Logan Paul, the YouTube sensation turned WWE superstar, has revealed that UFC CEO Dana White completely ignored his request to fight in the UFC, a snub that has reignited discussions about the challenges WWE stars face when attempting to cross over into mixed martial arts. Paul shared the details on his Impaulsive podcast, expressing his frustration while also reflecting on why White might be hesitant to give him a shot in the octagon.
Paul, who has made a name for himself in WWE with a multi-year contract and high-profile matches against the likes of Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins, has long expressed interest in testing his skills in MMA. With a background in amateur wrestling and a few boxing matches under his belt—including an exhibition bout against Floyd Mayweather Jr. in 2021—Paul believes he has the foundation to succeed in the UFC.
Last year, he reached out to White with a specific offer to fight on the undercard of UFC 300 in 2024. “I told Dana for UFC 300. I texted him, I said, ‘Hey man, consider me available to fight on the undercard in The Sphere.’ Yeah, they basically completely ignored me, which I think spoke volumes,” Paul said on his podcast. He added, “Haven’t bothered him about it since. But, you know, I think for the right fight, the right amount of money—man, I’m an entertainer at the end of the day.”
The former WWE United States Champion didn’t stop there, offering his theory on why White might be reluctant to work with him. Paul pointed to the failed UFC experiment of former WWE star CM Punk as a potential reason for the cold shoulder. Punk, who transitioned to the UFC after his WWE departure, suffered two humbling losses in the octagon (one loss being turned to a No Contest later), leading to his departure from the promotion. “He f**ked it up, and after that, Dana was like ‘I’m never doing this again,’” Paul said, referring to Punk’s tenure. However, Paul was quick to differentiate himself, asserting, “But dude, I’m not CM Punk. He’s a great wrestler, not a UFC fighter. I think I would be a much better UFC fighter than I would just a boxer. My skill is wrestling. I’m a wrestler.”
Despite the rejection, Paul remains committed to his current path in WWE, where he has found significant success. “I’m a WWE Superstar now, and it’s one of the only things I’ve done in my life where I feel so at home like ‘oh you were kind of meant to do this thing.’ I don’t know if I want to turn away from that at the moment and dedicate time to something that would be like a side quest at this point,” he explained. Paul’s wrestling career has indeed been a triumph, with standout performances at events like WrestleMania 39 and a growing fanbase that appreciates his athleticism and charisma in the ring.
The lack of response from White isn’t entirely surprising when viewed in the context of his past interactions with the Paul family. Logan’s younger brother, Jake Paul, has been a vocal critic of White and the UFC, frequently calling out the organization over fighter pay and other issues. This ongoing feud has created tension, with White reportedly viewing Jake as a detriment to the integrity of combat sports, particularly Boxing.
A source told the Daily Mail in January 2025 that White’s disdain for Jake was a key factor in blocking a proposed $250 million boxing match between Logan and Conor McGregor in India, despite McGregor’s interest. “Dana White hates Jake Paul,” the source claimed, adding that White “thinks Jake is making the world of boxing a complete joke.” This animosity may have influenced White’s decision to ignore Logan’s UFC request, as any collaboration with a Paul brother could be seen as indirectly benefiting Jake.
Historically, WWE-to-UFC crossovers have had mixed results, which may also contribute to White’s reluctance. While Brock Lesnar successfully transitioned in 2008, winning the UFC Heavyweight Championship and being the biggest PPV draw before McGregor’s rise to the top, others like CM Punk have struggled, casting doubt on the viability of such moves.
White’s comments in the past have suggested an openness to working with Logan—during a 2022 appearance on Impaulsive, he responded to Logan’s inquiry about fighting in the UFC with, “Well, who would you want to fight?”—but his silence on the UFC 300 offer indicates a shift in stance.
The UFC’s partnership with Logan’s Prime Hydration brand, announced in 2023 as the official sports drink of the UFC, shows that White is willing to do business with Logan in other capacities, but a fight appears to be off the table for now.
Critically, White’s decision to ignore Logan’s request raises questions about the UFC’s approach to crossover stars. Logan Paul, with his massive social media following and proven ability to draw pay-per-view numbers, could bring significant attention to the UFC, much like McGregor did in his prime.
However, White’s apparent aversion to working with wrestlers, possibly fueled by Punk’s failures and his feud with Jake Paul, suggests a cautious approach that prioritizes the UFC’s reputation over potential financial gains. On the other hand, Logan’s limited MMA experience—despite his wrestling background—might genuinely concern White, who has emphasized the importance of weight classes and proper training in past discussions about the Paul brothers. In 2022, White noted that Jake Paul, at 6’1” and 210 pounds, would be mismatched against smaller fighters like McGregor, who typically fights at 145 or 155 pounds, a point that could also apply to Logan.
