UFC President Dana White has sparked a major controversy in the combat sports world. He publicly claimed he was unaware of the upcoming boxing match between Jake Paul and Anthony Joshua.
His comments were made after a UFC event over the weekend. When asked about the reported fight, White dismissed the idea, calling it a “bad idea.”
This response has drawn a fierce reaction from Jake Paul’s team. Nakisa Bidarian, co-founder of MVP Promotions, directly accused White of lying. When questioned by reporters, White stated he had not seen reports of the fight. After being informed, he mocked the matchup.
Dana White shared his thoughts on Jake Paul fighting Anthony Joshua next:
“That’s a f*cking bad idea… Everybody’s gonna get what they've finally been waiting for.” 😬 pic.twitter.com/vqdhbsikYv
— Happy Punch (@HappyPunch) November 16, 2025“Oh, Jesus. That’s a f**king bad idea. That’s a bad idea,” White said. He added, “I think everybody’s gonna get what they’ve finally been waiting for.” Nakisa Bidarian responded bluntly to these comments. “To say he wasn’t aware of [Paul vs. Joshua] is a blatant lie,” he told journalist Ariel Helwani.
🗣️ Dana White: “You know what tonight told me? There’s no f***ing way I make the [Jon Jones] vs Alex Pereira fight. Jon’s too big. Great wrestler.”#UFC #MMA #UFC309 pic.twitter.com/xlppbSmKrJ
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) November 17, 2024Bidarian’s allegations point to a deeper conflict between the UFC and crossover boxing. He suggested that White closely monitor all of Jake Paul’s activities. He also claimed the UFC pressures fighters not to work with Paul’s promotion. According to Bidarian, fighters are told they will not be welcome in the UFC if they collaborate with MVP.
Read: Trump Plans UFC Fight at White House for His 80th Birthday in 2026
This public dispute highlights the ongoing tension in combat sports. On one side is the established world of the UFC, and on the other are disruptive figures like Jake Paul. The planned fight between Paul and former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua has become a flashpoint in this power struggle
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