Morning Report | Dana White credits Jake Paul for ‘ballsy move’ fighting Anthony Joshua, but has no interest in promoting him
Even Dana White was impressed by Jake Paul putting his money where his mouth is and fighting Anthony Joshua.
In December, Jake Paul answered his haters by finally fighting a legitimate boxer in the prime of his career, and he did so in grand fashion, taking on former unified heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua. The YouTuber-turned-boxer managed to survive five rounds with “AJ” before getting brutally knocked out in the sixth, breaking his jaw in multiple places.
But while many of Paul’s haters enjoyed seeing “The Problem Child” get his clock cleaned, one of his biggest haters, Dana White, grudgingly admits he was impressed that Paul actually went through with it.
“I literally didn’t think that was going to happen,” White said on the Plan Bri Uncut show. “And I said — when you go in there and box a guy like AJ, this isn’t a joke. This isn’t a game. That could kill him. And look, he literally broke his face. … It was a ballsy move getting in there with Anthony Joshua.”
That’s a big statement coming from White, who has feuded with Paul since almost the inception of his boxing career and was highly critical of the bout both before and after.
But even with Paul earning some modicum of respect from White for stepping in the ring with Joshua, that only goes so far, and White says he has no interest in possibly working with Paul in Zuffa Boxing.
“No. That’s not what I do,” White said when asked about bringing Paul in. “There’s obviously a market for that, but that’s not what I do. I put the best fighters in the world against each other. From the minute that they get into the sport, all the way up to world champion, the best fight the best. There’s always going to be a place for the Paul brother type fights, but that’s not what I do.
“The best. I’m looking for the best fighters in the world.”
Paul is still recovering from his broken jaw, with no timetable set for his next bout. However, he has more than enough to keep him busy for the moment as his promotion, Most Valuable Promotions, recently announced a merger with the PFL.
TOP STORIES
Legend. Bella Mir confirms plans to conquer multiple sports with Dana White’s full support: ‘I want to be legendary.’
Stale. Dana White: Heavyweight division on the rise after becoming ‘a little stale.’
Beef. Mario Piazzon likes ‘hostile atmosphere’ with intense DWCS face-off, vows to ‘slice’ opponent’s face.
Gouging. ESPN raising subscription prices again just as PFL deal comes to a close at the end of 2026.
Weights. UFC Sacramento fight night weights: Gregory Rodrigues barely heavier than Anthony Hernandez.
Suspensions. UFC Sacramento medical suspensions: Both main eventers dealing with possible broken leg after 5-round war.
VIDEO STEW
Bella Mir.
UFC Sacramento highlights.
UFC Shanghai promo.
Mighty Mouse breaks down RAF.
Cooking with Volk.
FLAVOR IN YOUR EAR
On To The Next One.
SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE
Respect.
Return.
That would be neat.
Scott Coker.
That is a terrible doctor.
Josh Thomson is correct.
Though scenes.
That looks good.
FEED ME MORE
Guesses?
FINAL THOUGHTS
Dana White is only interested in the best fighting the best.
This weekend, Levi Rodrigues — 5-1, 1 NC, who popped for nandrolone on Contender Series and then lost his debut — is fighting 3-1 fighter Ce Liu.
If you find something you’d like to see in the Morning Report, hit up @AlexanderKLee or @JedKMeshew on Twitter and let us know about it. Also, follow MMAFighting on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, Twitch, and like us on Facebook.

