Jake Shields places four-figure bet with Tim Pool over show dominance and funding debate

Jake Shields is one of many MMA fighters who hung up the gloves and later found himself hosting a successful podcast. It is so successful, in fact, that he recently challenged fellow podcaster Tim Pool to a bet over whose show will be more successful within the next three years.

The exchange, which took place on X/Twitter, was due to Pool's criticism of those who propagate the antisemitic conspiracy theory that Jewish elites control the world. This drew the attention of Shields, who subscribes to the notion and accused Pool of selling his own show to Jewish elites.

Pool then challenged Shields to a $1000 bet on the matter. In short, if Shields' accusations are incorrect, he loses. The ex-UFC title challenger, though, opted for a different bet.

"I'll bet you $1000 within 3 years my show is bigger than yours despite having zero funding from Israel"

Shields is one of the most controversial figures in the MMA social media space, known for his inflammatory political commentary, with a particular focus on anti-Israel rhetoric, which has led to accusations of antisemitism. Moreover, Pool isn't the only podcaster with whom Shields has feuded in recent memory.

The retired UFC fighter has found himself in a bitter feud with renowned combat sports journalist Ariel Helwani, who is Jewish. The latest chapter in the pair's mutual dislike stemed from Shields accusing Helwani of never inviting reigning UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad to his show.

This, however, was quickly countered by Helwani who revealed that Muhammad's absence from his show had nothing to do with the latter's Palestinian heritage like Shields had insinuated. Instead it was due to the ongoing feud between Helwani and Ali Abdelaziz, who manages 'Remember the Name.'

Abdelaziz has barred all of the fighters he manages from appearing on Helwani's show for unclear reasons.

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Jake Shields recently interviewed two high-profile UFC fighters

Amid his accusation that Ariel Helwani was deliberately avoiding Belal Muhammad, Jake Shields took the opportunity to welcome the UFC welterweight champion to episode #32 of his podcast. The interview has since become one of the most viewed videos on his YouTube channel.

Check out Jake Shields' interview of Belal Muhammad:

Later, on episode #35, he welcomed former UFC bantamweight champion Sean O'Malley, with whom he speculated on Conor McGregor's guilt following the verdict on his civil case with Nikita Hand.