Jake Paul Claims TKO Banned Him From Brother Logan’s WWE Matches Amid Dana White, UFC Beef

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Jake Paul Claims TKO Banned Him From Brother Logan’s WWE Matches Amid Dana White, UFC Beef

Originally posted on EssentiallySports | By Sudeep Sinha | Last updated May 13, 2026 2:55 AM ET

Jake Paul has alleged that the TKO Group—the parent corporation that owns both UFC and WWE—has barred him from attending his brother Logan Paul’s WWE matches, a consequence, he suggests, of how deeply his ongoing feud with Dana White has gotten under the organization’s skin. In a recent interview with Smash Talk alongside Chael Sonnen and Ian Parker, the 29-year-old addressed the beef with his characteristic lightness.

“I don’t take any beefs too serious,” Paul said. “I think it’s definitely in the name of entertainment. However, there is like, truth in it, and there are like points and certain facts that I would like to see pushed through. Like the UFC fighter minimum pay being $12,000 and that needs to rise. So there [are] all these like things in it that are serious. But from my side, I’m just having fun. And the fact that one of the biggest organizations in the world, the TKO Group, has this major beef with me. They won’t even let me be in my brother’s WWE matches because they hate me so much.

“So it’s pretty wild, how much under their skin we are. And to me, it’s just been a fun journey. I enjoy s–t-talk. I like [it] when people make fun of me. I’m easy to make fun of. And I’m able to make fun of myself. So, the beef to me is just fun and entertaining for everybody.”

Despite it being fun for him, the rivalry between Jake Paul and Dana White goes back years. As Paul noted, he has consistently pushed for better fighter pay in the UFC. In response, White has downplayed Paul’s boxing career while taking shots at the former Disney star in interviews and across social media.

Meanwhile, Most Valuable Promotions, co-founded by Paul, has now become a direct competitor to the UFC as well.

Jake Paul says the company that owns the UFC & WWE (TKO Group Holdings) won’t allow him to attend and watch his brother Logan Paul compete. @IanParkerMMA @ChaelSonnen @JakePaul

YouTube:https://t.co/uZhMtMzJ2h

Spotify:https://t.co/y90FggToe4 pic.twitter.com/hlt09JZokB
— Smash Cast (@smashcastmedia) May 12, 2026

MVP is set to host the MVP MMA card, featuring former UFC bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano on May 16 at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. He recently even claimed that the May 16 card was better than UFC’s historic White House card, set for June 14 at the South Lawn.

As for Jake Paul’s claim about being barred from WWE events, though it remains unconfirmed, it marks a notable shift from his previous involvement. At WWE Crown Jewel 2022 in Saudi Arabia, he walked out during Logan Paul‘s Undisputed WWE Universal Championship match against Roman Reigns and confronted The Usos during the bout. Logan lost the match, but Jake’s presence was uncontested at the time. That access, by his own account, no longer exists.

Though no official statement from TKO exists at the moment, the reason for the apparent ban becomes evident if one looks at the things Paul has said about the UFC for years.

Jake Paul wants to give fighters another place to go besides the UFC

Jake Paul is out to change the landscape of MMA. He recently revealed that he wants to give fighters another place to go besides the UFC so that it no longer remains the monopoly it currently is.

“It’s needed. It’s very, very needed in the sport,” Paul said. “I think it’s been a monopoly for so long, run by the UFC, and the fighters haven’t had another place to go where they get the exposure and more pay.

“That’s why a lot of the UFC guys want to box, because they can get 10, 15, 20 million dollars for a fight versus $1.5 million for being the champion.”

Paul believes fighters are already looking for bigger opportunities outside MMA promotions because of the financial differences between boxing and the UFC.

He also pointed to Francis Ngannou as an example for other fighters to follow.

“Hopefully, UFC fighters can start to follow the path of Francis Ngannou,” he added. “So, hopefully, fighters can realize they need to fight their way out of their UFC contract and then find more lucrative opportunities elsewhere.”

On one hand, Jake Paul wants to poach UFC fighters, and on the other hand, he is surprised that the TKO won’t allow him to attend WWE events. Regardless, the fighters will eventually benefit from the rivalry, so it’s a good thing.

This article first appeared on EssentiallySports and was syndicated with permission.

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