MMA

JAKE PAUL admitted ‘there’s an itch’ to fight in MMA after his high-school wrestling career.But the YouTube star, who is 3-0 as a boxer all by knockout, will not switch over to the cage in the near future.
Jake Paul admitted ‘there’s an itch’ to fight in MMACredit: Getty Images – Getty
Paul said: “I think there’s an itch there, you know?
“Not anytime soon, but it would be fun to go back in and wrestle and maybe throw some submissions.”
Paul, 24, and his older brother Logan, 26, both wrestled in high-school before going on to find fame online.
But now, they are both two of the most polarising prizefighters thanks to their legions of fans and followers as well as doubters.
Younger brother Jake has beaten fellow YouTuber ‘AnEsonGib’, ex-NBA player Nate Robinson, 37, and retired UFC welterweight Ben Askren, 36.
And he faces former UFC champion Tyron Woodley, 39, next on Sunday, August 29 in his hometown of Cleveland.
Logan, meanwhile, boxed rival KSI, 28, in his first two fights, drawing in 2018 before losing their rematch a year later as they turned professional.
But he scored a stunning moral victory in June as he took boxing legend Floyd Mayweather, 44, the distance in their exhibition bout.

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Logan has also called for a move into MMA and even has UFC president Dana White’s phone number.
That is despite Jake feuding with White, believing he does not pay his UFC fighters enough.
He said in June: “There’s a movement moving forwards that is going to show that fighters should be getting paid more.
“It’s unfair. The UFC fighter’s don’t have fair pay. Out of all the sports, the percentage that the owners get versus the athlete, they’re the lowest. 
“Francis Ngannou vs. Jon Jones, that fight should happen. Dana White, pay them the $10 million.
JAKE’S FEUD WITH DANA WHITE
“He’s taking their money. They’re the ones making the content. They’re the ones who get in the ring risking their life. 
“Chris Weidman goes in, snaps his leg in half, what’s that look like?
“He may never be able to fight again and provide for his family. These fighters are risking their lives. 
“You can quite literally die in the ring and they need to be compensated more. I’m a big proponent of that movement and being in control. 
“It’s just like music labels, same thing, these artists are getting owned and get locked up into these s***** contracts and they don’t know what to do.
“So f*** that shit. F*** Dana White.”
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Floyd Mayweather’s uncle tips Jake Paul to beat Tyron Woodley but it won’t mean anything until YouTuber faces ‘real’ boxer More

JAKE PAUL said Conor McGregor ‘would not stand a chance’ against him and taunted: He needs me more than I need him. The YouTube star has continued to chase a mega-money boxing match with former UFC champion McGregor.
Jake Paul said Conor McGregor ‘would not stand a chance’ against himCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Conor McGregor after defeat to Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 in Las VegasCredit: Reuters
The Irishman, who lost his ring debut to Floyd Mayweather in 2017, is coming off consecutive losses against Dustin Poirier.
It leaves Paul, 24, believing he is the one calling the shots when it comes to McGregor, 33.
He said: “I think the funny thing about this journey is I’ve predicted everything that has happened thus far.
“Eighteen months ago when I said I wanted to fight Conor, people laughed at me.
“Now I’m laughing at Conor with a broken ankle sitting there in the octagon and he needs Jake Paul more than I need him.
“So yeah, my offer to Conor is $23. If we ever fought I would knock those fake ass teeth right out of his f***ing mouth.
“Dustin Poirier defeated this man. Dustin Poirier is an amazing fighter, don’t get me wrong, an amazing guy.
“I actually became a fan of his over the weekend but he’s 5-foot-9, 155 pounds. I’m 6-foot-1, 200, so Conor McGregor would not stand a chance.”
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Jake Paul entered elite company

Paul made the comments at his press conference with Tyron Woodley, 39, ahead of their pay-per-view fight on Sunday, August 29.
The social media sensation is 3-0 in his career, all by knockout and will be provided his toughest test to date in former UFC champ Woodley.
So far, Paul has only beaten online rival ‘AnEsonGib’, ex-NBA player Nate Robinson, 37, and retired UFC welterweight Ben Askren, 36.
But he warned Woodley will be his next viral meme victim as he looks to silence any doubters once more.
Paul said: “You have never been in a fight like this and you know that the whole MMA community is counting on you.
“You’ve never been in a fight of this scale. That’s why this is the biggest payday of your life and you know the whole MMA community is counting on you to knock me out and beat me.
“When you lost to Kamaru Usman, when you lost to Gilbert Burns, when you lost to all of those guys, you had built in excuses, ‘Oh they were the best.’
“What happens when you lose to Jake Paul? You’re going to be the laughing stock of the internet.
“Just like I turned Nate Robinson into a floormat, I’m going to turn you into f***ing paste.”
Jake Paul fights Tyron Woodley on August 29Credit: The Mega Agency More

