While UFC 263 played out, Jake Paul watched closely.
During Saturday’s pay-per-view main card, the YouTuber-turned-boxer took to Twitter to send a pair of messages. One was confrontational, but the other was complimentary – with a backhanded twist directed at the promotion.
Paul, who boxes former UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley on Aug. 28, first took aim at Nate Diaz, who lost by unanimous decision to Leon Edwards in the first five-round, non-title, non-main event fight in UFC history.
“I will knockout Diaz after I knockout Woodley,” Paul wrote.
The tweet isn’t the first time Paul took aim at Diaz. In April, Paul predicted Diaz would get knocked out by Edwards in the third round.
In a rare compliment directed at an MMA fighter, Paul praised Brandon Moreno’s third-round submission victory over the previous flyweight titleholder, Deiveson Figueiredo. The compliment was backhanded toward the promotion, however, since Paul once again brought up UFC fighter pay.
“Viva Mexico…..Moreno is a star!” Paul wrote. “Hope he gets paid like it”
Paul has brought up UFC fighter pay on numerous occasions, often critical of UFC president Dana White, who responded Saturday, saying Paul’s frequent comments were “bullsh*t.”
UFC 263 took place Saturday at Gila River Arena in Glendale, Ariz. The main card streamed on ESPN+ pay-per-view after prelims on ESPN/ESPN+.