Jake Paul is calling out UFC fighters to “wake up” following Donald Cerrone’s revelation about his fight purse from his bout with Conor McGregor.
Cerrone, also known as “Cowboy,” announced his retirement from the UFC in July 2022 after a defeat against Jim Miller. His career had been marked by a turbulent losing streak, facing notable opponents such as Tony Ferguson, Justin Gaethje, Conor McGregor, Anthony Pettis, and Alex Morono.
In a video shared by Dan Canobbio, host of ‘Inside Boxing Live,’ Cerrone expressed his modesty, revealing that he was paid only $200,000 for his fight against McGregor despite the pay-per-view (PPV) event generating 1.3 million buys.
Donald Cerrone reveals he didn’t get a “Red Panty Night” by fighting Conor McGregor
“Everyone’s like ‘red panty night, you got paid’, no I didn’t. I got paid what I always got paid.”
🎥 YT / Rodeo Time #UFC #MMA pic.twitter.com/gZfNG81yw2
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) February 23, 2024
During the interview, Cerrone discussed his contractual obligations with the UFC, emphasizing that he was locked into an 8-fight deal, which meant he still had four fights remaining on his contract even after fighting McGregor.
The McGregor vs. Cerrone fight took place in January 2020 at UFC 246, ending in a TKO victory for McGregor within 40 seconds of the first round. While McGregor pocketed a $3 million fight purse, Cerrone’s earnings were a meager $200,000.
Jake Paul, known for his outspoken stance on fighter pay disparity in the UFC, didn’t hesitate to weigh in on Cerrone’s situation. Through a post on the social media platform ‘X,’ Paul highlighted the inadequacy of Cerrone’s fight purse, stressing the need for fighters to recognize their worth.
He emphasized Cerrone’s status as a legend in the sport, having dedicated years to his craft and being a veteran in MMA. Paul estimated that the event likely generated around $80 million in revenue.
Meanwhile, Jake Paul is gearing up for his next boxing match scheduled for Saturday, March 2nd, in San Juan, Puerto Rico, where he will face Ryan Bourland.
