“The American Gangster”, Chael Sonnen, praised a “gangster move” from a man widely reviled by the MMA community: Jake Paul. Although Sonnen views Paul’s choice to fight Woodley again in lieu of Tommy Fury as a mistake, the retired fighter insisted on The MMA Hour that it’s a “real fighter move”.
“I think it is [a mistake], and don’t forget, this mistake is what I respect about it so much. This is a real fighter move, and Jake Paul has been resisted by our community for reasons that I don’t fully understand.
Chael Sonnen: Jake Paul Fighting Tyron Woodley is “Gangster Move”
And this is common. This has happened with announcers. Just to use recent examples, but Todd Grisham, who did a damn good job, was resisted. Stephen A. Smith, who came over, he was resisted.
There’s something that the MMA community specifically wants before they welcome you into the club, and people pushed back on Jake because of the Disney, because of the YouTube, because he acted corny for so long. But the truth is, this is a real fighter move. He has nothing to gain here, but this is a very big risk.
There is nothing that could help you more in a fight than not having dwelled on the fight for a training camp. If you’re in pretty good shape and you get that last-minute call, I can you a number of athletes [who that’s] where the big upsets come.”
Sonnen also pointed out that, frequently, historic upsets happen when fights change at short notice. Disrupted training camps, changes to fighting styles, and differences in approach can all add up when the horn sounds and it’s time to fight. He recalled Michael Bisping’s memorable win over Luke Rockhold back at UFC 199.
“Not only was Bisping in that spot where he had a clear mind — it’s not just a clear body where you’re peaking, your mind is clear. He didn’t know it was going to happen. This is a huge risk by Jake.”
Sonnen also pointed out that the support staff for the event faced losing income with the prospect of cancellation. Jake Paul’s choice to go ahead with a risky opponent like Tyron Woodley kept a lot of people in work right before Christmas. “Jake Paul does not need this fight.
However there’s 20 other men and women on that card whose Christmas will be ruined, whose holidays will be ruined, if they don’t get to go out there and compete. And Jake Paul followed the golden rule of show business, which is the show must go on.
And that is a gangster move — and he deserves credit for it. I really respect it. I think he’s up against it. I think he really is.”
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