Dana White has encouraged Claressa Shields to knock YouTube star Jake Paul "the f*** out" after his latest social media outburst mocking the MMA star.
Shields suffered her first defeat in the PFL Championship on Wednesday, being narrowly outclassed by a top grappling performance from her rugged opponent Abigail Montes.
And she has been embroiled in a back-and-forth spat with Paul in recent weeks who she claims she could defeat in a boxing ring.
UFC president White has backed Shields to knock Paul out if the pair ever meet and highlighted his respect for Shield's illustrious combat sports career.
“So Jake Paul calls Claressa Shields a loser?” White told MMA Fighting. “Claressa Shields is nothing but a winner, who actually fought real people in her weight class, in her own age, in her own sport, and then goes over to MMA and tries to win a world title. That’s not a loser. That’s a winner.
“When are you gonna start fighting someone your own f****** age, your own weight, that actually fights in your own f****** sport that you’re claiming you’re in? Shut the f*** up, you goofball. For you to call Claressa Shields a loser is f****** unbelievable.
“I hope she knocks him out. I hope he runs into her somewhere and she knocks him the f*** out.”
Shields was narrowly defeated on a split-decision in her second PFL fight after opting to compete in boxing and MMA simultaneously in recent months.
But she will return to the boxing ring in December as part of Sky Sports' new relationship with BOXXER.
And the label are looking to set up a huge women's showdown between undefeated Savannah Marshall and Shields next year.
However in typical fashion Paul took to social media to aim a string of mocking insults at Shields.
Who wins next year- Claressa Shields or Savannah Marshall? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.
"The truth hurts but it's necessary," Paul said. "Clarissa [sic] Shields is a loser. In MMA and even more so with her prima-donna attitude.
"The fake always gets exposed. Losses come when anger and hate take over, just ask Ronda Rousey and Conor McGregor.
"She spent more time berating Jake Paul than learning jiu-jitsu, she's never been a big draw and unfortunately for her she never will be."
Shields' public outbursts and comments have left several people turned against her including Paul who has spoken out against her demeanour in recent weeks.
And the rivalry began before her fight with Montes where she responded angrily to suggestions she could fight on the same card as the YouTuber.
“I would never fight on the undercard of someone who does not possess the skills or accomplishments that I have," she said of Paul at the pre-fight press conference.
"I don't know what world people live in that they think a man [could beat me] who has not been to the Olympics, who has not fought professionally.
"There are a lot of women in boxing who could [out-box] men, especially a regular joe like Jake Paul!"
