Dana White says Jake Paul 'welcome to come to UFC,' denies ban exists
09/18/2024 07:50 AM
LAS VEGAS – Jake Paul wore a disguise to UFC 306 at Sphere on Saturday, but promotion CEO Dana White says it was all for not.
Paul posted a video of himself putting on a fake beard, wig, flannel shirt, and sunglasses in order to “sneak into the Sphere,” claiming two years ago he was banned from “all UFC events.”
But according to White, that hasn’t been the case.
“Oscar De La Hoya was there,” White said Tuesday following Dana White’s Contender Series 72 at the UFC Apex. “Let’s put it that way. Nobody is banned from the UFC. Listen, that kid knows how to market and do his thing and all that good sh*t. Jake Paul is welcome to come to UFC. He just can’t bring that… you know.”
The “you know” was a bit unclear, though the implication could be that White was speaking about Paul’s advisor and former UFC chief financial officer Nakisa Bidarian.
Dana White says Jake Paul sneaking in to #UFC306 was pointless.
“Nobody is banned from the UFC. Jake Paul is welcome to come to UFC.” pic.twitter.com/F4OD0svqDP
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) September 18, 2024
While the UFC does have a history of bans with its former heavyweight champion Randy Couture being banned over a decade ago, it’s unclear if this ban still holds. It’s also unclear if actual bans exist for Paul or Bidarian.
Paul and White feuded through much of Paul’s rise up the boxing ranks, though the back-and-forth has occurred less in recent months.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie's event hub for UFC 306.
