The YouTuber-turned-boxer poured cold water on Dana White’s bombshell announcement Monday that the UFC is ditching its long-standing pay-per-view model in 2026 as part of a massive $7.7 billion broadcast partnership with Paramount and CBS.
The historic seven-year deal will make every UFC fight available on Paramount+ — some packages starting as low as $7.99 a month — instead of forcing fans to shell out $70 or more for big events. For fight fans, it’s a dream. For Paul, it’s “hubris.”
On X, the 27-year-old fighter called out UFC parent company TKO’s leadership, accusing them of bragging while still running multiple pay-per-views before the change kicks in.
“1st they talk about getting into boxing with no risk and charging fees on fees on fees from their partners who are putting up the money,” Paul wrote, referencing TKO President Mark Shapiro’s CNBC interview. “Now they are saying PPV is dead when they have a PPV this weekend with [Dricus] Du Plessis… & another one with [Alex] Pereira and another one with [Tom] Aspinall… & another 1 with…”
The hubris from these guys is unreal if ur their partner. 1st they talk about getting into boxing with no risk & charging fees on fees on fees from their partners who are putting up the money.
Now they are saying PPV is dead when they have a PPV this weekend with Du Plessis… pic.twitter.com/1jqYaZu0UQ
— Jake Paul (@jakepaul) August 11, 2025
Paul followed with a pointed note to UFC fighters: “Every fighter in the UFC now has a clear picture of what the revenue is… no more PPV excuses. Get your worth boys and girls.”
Shapiro, in the interview that sparked Paul’s ire, claimed the pay-per-view model is “outdated” and compared it to buying movies on DirecTV. He pitched the Paramount+ deal as “one-stop shopping” for younger fans, especially those in “flyover states.”
Dana White, however, sees nothing but upside. Calling the agreement “incredible for UFC fans and our athletes,” he touted the accessibility and reach the deal will bring — placing UFC “amongst the biggest sports in the world.”
The new era kicks off in 2026. Until then, UFC fans — and Jake Paul — will still be seeing plenty of those pricey pay-per-view nights.
