KEY POINTS

  • Jake Paul has offered to fight Conor McGregor in the UFC
  • Brendan Schaub is wondering why the UFC doesn’t want to bring in Paul
  • UFC boss Dana White has addressed the YouTuber’s challenge

A former UFC fighter supports the idea of Jake Paul joining the UFC.

Despite making waves in the world of combat sports, it appears that the UFC is still not interested in bringing in the YouTuber-turned-pro boxer.

With zero mixed martial arts fights to his name, Paul is still far from being a world-class fighter.

However, one thing certain about the entire idea of having “The Problem Child” in the UFC is that it will generate a tremendous amount of interest.

Former UFC heavyweight Brendan Schaub recently weighed in on the subject on “The Schaub Show” podcast.

According to “Big Brown,” Paul entering the UFC is probably as huge as the crossover fight between Tyson Fury and Francis Ngannou.

Hence, it got Schaub baffled by the UFC’s “hesitation” to make it come to fruition.

“This is kind of the same thing with Francis [Ngannou] and Tyson Fury,” Schaub said of Paul joining the UFC. “If I’m the UFC, this is happening regardless, why not get a piece of the pie? That pie is getting made whether it’s in a year from now or two years, it’s in the oven dude. I don’t get what the hesitation is.”

Jake Paul celebrates with his brother, Logan, after defeating AnEsonGib
Jake Paul celebrates with his brother, Logan, after defeating AnEsonGib Getty Images | Michael Reaves

As it stands, Paul has already pitched to UFC president Dana White his desire to face former two-division champion Conor McGregor.

For Schaub, the promotion will benefit immensely from the internet star's drawing power.

He also stressed that if the UFC allowed former WWE performer CM Punk to set foot inside the Octagon, the organization should give the same treatment to Paul.

“I would say that Jake Paul is more suited to compete in the UFC than f------ CM Punk, he has professional fights,” he pointed out. “Again, Conor [McGregor] is gonna make a lot of money, Jake Paul is going to make a lot of money, play ball with him.”

“ I know you don’t like him or whatever, but play ball with him."

CM Punk
CM Punk fights in the first round in his welterweight bout against Mike Jackson during the UFC 225: Whittaker v Romero 2 event at the United Center on June 9, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. Jackson won by unanimous decision. Getty Images/Dylan Buell

White, on the other hand, has already addressed the issue with Paul last month.

As per the 52-year-old, the huge difference in size makes the McGregor vs. Paul fight impossible.

More importantly, White reckoned that the UFC is simply not the platform for what Paul has to offer.

“This is the biggest fight promotion in the history of the world,” White reiterated. “We have all the best fighters in the world. That’s what I do. There’s always gonna be a market for those types of fights. This isn’t the place for them."

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