hear from me again, and Conor [or] Jorge wins again and they get to shut Jake Paul up.”