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On Saturday night, Netflix’s special event turned into quite a spectacle, featuring everything from a chaotic fight scene to Nate Diaz lighting up a joint in the press conference room, despite still bleeding from a second-round loss to Mike Perry.

Initially, Jake Paul was meant to bask in the success of his promotional endeavors. However, everything changed when UFC President Dana White announced Conor McGregor’s return to the UFC during a livestream on July 17. This news dropped just as Francis Ngannou was making headlines for his own struggles.

When OutKick questioned Paul about the timing of Dana’s announcement, suggesting it might be part of a secret strategy, Paul didn’t hold back. He criticized White as being “insecure and little,” a jab that reflects their ongoing rivalry.

“Ah, the cokehead is back,” Paul remarked to OutKick, clearly unimpressed by the UFC’s attempt to steal the spotlight.

According to Paul, this announcement isn’t just a coincidence. It indicates how worried the UFC is about the growing success of his promotional efforts. He thought the timing was particularly telling. “That’s good, bro. Run the McGregor news during our event. It doesn’t matter. It just shows how much pressure they feel,” he said. “Insecure boys are trying to piggyback on our event and put the news on us. It’s not going to work, mate.”

OutKick sought clarification from the UFC, especially as Ngannou had previously exited the UFC under contentious circumstances. The news about McGregor seemed to coincide with a surge in chatter across social media platforms.

This complicated relationship between Paul and White is anything but recent. It’s been fueled by Paul’s continuous criticism of UFC policies, particularly concerning fighter pay. While White often dismisses Paul’s credibility, Paul consistently frames White as someone who takes advantage of fighters.

All this animosity set the stage for White to overshadow a major moment for Paul’s growing promotion.