Former UFC middleweight champion and MMA legend Anderson Silva says his reputation is not on the line when he faces Jake Paul next month. Silva is set to fight the YouTuber in a boxing match on October 29. It might seem bizarre to some to see arguably the greatest mixed martial artist of all time fighting a social media star, but Anderson Silva sees this as just another fight.
When asked if his towering legacy was at risk with this fight, Silva answered “definitely not”. “Definitely not, definitely not. I came here to do my best. I’m training hard every day, and fighters fight.
Anderson Silva: I’m “Definitely Not” Risking Reputation with Jake Paul Fight
You have two fighters inside the ring. Two fighters have 50 percent to win. I have 50 percent and Jake has 50 percent. It doesn’t matter if people say, ‘Oh, it’s not a real fighter or not.’ But when you go inside the ring, you don’t go to stop, you go to kill, you go to die. That’s that’s the point.”
Jake Paul’s professional boxing record currently stands at 5-0. His most recent victories include former UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley – twice – and Ben Askren. Paul’s last outing saw him knock Woodley out to finish a largely lackluster fight, and Paul will be seeking a similar finish when he faces Anderson Silva.
Anderson Silva stepped up to fight Jake Paul after two consecutive opponents cancelled on him. The first of these was Tommy Fury, younger brother to world heavyweight champ Tyson Fury, whose alleged family connections to Daniel Kinahan prevented Fury from entering the US. Afterward, Paul was scheduled to fight Hasim Rahman, Jr, at Madison Square Garden, but that fight, too, was canceled.
Paul alleged that Rahman was failing to make weight for the fight, forcing him to cancel the bout. Other commentators, including UFC president Dana White, have claimed that Paul was failing to sell tickets to the event, leading to the cancellation.
Anderson Silva, although he is 47 years old, is by far the most accomplished boxer to face Jake Paul thus far. Silva actually has a professional boxing record, and in his most recent boxing appearance defeated fellow UFC alumnus Tito Ortiz via knockout. Silva, who stands six feet and two inches tall, and fought at both middleweight (185 pounds) and light heavyweight (205 pounds), is also the closest opponent to Paul’s own size of six foot one, two hundred pounds.
Anderson Silva seems like Jake Paul’s most dangerous opponent yet. Is Anderson Silva’s legacy on the line against Jake Paul? Let us know in the comments.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ri8Gk0gJFEM
