"I'm shocked that the heavyweight champion of the world was going through that"- Israel Adesanya and Jake Paul talk about Francis Ngannou's problems with the UFC and fighter pay

Israel Adesanya and Jake Paul recently weighed in on fighter pay in the UFC while referring to Francis Ngannou's ongoing contractual dispute with the MMA promotion.

On the latest episode of BS w/ Jake Paul, Adesanya came on as a guest. 'The Last Stylebender' was asked about the status of Ngannou's contractual negotiations with the UFC and his stance on fighter pay.

The UFC middleweight champion revealed that he was "shocked" to hear how much 'The Predator' earned in his last fight, emphasizing that it will take time for fighters' financial demands to be met. Adesanya told Paul:

"We're still working. You gotta realize Rome wasn't built in a day. The changes were trying to create, I probably won't see it, but it's not really about me. It's about the future generations... Me and Francis have talked. Me, Francis, Kamaru [Usman], and a few other people have talked... I've heard of what he was getting paid for some of his fights from his own mouth, and I'm shocked that the heavyweight champion of the world was going through that."

Paul responded, highlighting how the minimum pay in the UFC is far too low:

"The fighter minimum is only twelve thousand. What they make in the NFL that's theirs to keep. Fighters have to pay for the gym, the coaches, the nutrition, the meals, the chef, the recoveries, the massages."

Watch Israel Adesanya's appearance on BS w/ Jake Paul below:

Jake Paul has been quite vocal about fighter pay in the UFC. The YouTuber-turned-boxer's latest attempt at improving fighter pay saw him make a deal with Anderson Silva, his next opponent.

As per a bet laid out by Paul, if he wins their boxing match on October 29, 'The Spider' must join forces with him to start a fighter union, advocating for better pay and healthcare benefits.

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Israel Adesanya offers Jake Paul advice ahead of boxing match with Anderson Silva

Jake Paul's professional boxing record stands at 5-0 and he will look to pick up his sixth pro win when he takes on UFC legend Anderson Silva at the Desert Diamond Arena in Arizona this weekend.

Although significantly younger than his counterpart, Paul has nowhere near as much in-ring experience as Silva. 'The Spider' has 46 MMA fights under his belt. Notably, the legendary Brazilian made his professional debut in 1997, the year Paul was born.

Israel Adesanya shared the octagon with Silva back in 2019, beating the former champion via unanimous decision in the main event of UFC 234. During the same episode of BS w/ Jake Paul, Adesanya advised 'The Problem Child' to stay sharp and focussed if he is to emerge victorious:

"I think you can get it done, but do not f***ing sleep on the [Anderson] Silva. If not, it's gonna be a bad night... Just be sharp for eight rounds. Sharp and focused for eight rounds."

Paul is the betting favorite heading into the bout. The 25-year-old is a -170 favorite while Silva is a +190 underdog.