Nakisa Bidarian takes apparent UFC dig with Jake Paul Forbes earnings post
· Yahoo Sports
The issue of fighter pay remains a weak spot for the UFC, with athletes regularly voicing frustrations and rival promotions quick to capitalise.
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MVP leaned into that narrative before its first MMA event on Netflix, with Ronda Rousey making fighter compensation a central talking point in the build-up.
Now Bidarian has taken another swipe, using Forbes’ latest highest-paid athletes list to counter doubts over MVP’s ability to build major combat-sports earners.
Nakisa Bidarian lets Jake Paul’s Forbes number speak for MVP
Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty ImagesPosting on X, Bidarian captioned the Forbes on-field earnings list with “No response required.”
The chart, based on 2025 numbers, had Jake Paul sitting 13th with $60 million, level with Manchester City striker Erling Haaland.
Paul was one of only two boxers in the wider top 50, with Canelo Alvarez second overall, while there are no MMA fighters in the list.
Bidarian stays in spotlight with UFC comparison
Bidarian had already made headlines by claiming the UFC’s White House card would not match the Rousey vs Gina Carano event in viewership or reach.
He said that, even if shown on Netflix, he did not believe the rival promotion’s blockbuster event could pull the numbers MVP did.
His case was less about fight quality and more about athlete IP, with Rousey’s mainstream recognition used as the example for his unpopular argument.
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