Continuing his habit of fighting older, smaller men, YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul is all set to fight UFC legend Anderson Silva for his next outing in the squared circle. TMZ report that Paul vs Silva is scheduled tentatively for October.
Jake Paul is currently 5-0 as a pro boxer, with knockout victories over every opponent he has faced. Thus far, his roster of opponents includes Nate Robinson, a professional basketball player, and the UFC’s Ben Askren and Tyron Woodley, both welterweights who faced the two-hundred-pound Paul in the boxing ring.
Jake Paul Set To Fight Anderson Silva Next
Anderson Silva is one of the greatest mixed martial artists of all time. Although the former UFC middleweight champion left MMA in 2020, he has enjoyed a resurgence as a professional boxer, stringing together notable victories over Tito Ortiz and Julio Caesar Chavez Jr since. Anderson Silva’s pro MMA record included 34 wins and 11 losses, including notable victories over Chael Sonnen and Vitor Belfort.
Silva boasted ten successful title defenses as UFC middleweight champion, and has the most knockouts in UFC middleweight history. He also holds the record for the most successful title defenses in UFC middleweight history, the most finishes in the UFC middleweight division, and the most finishes in UFC title fights.
Anderson Silva, now aged 47, was renowned as a lethal, clinical striker in his prime. Like Jake Paul, his recent switch to boxing saw Silva continue to deliver powerful, precise strikes, earning two victories, one of which was a knockout, since retiring from MMA.
Jake Paul’s boxing fortunes of late have waned. Two scheduled fights in a row saw his opponent pull out. The first, against Tommy Fury, younger brother to boxing heavyweight titan Tyson Fury, was cancelled when Fury had difficulty entering the United States. For the second, Jake Paul was supposed to box Hasim Rahman, Jr, who Paul claims failed to make weight for the fight.
Jake Paul’s entrance into the world of combat sports has been mired in controversy all along. Paul has repeatedly called out the biggest names in the business, including Conor McGregor, Canelo Alvarez, and even UFC president Dana White.
Paul’s habit of boxing the UFC’s ranks of retirees has done little to endear him to boxing fans, but has brought fresh attention to the sport. While Anderson Silva does not represent a departure from form for Paul, Silva’s striking prowess makes him by far the most dangerous opponent the YouTuber has faced yet.
What’s your prediction for Paul vs Silva? Let us know in the comments.
