UFC’s Dana White: ‘I Was Wrong,’ Jake Paul ‘Couldn’t Do S–t’ to Mike Tyson in Fight

Joseph Zucker@@JosephZuckerFeatured Columnist IVNovember 17, 2024

Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC

Mike Tyson lost decisively to Jake Paul on Friday night, but UFC president Dana White thought Iron Mike proved something in the ring nonetheless.

During the press conference after UFC 309, White told reporters that “I was wrong” in thinking Paul would soundly beat and perhaps knock out the former heavyweight champion.

“You saw him, he tripped when he was walking down the [aisle], he had a hard time walking up the stairs,” White said. “He had a knee brace on and Jake Paul couldn’t do anything to him. He made a ton of money and I know people are mad you stayed home on a Saturday night but you didn’t pay for it. When Mike Tyson shows up, everybody makes money. I don’t have to tell you guys. You guys know. Mike Tyson is the A++++ side of that thing. He was right. Jake Paul couldn’t do s–t to him. He was right and I was wrong.”

MMA Junkie @MMAJunkie”Jake Paul couldn’t do sh*t to him.”

Dana White admits he was wrong about Mike Tyson returning to boxing. pic.twitter.com/p8degj1bio

Paul vs. Tyson was a case where neither fighter really won.

Tyson landed a total of 18 punches across eight rounds, per CompuBox. As good as he looked in training leading up to the fight, the boxing legend was every bit his age (58) when the bell rang Friday at AT&T Stadium.

Paul, meanwhile, was in a no-win situation in terms of his reputation as a boxer.

If he had scored a knockout, then people would’ve pointed to the fact Tyson is decades past his prime. Failing to put Tyson on the canvas, especially with as little offense as he mounted, makes the YouTuber-turned-pugilist look even worse.

Stephen A Smith @stephenasmithLove @MikeTyson. Always have, always will. But 58 is 58. Plus the legs just wasn’t there. Old is old. Thank God he didn’t get knocked out. Now it’s time for @jakepaul to get in the ring with a Top-10 fighter — or Hell, a Champion. No more BBall players, strikers from MMA, or old…

Paul wasted little time calling out top stars from combat sports as he looks toward his next event.

Nobody questions the 27-year-old’s ability to draw money. He and Tyson will have earned somewhere in the eight figures from Friday night when all of the revenue is counted.

Should Paul want to be taken more seriously as a boxer, though, he needs to actually challenge himself in the ring.