Michael Bisping REJECTED an offer to box YouTuber Jake Paul because ‘it wasn’t enough money’

Michael Bisping REJECTED an offer to box YouTuber Jake Paul because ‘it wasn’t enough money’ as the UFC legend praises ‘smart’ internet star for ‘knowing how to p*** people off’

  • Michael Bisping rejected an offer to fight Jake Paul due to the low sum offered 
  • Paul, 24, is pursuing a boxing career and has defeated three non-boxers 
  • Bisping, 42, says he received an offer before Paul agreed to fight Ben Askren
  • The British fan-favourite praised Paul for ‘knowing how to p*** people off’ 
  • The YouTuber has riled Floyd Mayweather and Daniel Cormier in recent weeks 

Michael Bisping has confirmed that he received an offer to fight YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul, but the UFC legend deemed the sum too low as the American pursued a bout with Ben Askren instead.

Paul, 24, has stirred fury among boxing and MMA fans after setting about a career in the ring. The YouTuber is undefeated in three professional bouts against non-boxers, most recently knocking out retired UFC star Askren inside the first round.

The Problem Child has been linked with a clash against Tommy Fury as well as Dillon Danis and Kamaru Usman, while he was involved in a bust-up with boxing great Floyd Mayweather in Miami this week.

UFC legend Michael Bisping rejected an offer to fight YouTuber Jake Paul in a boxing match 

The 24-year-old has pursued a boxing career and has defeated three non-boxers professionally

The 24-year-old has pursued a boxing career and has defeated three non-boxers professionally

And Bisping, Britain’s first and only UFC champion, has revealed that he had received an offer to take on the YouTuber, having been rumoured to take on Paul after he viciously knocked out former NBA star Nate Robinson.

‘I got offered a contract, it wasn’t enough money,’ the 42-year-old told LowKickMMA. ‘They made an offer and it was some decent cash. But, if I’m going to make a fool out of myself by boxing a YouTuber, then I’d want a bit more for that.’

Bisping retired in 2018 and has since pursued punditry roles with the UFC, often commentating Octagon-side for the organisation’s biggest events. The Count said that a fight with Paul would have been ‘free money’.  

Bisping, 42, says the offer received was too low and did not tempt him out of retirement

Bisping, 42, says the offer received was too low and did not tempt him out of retirement

‘I’m not going to come out of retirement, but that’s essentially free money to me. If the number was big enough, then I’d be a fool not to go and pick up that money.’

‘But I wasn’t pursuing it. And I think if anything, I think Jake was very clever. I think he just used me to try and make it seem like he was looking for real challenges. 

‘Because we got sent an offer and we countered with more than double. And we never heard anything again, and then we got the news that he’s fighting Ben Askren.’

Paul’s antics have angered several big personalities in boxing and MMA, including Mayweather and former UFC heavyweight and light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier – who squared up to the 24-year-old at UFC 261 last month.

The Count praised Paul for 'knowing how to p*** people off' and attract a lot of attention

The Count praised Paul for ‘knowing how to p*** people off’ and attract a lot of attention

The American has riled boxing great Floyd Mayweather and UFC legend Daniel Cormier

The American has riled boxing great Floyd Mayweather and UFC legend Daniel Cormier

But Bisping has praised the American for his ‘smart’ venture into boxing. 

‘Listen, good for Jake Paul,’ he added. ‘You can’t hate on the guy. Everyone is trying to get ahead in life, and he’s been smart enough to take his YouTube following and parlay it into a boxing career.

‘The guy is obviously passionate about the sport. He trains very hard. He’s a switched-on guy. He knows how to p*** people off and everyone being p***ed off, all that emotion, that transfers into dollars in the bank account.’