Dana White admitted he was wrong and Mike Tyson was right following Jake Paul’s recent fight, where Paul secured a comfortable unanimous decision victory in an eight-round bout. Paul himself acknowledged holding back during the later rounds.
At the UFC 309 post-fight press conference, White shared that his initial concerns for Tyson’s health were misplaced. White, who has been a close friend of Tyson and considers him a personal hero, expressed that his admiration for Tyson was one of the main reasons he entered the combat sports world. His apprehension about Tyson’s well-being was rooted in their long-standing friendship. White had previously tried to dissuade Tyson from fighting Roy Jones Jr. in their 2020 exhibition match, fearing the risks to the legendary boxer’s health. His efforts led to an unusual situation during a “Shark Week” episode, where Tyson ended up swimming with sharks, much to his displeasure.
White recalled urging Tyson not to fight Jones, saying, “You’re too old, I love you, and I don’t want to see you take any more punishment.” Instead, Tyson participated in a “Shark Week” event where he had to swim with sharks in Florida. White explained that the situation escalated when Tyson, on the final day, became frustrated and upset about having to jump into the ocean with the predators. Tyson later criticized White, accusing him of putting him in harm’s way, saying, “This f*ing ahole says he cares about me, and then throws me in the ocean with a bunch of sharks.”
Despite his reservations, White eventually supported Tyson’s decision to fight Jake Paul, although he remained cautious about the risks due to Tyson’s age and health. Tyson, however, dismissed Paul as a serious threat, asserting, “Do you honestly think this fing kid is gonna do anything to me? He’s not good, he’s not gonna fing knock me out.” White admitted that Tyson was correct, as Paul failed to land any significant damage on the former heavyweight champion, despite Tyson’s visible health struggles, such as mobility issues and a knee brace.
During the fight, Tyson demonstrated resilience, even though it was clear that his physical condition was far from optimal. White noted that Tyson had difficulty walking up stairs and even tripped during his entrance, but Jake Paul was unable to capitalize on any of these weaknesses.
While the fight itself was lackluster and left many fans dissatisfied, White pointed out that it wasn’t a pay-per-view event but was instead broadcast globally on Netflix. The fight reportedly drew 60 million viewers, marking Netflix’s debut in combat sports as a massive success. Financially, the event was also a triumph, with Tyson earning $20 million and Paul securing a $40 million payday. White emphasized that the fight achieved its primary goal: generating significant attention and profit, largely due to Tyson’s involvement.
Reflecting on the event, White concluded, “He was right, and I was wrong.” Despite the criticisms and Tyson’s clear physical limitations, White recognized the fight as a commercial success that benefitted everyone involved.