Jake Paul: Israel Adesanya should be paid ‘at least $7 million a fight’

Whatever Israel Adesanya’s new contract is with the UFC, Jake Paul hopes he’s getting what he’s worth.

Paul issued a tweet on Thursday after Adesanya announced that she had renewed her contract with UFC. A deal that Adesanya described as one of the best multi-fight contracts in UFC history .”

The details of Adesanya’s new deal are not known, but Paul wrote that the reigning UFC middleweight champion “should be getting at least $7 million a fight as a champ of his stature and following globally.”

Adesanya’s re-signing comes ahead of his rematch with Robert Whittaker this Saturday in the main event of UFC 271. In their first meeting at UFC 243 in October 2019, Adesanya defeated Whittaker by second-round knockout to become middleweight champion.

Adesanya stated that his contract with Whittaker was not finalized until Wednesday’s media conference.

“I just didn’t like the way [it was announced],” Adesanya said. When I asked them the following day, they were adamant that I had not seen the announcement.

“I’m like bro, this is not how you announce a fight of this magnitude and that’s because we’re doing some dealings in the back at the moment so I just felt like the people doing that bit in the UFC dropped the ball.”

Paul wasn’t the only fighter to show respect for Adesanya at fight week. Conor McGregor, a former champion in two divisions, also responded with praise to the news that Adesanya had resigned.

“Can’t wait to see Izzy Style back in the Octagon this weekend,” McGregor wrote. McGregor wrote, “One of our last high-level fighter/performer athlete roster!” Don’t just fight! Perform!”

It’s not surprising that Paul would comment on Adesanya’s contract given that the YouTuber-turned-boxer has been embroiled in a public feud with UFC President Dana White over fighter pay. He recently produced a diss track aimed at White while declaring his support for UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou.

Ngannou’s contract status has also been the subject of much scrutiny as he has repeatedly requested a new deal that will allow him to pursue opportunities in professional boxing. After successfully defending his title against Ciryl Gane at UFC 270, Ngannou’s management confirmed that he will likely be out for the majority of 2022 as he is expected to undergo knee surgery.