JAKE PAUL has been backed to beat Tyron Woodley by Jeff Mayweather, who warned it ‘won’t mean s***’ until the YouTuber beats a real boxer. The YouTuber is 3-0 in his career and faces his biggest challenge on Sunday 29 August against ex-UFC champion Woodley.
Jake Paul fights Tyron Woodley on August 29Credit: The Mega Agency
But Paul – despite being in the infancy of his career – has drawn criticism for fighting another opponent without prior professional boxing experience.
It comes following his knockout wins over online rival ‘AnEsonGib’, ex-NBA star Nate Robinson, 37, and retired UFC welterweight Ben Askren, 36.
Trainer Mayweather, uncle to the legendary Floyd Jr, is among those calling for Paul to challenge a legitimate boxer while tipping him to beat Woodley.
He said on the The Mayweather Channel: “He ain’t f***ing building your resume when you f***ing just calling out people who don’t even box at all.
“Fight a boxer. One boxer. I think he’s (Woodley) a good opponent, but do I think he has enough time frame to actually win the fight? No, I don’t to be honest.
“I think Jake is getting better, he’s getting better with each fight and you can’t just jump into boxing and all of a sudden, just because you’re a combat sports guy, doesn’t mean that you’re gonna learn.
“I give the edge to Jake. I don’t think he’s going to dominate him and do him like he did with Askren or Nate.
“I don’t think he’s going to do that to him, but I think he’s going to win.”
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How Jake Paul and Tyron Woodley compare ahead of their boxing match

Paul, 24, is already targeting mega-fights with UFC stars such as Conor McGregor, 33, Nate Diaz, 36, and Kamaru Usman, 34.
It is a strategy Mayweather – who helped coach KSI to beat Paul’s brother Logan in 2019 – agrees is financially smart.
But he claimed wins over the likes of Woodley, who will make his boxing debut against the social media sensation, demand less praise.
He explained: “It don’t mean s***. Because, like I said, once Jake fights a fighter, then I will give him some real credit.
“Because what I think is this, if you’re going to to keep doing this – and don’t get me wrong, if I was Jake Paul, I’d probably be doing the same thing.
“Because, all he needs to do is fight names. He doesn’t have to fight a legitimate fighter at all, period. He’s still going to be paid top dollar.
“So yes, I understand it and it’s one of those things that it’s kind of good for the sport but it’s also bad for the sport.”
Floyd Mayweather’s uncle JeffCredit: Instagram @jeffmayweather
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JAKE PAUL said he is ‘exposing the UFC’ and the ‘striking capabilities’ of their fighters as he vowed to ‘finish’ Tyron Woodley. Paul faces the ex-UFC champion on Sunday, August 29 in his hometown of Cleveland.
Jake Paul knocked out retired UFC welterweight Ben AskrenCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Jake Paul fights Tyron Woodley on August 29Credit: Alamy
The YouTube star in April knocked out retired UFC welterweight Ben Askren, a renowned grappler and former training partner of Woodley’s.
Paul, 24, said: “I think I’m exposing the UFC a bit with their striking capabilities.
“He’s fought the ‘best in the world’ in the UFC, but that’s not boxing. People think they’re very similar sports, which they kind of are.
“But it’s really relating swimming to basketball. It’s two very different things. 
“Boxers are more efficient, more precise, more conservative with their energy, scoring points.
“It’s just a completely different ballgame, and a lot of people don’t really understand that.
“They just take it at face value, which is, ‘This is a fight’. It’s not that.
“He’s coming into my territory, and as crazy as it sounds, I’m a much better boxer than him – even though he’s been doing it for five times as long.”

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How Jake Paul and Tyron Woodley compare ahead of their boxing match

Paul has so far only faced limited opposition, beating online rival ‘AnEsonGib’ and ex-NBA player Nate Robinson, 37, before Askren, 36.
Woodley, 39, will provide his biggest step up to date, a former welterweight champion who made four defences from 2016-2018.
But more recently, he departed the UFC having lost four in a row, without a win in three years.
Paul has promised to put the final nail in the coffin of Woodley’s career when the American makes his boxing debut.
He said: “Yes, he’s fought Kamaru Usman. Yes, he’s fought Gilbert Burns. But that’s not Jake Paul.
“I will finish him, unlike those guys, and then people are going to come back and watch this interview and be like, ‘Holy s***, this kid is crazy.
“‘He predicted the future, and what the f*** is going on? What the f*** is in the milk in Ohio?”’
Jake Paul and Tyron Woodley have bet that loser of grudge boxing bout gets tattoo ‘I love’ and winner’s name on them More

JAKE PAUL continued his relentless pursuit of a boxing match with Conor McGregor by direct messaging the UFC superstar on Instagram.The YouTuber revealed his eagerness to take on McGregor a few days after scoring a sensational second-round KO victory over Nate Robinson on the undercard of Mike Tyson’s exhibition bout with Roy Jones Jr late last year.
Jake Paul slid into Conor McGregor’s direct messages on Instagram
Jake Paul launched a foul-mouthed tirade at Conor McGregor earlier this week
And earlier this week, the 24-year-old doubled down on his desire to box McGregor in a foul-mouthed tirade on Instagram, in which he claimed his team have sent the UFC’s poster boy a whopping £37million ($50million) offer.
McGregor refrained from responding to the x-rated call-out, in which Paul made derogatory comments about the Irishman’s fiancee, Dee Devlin.
And in another attempt to get the former two-division UFC champion’s attention Paul – whose older brother Logan recently stepped in the ring with Floyd Mayweather – sent a short and sweet direct message to The Notorious on Instagram.
Paul’s message read: “Take the fight pussy.”

