Dana White and Jake Paul just can’t keep from calling each other out in the press. Following news of Paul vs Rahman Jr’s cancellation, Dana White hypothesized that Paul couldn’t sell enough tickets. Jake Paul’s business partner, a former associate of White (and the UFC), insists that there’s more to the story.
Paul vs Rahman Jr was supposed to take place this weekend at Madison Square Garden, but was cancelled only a few days ago. At the UFC 277 post-fight press conference, the UFC president threw a few barbs Jake Paul’s way, and added one for Paul’s business partner, Nakisa Bidarian, who once served as the UFC’s Chief Financial Officer.
Jake Paul’s Business Partner Fires Back at Dana White Criticism
“I think they sold under a million dollars in tickets, and it costs $500,000 to turn the f****** lights on at MSG. That’s what I think. Not to mention hotel rooms in New York and transportation and everything else is very expensive […]
I’m not going to sit up here and be happy or gloat that their fight fell out. Both those guys I’m sure put in a lot of hard work and a lot of training to get ready for this fight, spent money to get ready for this fight.
I will say this, just because you were an accountant here doesn’t mean you know what the f*** goes on here. It doesn’t mean you can run a fight promotion company.
I think that Jake Paul probably needs to get some different people around him. If he’s going to stay in the sport, he needs to be with guys that really know how to put on fights.” Bidarian quickly reacted via Instagram, insisting that ticket sales were not the issue.
“Had zero to do with ticket sales. We already sold more tickets, more gate than Ryan Garcia just did at Staples Center. We were going to be top-10 in gates since 2005 at MSG.
Jake Paul was taking a big challenge. All of his fights have been from about 188 to 191 pounds, and all of his opponents — outside Nate Robinson — have been plus or minus one to two pounds of him. That’s all it is.
They can try and change the narrative, they can try to destroy what this young man has done. I’m proud of him. He’s his own boss. He’s his own promoter, and I’m just an accountant. What’s up?”
Jake Paul, although he is 5-0 as a professional boxer, still has yet to fight a boxer. Whose side are you on? Let us know in the comments.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwjnAEgnUkc
