For the first time in years, UFC president Dana White and boxer-turned-promoter Jake Paul were seen face to face, marking a rare moment in one of combat sports’ most public rivalries.
The encounter, captured on video and shared widely on social media, showed the two men in close proximity after years of trading verbal shots through interviews, podcasts, and social platforms. While no confrontation broke out, the moment alone was enough to reignite conversations about their long-running feud and what it has represented for modern combat sports.
The rivalry has become symbolic of a larger divide between traditional MMA promotion and influencer-driven boxing, with both White and Paul positioned as figureheads of opposing philosophies.
Did Dana White not get a hand shake from Jake Paul or did the video start after⁉️
— BOXING n BBQ (@BOXINGnBBQ) January 21, 2026
Seems like continued beef. #BOXING#BOXINGnBBQ pic.twitter.com/uInsi7Bz2s
Years of Beef Between Dana White and Jake Paul
The tension between White and Paul has largely revolved around credibility and compensation. White has repeatedly criticized Paul’s boxing career, arguing that he carefully selects opponents who are either well past their prime or coming from different combat sports backgrounds.
White has openly dismissed Paul’s wins, often pointing out that many of his opponents were older former MMA fighters or retired athletes with limited boxing pedigrees. From White’s perspective, Paul’s success has been built on smart matchmaking rather than elite competition, a point he has emphasized whenever Paul’s name enters the boxing conversation.

SHOP: Kickboxing Equipment
Paul, however, has fired back just as aggressively. He has frequently accused White and the UFC of underpaying fighters, making athlete compensation a central theme of his public criticism. Paul has used his platform to highlight revenue splits, fighter pay disclosures, and comparisons with boxing purses, positioning himself as an advocate for fighters’ rights.
The feud escalated when Paul began calling out the UFC directly, challenging White to increase fighter pay and even proposing changes to healthcare and revenue sharing. White responded by labeling Paul a loud outsider who doesn’t understand the UFC business model, further deepening the divide.
Their unexpected face-to-face meeting does not signal reconciliation, but it does underline how intertwined their narratives have become. Whether through criticism, mockery, or reluctant acknowledgment, Dana White and Jake Paul remain linked figures in the ongoing evolution of combat sports, each representing a vastly different vision of what the industry should be.
READ MORE: UFC 324: Justin Gaethje vs. Paddy Pimblett: Event Details and Full Fight Card







