In about 2 months’ time, Jake Paul is set for his second bout to be streamed on Netflix. ‘A big cultural event’ they are calling it, as Gervonta Davis makes his way to the other side. If that says anything, the YouTuber-turned-boxer is right on his path to a global appeal, and possibly luring in Gen Alpha– something he has long been focused on. What it also does is give a perspective on his decision to bring in big-name attorney Alex Spiro.

The Paul vs Mike Tyson frenzy did not just summon an average of 108 million viewers, but also set fight-fixing rumors ablaze. That wasn’t a first for the 28-year-old, and neither was it the last. But it sure sparked a response. After his public relations outlet, MVP –led by him and Nakisa Bidarian — initially issued a statement denying the claims, Paul soon showed up with Spiro, an attorney known for handling the cases of Elon Musk and the likes. Spiro pulled up with a straightforward, “If someone uses their public soapbox to harm him and the sport with lies, there will be consequences.”

The UFC CEO was no fan of it. Given all the trash-talking Paul is involved in, Dana White finds it funny that ‘The Problem Child’ is out suing people. That’s where Chael Sonnen says there’s more to the story. ‘The American Gangster’ argued on his YouTube channel that referring to Paul’s fights as “fixed” is not innocent trash talk but rather an accusation of a crime. “You’re trying to reduce all that hard work, risk, and effort. People say ‘I’ll go and fight for it,’ he’s actually doing it,” he said.

People have been shown the door for fight fixing before. The infamous Minner-Nuerdanbieke fight from 2022 comes to mind. Both Derrick Minner and his coach, James Krause, were suspended, prompting White to send a cautionary note to his fighters- ‘if you are that dumb, enjoy your time in prison’. That’s irreparable damage, which saw Minner out for over 2 years. With the stage Jake Paul is on — bringing unprecedented eyes to the game and reportedly garnering $60 million through his time in UFC — the accusations are not a look he wants to carry around.

“It would cost him his license. It would cost him his reputation. It would be a fortune,” the UFC legend warned. “I’m really not convinced that people understand why Jake’s doing this. He’s really not being a baby. He really does just have his feelings hurt. His skin isn’t thick enough.”

From being tagged ‘not a real boxer’ to being on a six-fight win streak, Paul continues to be ambitious. In June, he defeated Chavez Jr, a former World Boxing Council (WBC) middleweight champion, to declare he was on his way to being ‘a World Champion’. Be it taking on Tyson or going after Tank Davis, The Problem Child hasn’t shied away– a reason why Sonnen believes Paul is right to defend his image.

With the 28-year-old unwilling to let the “fixed” narrative follow him unchecked, this fight outside the ring could be just as intense as any he’s had inside it. However, it is worth noting that while Dana White has gone off on Jake Paul and his legal actions, he also offered a surprising prediction about his upcoming bout against Gervonta Davis.

Dana White sides with Jake Paul for the Gervonta Davis fight

White may not be patient with Jake Paul‘s lawsuits, but when it comes to the ring, his tone shifts. Sitting across from Logan Paul on Impaulsive, he discussed the upcoming November fight with Gervonta Davis, and despite years of criticizing Jake’s boxing career, he couldn’t ignore the size advantage.

Davis might be one of the pound-for-pound hardest hitters in the sport, but White provided a straightforward picture: power is meaningless if you can’t bridge the gap. “Your brother’s going to be able to get inside on him, put his weight on him, tie him up,” White said, adding that Paul has already proven his ability to absorb strikes from smaller legends like Floyd Mayweather.

The difference this time, he claimed, is that Davis is too small to cause enough damage before being smothered. It was a rare instance of siding with Jake Paul, albeit reluctantly. The UFC head honcho made it clear that he dislikes the circus around Paul’s exhibitions, but he was straightforward about one point: the size gap is too big to ignore. And with those words, the UFC CEO may have done something few expected: give Jake Paul his most unlikely endorsement yet.