MMA

JAKE PAUL will have to go over old ground after agreeing to rematch Tyron Woodley at late notice. The YouTube star beat ex-UFC champion Woodley over eight rounds in August and set up a mega-fight with Tommy Fury.
Jake Paul before he beat Tyron WoodleyCredit: Getty
But with less than two weeks to go, Fury, 22, pulled out with a broken rib and chest infection.
Woodley, 39, was training on standby and ready to fill in for a rematch on December 18 in Florida.
A win for Paul increases his stock even more, and here SunSport runs down what could be in the immediate pipeline.
Tommy Fury
Despite Paul’s unbeaten 4-0 record, he has been levelled with criticism for not facing an opponent with prior professional boxing experience.
And Fury, who is 7-0 and has a celebrity profile after his 2019 stint on Love Island, offered the perfect opportunity to answer those critics.
Even though Paul has hinted towards leaving Fury ‘in the dust’ the fight could be too lucrative and well matched to go to waste.
Tommy Fury pulled out of fighting Jake Paul with an injuryCredit: Stephen Dunkley/Queensberry Promotions
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Nate Diaz
With wins over ex-UFC stars in Ben Askren, 37, and Woodley, Paul has built up a good rivalry with Dana White’s MMA promotion.
Diaz, 36, has been among those to feud with Paul in recent months and only has one fight left on his UFC deal.
If he can fulfil the last remaining bout on his UFC contract, it would then pave the way for a boxing switch.
Nate Diaz has one fight left on his UFC contractCredit: Getty
Conor McGregor
McGregor, 33, has been at the top of Paul’s ‘hit-list’ for some time and even claimed to have a $50m offer for the Irishman last year.
The former UFC champion still has two fight left on his contract making a move into the ring difficult.
But in 2017, White did make an exception as McGregor fought and lost to Floyd Mayweather, meaning if the money is right, he could do the same again.
Floyd Mayweather beat Conor McGregor in 2017Credit: USA Today Sports
Anderson Silva
The Brazilian, 46, was released from his UFC contract in 2020 and returned to the boxing ring, where he was already 1-1.
What followed was a win over former boxing champ Julio Cesar Chavez Jr, 35, and fellow MMA legend Tito Ortiz, 46.
Silva then entered talks to fight Paul but nothing prevailed, meaning the matchup remains a possibility.
Julio Cesar Chavez Jr was beaten by Anderson SilvaCredit: EPA
Floyd Mayweather
Mayweather, 44, in June faced Paul’s older brother Logan, 26, in an extraordinary exhibition, which ended without a winner as it went the distance.
But beforehand, Paul stole the headlines – and Mayweather’s hat – after he nicked the American icon’s cap, sparking a mass brawl.
Mayweather has insisted he is done with boxing, but is never retired from making money, meaning a fight with the YouTuber cannot be ruled out.
Floyd Mayweather before his melee with Jake PaulCredit: AFP More

TOMMY FURY has been accused of having NO strengths over Jake Paul by the man who has shared the ring with them both. Anthony Taylor, a 7-5 MMA fighter, shot to recognition as one of Paul’s sparring partners.
Jake Paul pictured with sparring partner Anthony TaylorCredit: Instagram @anthony_prettyboy
Tommy Fury before his win over Anthony TaylorCredit: Getty Images – Getty
But his profile increased further last August, when he was beaten over four rounds by Fury, brother to heavyweight champion Tyson.
That result set Fury, 22, up with a grudge match against Paul, 24, on December 18 in Florida.
And Taylor, not in camp with his celebrity fighting friend this time, predicted Fury will tire and lose in the later stages.
He told SunSport: “I think Jake TKO in the seventh round.
“His ring IQ is better, boxing IQ is better, his cardio is a lot better. Strategically, footwork-wise, Jake is better.
“When you really look at Jake, when he fought Tyron you can tell his footwork is better than Tommy’s.

“His ring IQ, the way he utilises the ring around him, the space, the ropes, but when you look at Tommy’s previous fights, he’s never fought anybody bar me.
“And he had a hard time against me. I’m 5’6, he was supposed to knock me out and he had a really hard time and he gassed out quick.
“When you’re going against a guy that’s taller than you, with boxing skills like Jake, Tommy’s going to have a really hard time.”
Paul’s first three wins were knockouts over online rival ‘AnEsonGib’, ex-NBA star Nate Robinson, 37, and retired UFC welterweight Ben Askren, also 37.
But he scored his biggest career win last time out over eight rounds against ex-UFC champion Tyron Woodley, 39.
Taylor’s MMA experience was used in sparring for the wins over Askren and Woodley while even affording him a spot on the undercard in the latter.
But Fury spoiled any chance of a cinderella upset for the former Bellator fighter.
Anthony Taylor sparring with Jake PaulCredit: @anthony_prettyboy
Anthony Taylor was beaten by Tommy Fury over eight roundsCredit: Getty
Taylor has since likened Fury’s fight with Paul to Anthony Joshua’s loss to Oleksandr Usyk in September.
And he insisted his ex-rival does not posses the power capable of closing the show like has been previously promised.
Taylor, 32, said: “Tommy has no knockout power, he has pop and nothing else.
“People said I was comparing Jake to Usyk, no, I said this, the fight will be exactly like Anthony Joshua versus Usyk.
“Tommy Fury is going to be Anthony Joshua, throwing one-twos, very stationary, he comes forward.
“Jake will be like Usyk, moving around a lot, he’s going to use that whole ring, he’s going to pick his shots.

“He’s not going to stand and trade with Tommy, he’s going to move, bouncing. You seen against Tyron Woodley, he used the whole ring.
“He moved around a lot. And it’s going to be the same thing, just like that.”
Taylor’s friendship with Paul has landed him on the mega pay-per-view bill once again.
He fights Chris Avila, a training partner of Nate Diaz’s, who he beat only last year in the cage.
Taylor said: “Kudos to Chris Avila for stepping foot into that boxing ring, he’s a warrior for that.
“I give everybody their props when they step foot in that cage or ring. But no disrespect to him as a fighter, but I’m going to properly kick his butt.”
Chris Avila was beaten by Anthony TaylorCredit: Getty More