After sharing his DM to McGregor, Paul launched a blistering rant at UFC president Dana White, who earlier that day revealed he was willing to let women’s bantamweight and featherweight queen Amanda Nunes fight the former Disney star.
He said: “Alright, Dana, let me try to understand your logic here: So you’re saying you don’t want me to fight Conor McGregor because he’s one of the greatest fighters in the world and I’m just like a YouTuber of whatever.
“But then, in a statement today, you say: ‘Oh, I’m thinking about just having Amanda Nunes knock him out.’ But she’s also one of the greatest.
“Dana, you seem to have this thing where you sort of hate on videogamers or YouTubers and influencers and us boxing and all this stuff.
“But then, you spend half your time hanging out with the Nelk Boys. And I know why. It’s because they have hella influence over the male audience and you know that’s gonna promote the UFC.
“And right now, baby, there’s nobody in this f***ing world who is promoting the UFC as much as me.
Tens of millions of views, number one search result on Google when you type in Conor McGregor, when you type in UFC, when you type in Dana White. So you’re not making sense here.
“Dana, I know the world doesn’t really know this because the UFC is this huge company. But we all know it’s not doing that well.
Jake Paul knocked out Nate Robinson on the undercard of Mike Tyson’s exhibition bout with Roy Jones JrCredit: AP:Associated Press
“Anyone who is involved in WME and all the public stocks and everything that went south there, we know the company is not doing well. And I’m the biggest money fight you can do unless Khabib comes out of retirement.
“So if you want the UFC to make the most amount of money, you better start to wake the f**k up and realise that Jake Paul vs Conor McGregor is going to happen at some point.”
Paul’s rant at White came shortly after he ambushed McGregor’s team-mate Dillon Danis and pelted him with water balloons.
Paul may very well be a combat sports novice, but he’s well and truly at the centre of the boxing and MMA worlds at this moment in time.
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TYRON WOODLEY has revealed his four-fight boxing plan including Jake Paul twice, Oscar De La Hoya and ‘a current guy’. The former UFC champion faces Paul on Sunday, August 29 in what will be his boxing debut.
Jake Paul fights Tyron Woodley on August 29Credit: Rex
But Woodley – who made four MMA title defences from 2016-2018 – is now eyeing a stay in the boxing business having left the UFC this year.
His fight with Paul includes a rematch clause if the YouTuber is beaten – and a bet with the loser getting ‘I love’ the winner tattooed on them.
It means Woodley expects a double header with the social media star – but then he wants to face the returning De La Hoya, 47.
He said: “I want to pay respect to the sport. I would like to fight an OG, a veteran, somebody that’s been in the sport for a long time.
“De La Hoya’s name got thrown around a little bit. To enter into somebody’s sport, I think you’ve got to do it in a respectful way.
“I think we’re fighting a seasoned veteran first, and then maybe fighting a current stud. I think that’s the way you get the respect.
“I’ll fight (Paul) probably a couple of times, because he’s going to be walking around with a ‘I love Tyron Woodley’ tattoo on his body.
“So you might as well try and get it back – try and get a chance to redeem yourself. So we’re probably going to fight a couple of times.
“He added the no competition – who does that when they’re confident?
Oscar De La Hoya is returning to the ringCredit: Getty Images – Getty
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“I really believe that fighting him a few times, fighting an OG in the boxing game, and fighting a current guy, there’s no way you can’t respect me now.
“Put those four fights together.”
Woodley, 39, walked out on the UFC after four straight losses, and was without a win in three years.
But he is now committed to a future in boxing, and spent time training with Floyd Mayweather, 44, ahead of his grudge match with Paul, 24.
Woodley said: “I’m in boxing now. I’m here, and you’re going to have this microphone by my face a lot because I ain’t going nowhere.
How Jake Paul and Tyron Woodley compare ahead of their boxing match
“I’m going to be fighting real boxers, and they’re going to have a problem to deal with – and it’s going to be me.
“At the end of the day, I’m in boxing right now. He’s my first opponent. This is your and everybody else’s first chance to watch me box.
“I’m in boxing – there’s no ifs. I’m at the ‘know’ level right now.
“Yes, I will win. I will knock him out. I am in boxing.”
Jake Paul and Tyron Woodley have bet that loser of grudge boxing bout gets tattoo ‘I love’ and winner’s name on them More