Jake Paul purchases shares in the UFC’s parent company as boxing novice vows to help improve fighter pay amid MMA promotion’s contract standoff with Francis Ngannou
- Jake Paul has purchased shares in the UFC’s parent company, Endeavour
- Paul, 24, has long held a tumultuous relationship with UFC president Dana White
- The boxing novice has advocated for greater fighter pay for UFC athletes
- He hopes that his latest investment can help give fighters a greater share
Jake Paul has purchased shares in the UFC’s parent company as he continues to champion increasing fighter pay among athletes within the organisation.
Paul, 24, has long advocated that UFC fighters are not paid their worth, and has endured a bitter back-and-forth with the organisation’s president, Dana White, over the last few months.
And in a bid to make changes to the UFC’s pay structure, Paul has completed the purchase of stocks in Endeavour Group Holdings – the company which owns the UFC – alongside investment partner Geoffrey Woo.
Jake Paul has announced his purchase of shares in the UFC’s parent company, Endeavour
‘I’ve invested in EDR (UFC) stock with my partner @geoffreywoo 2 focus on UFCs ESG standards relating to fighters,’ Paul tweeted on Tuesday.
‘We believe EDR can drive long-term economic value by increasing UFC fighter pay & providing them healthcare.
‘Reaching out to @EngineNo_1 to partner on this ‘endeavour.”
Paul and Woo are intending to convince other activist and impact hedge fund investors to get onboard, with the latter claiming that there is a disparity in the ratio between revenue pocketed by athletes compared to owners.
Paul, 24, has endured a bitter back-and-forth with UFC president Dana White over fighter pay
Now the American says he wants to increase UFC fighter pay after becoming a shareholder
‘My partner Jake has lead the way in changing the business of combat sports by not just talking about it, but being about it — fighter pay, healthcare, & championing women’s sport,’ Woo said.
‘And today is our next step in our vision of revolutionizing the industry.
‘UFC has faced a rising chorus of criticism for the exploitation of its athletes — the [love] of [the] biz.
‘The ratio of revenue going to athletes vs. owners & leagues is well below industry standard.
‘This disparity hurts long-term shareholder value & this is not going to magically change.
The move comes amid a contract standoff between the UFC and star fighter Francis Ngannou
‘Jake is the archetype of the future, where individual transcends the machine.
‘This is happening across all sectors — media, entertainment, & tech start-ups where dynamic, innovative individuals & creators are bargaining toe-to-toe w the owners, the institutions, and the academy.
‘We believe the best way to accelerate this inevitable revolution is to lead it from within the UFC as co-owners & impact investors.
‘We will use our investment stake to rally fans, athletes, fellow shareholders, and management to do the right thing.’
Ngannou and the UFC have been locked in talks with no sign of an agreement being reached
Paul’s latest move comes amid a contract standoff between the UFC and its heavyweight champion, Francis Ngannou.
The Cameroonian, 35, is refusing to sign a new deal and says that the UFC’s terms put fighters ‘in captivity’. He also suggested that the UFC are suing his manager, Marquel Martin, for allegedly holding talks with Jake Paul’s business manager, Nakisa Bidarian.
‘I walked into the room waiting for my manager, my coach,’ Ngannou told The MMA Hour. ‘And they were like, “Wow.” I’m like, “What’s going on?”
‘They told me they just received an email from the UFC saying they’re going to sue [Martin] for talking with this guy, Nakisa.
‘Yeah. I’m like, “Who is Nakisa?” I wouldn’t recognise him if you put him in front of me.’