Paddy Pimblett has claimed he wants $1million as part of Jake Paul's sparring wager put in escrow before he accepts the offer.
UFC rising star Pimblett has been subject to a social media feud with YouTube star Paul after suggesting that footage of his rival's fights show that he has "fixed" his recent wins. ' The Problem Child' produced an angry reaction video to Pimblett's comments and made an offer online for the pair to spar for $1 million in his gym in Puerto Rico.
Pimblett accepted the offer but confirmed he will be unable to fly to Paul's gym with his maiden UFC pay-per-view appearance against Jared Gordon at UFC 282 taking place this weekend in Las Vegas. Pimblett has now suggested that he believes Paul could try to wriggle his way out of the $1million prize.
"[ Jake Paul invited me to spar with him in Puerto Rico] knowing full well I'm fighting next week," Pimblett said during his latest YouTube video when discussing the offer from Paul. "Lad, I will spar him anytime. Anytime. [Do] you know what I mean? But the thing is, lad, you'd have to get the million put in like an escrow because I know he'd just bump me. He wouldn't give me a million dollars after I beat him up."
Paul initially made the sparring offer during a call-out video, following in the footsteps of his brother Logan in challenging the Liverpudlian to a fight. The YouTube star just recently defeated UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva and is eyeing another scalp, albeit in training' of Pimblett.
He said: "I'm sick and tired of this narrative. It's stupid and pathetic; you're disrespecting the own GOAT of your own sport. You're saying that Anderson Silva is a criminal, that he is a fraud. I have a proposition for you; since you wouldn't rig a fight, let's spar. Fly to Puerto Rico - I'll get you a private jet - and we can do five three-minute rounds of boxing.
Who wins if the pair spar in the boxing ring - Jake Paul or Paddy Pimblett? Let us know in the comments section below
"If you win, I'll give you $1million, which is what you deserve to get paid Paddy. You know it, but the UFC is not paying you that, you deserve to get paid more. But if I win, you have to join the United Fighters Association and help me sign up all the fighters in the UK. So let's spar, put your money where your mouth is - let's go."
Pimblett then responded by countering the offer and suggesting they should instead make it take place at the UFC's Performance Institution. However Paul was not happy with the new term and instead made a new proposal, writing: "Fella my team told me you have been trying to book me for your podcast, January 5.
"So I’m sending you a jet to bring you to Puerto Rico. Both of our teams will film. We spar, five rounds and then we can do your podcast. By then you will be back to your normal weight. No excuses."