Jake Paul has lots of lofty ambitions relating to his combating profession.
He’s adamant that he’ll ultimately develop into a boxing world champion however Paul’s development in stage of competitors has been greater than questionable at occasions. Thus far by 10 skilled fights, Paul has taken on a social influencer, a former NBA basketball participant, 4 outstanding MMA fighters, two journeymen boxers and one fighter seemingly his equal in Tommy Fury. Oh yeah, Fury is the one individual handy Paul a defeat in his profession.
Along with boxing, Paul signed with the PFL after declaring plans to ultimately compete in MMA however with every passing day, it appears much less and fewer doubtless that’s truly going to occur. He’s acquired a boxing match booked in July in opposition to BKFC star and former UFC fighter Mike Perry after which a November showdown scheduled with soon-to-be-58-year-old former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson.
Paul additionally turns 28 in January.
That every one appears so as to add as much as a recipe for Paul to stay with boxing reasonably than testing himself in MMA, particularly understanding how a lot time he must dedicate to prepare for a debut combat. PFL colour commentator Dan Hardy acknowledges the truth that Paul could have an excessive amount of on his plate proper now and MMA finally ends up because the facet dish that will get got rid of.
“I feel Jake’s acquired an concept the place he desires to go together with his profession as a celeb, and I feel he’s taking that one step at a time,” Hardy advised MMA Combating. “I feel he stepped away from the type of celeb fashion boxing and fought a few opponents that weren’t massive names and folks type of disengaged a little bit bit. That’s spurred this combat in opposition to Mike Tyson. I don’t thoughts it. I’d by no means inform Mike Tyson he shouldn’t be combating it doesn’t matter what age he’s as a result of he’s a scary particular person, and if he can get cleared to combat, then sport on.
“However for me, Jake’s an fascinating particular person as a result of he’s type of carving his personal path. No person else is doing what Jake Paul’s doing so I can’t actually matter out his subsequent transfer. I feel the concept in the end was for Jake Paul to have the ability to get Nate Diaz in a cage and combat him in blended martial arts. I do know this can be a controversial opinion, however I don’t rely Jake Paul out in opposition to Nate Diaz in an MMA combat. I feel he did very well in opposition to him in a boxing match and Jake’s acquired wrestling expertise from highschool. I feel he would be capable of at the very least defend some takedowns and preserve it in a variety that may go well with him.”
Sadly as a lot as Paul wished that combat, Diaz confirmed virtually little interest in signing with the PFL for even one bout a lot much less dealing with his former boxing foe in MMA.
Hardy believes at the very least a part of the explanation stems from the potential hazard that Paul represents as a really excessive danger, low reward opponent. If Diaz beats an 0-0 fighter, he’s purported to win that combat but when he loses, it could possibly be devastating for his future prospects.
Regardless of the cause is likely to be, Hardy believes there’s little to no probability Diaz truly faces Paul within the cage and that is likely to be a part of the explanation “The Downside Youngster” has waned on his pursuit to compete in MMA.
“I feel he had his coronary heart set on Nate Diaz and I don’t suppose Nate Diaz desires to take the danger of sullying his identify and his model by dropping to Jake in an MMA combat,” Hardy mentioned. “I hate to say it however after watching the boxing match, I feel Jake might probably be an issue for Nate in MMA.”
Eradicating Diaz from the equation, Hardy says it’s nonetheless extremely tough to search out the proper of opponent that may entice Paul to really crossover into MMA.
With a seemingly limitless record of potential opponents in boxing with assured multi-million greenback paydays, MMA might not have the proper of combat to catch Paul’s consideration.
Hardy solely has one identify in thoughts which may do the job.
“If we’re doing it, the one which makes probably the most sense is Tyron Woodley,” Hardy mentioned. “He’s been commentating with the PFL, he does an amazing job with that. Each time I see him, we now have a really frosty handshake. I really feel like he nonetheless desires to punch me within the face.
“After all, he’s acquired that knockout loss to Jake Paul. If I’m Tyron Woodley, I’m placing myself on the entrance of the road to welcome Jake Paul into MMA. I feel that’s the type of opponent Jake Paul could possibly be enticed by.”
Woodley truly has two losses to Paul in boxing however the second combat resulted in devastating style with the previous UFC welterweight champion face down on the canvas after consuming a brutal punch from the social influencer turned fighter.
However Woodley has vastly extra expertise than Paul does relating to MMA, and it’s onerous to consider that wouldn’t be seen as a mismatch.
It’s these sorts of issues that can proceed to hang-out Paul’s potential transition into the game.
“The problem, the identical as Claressa [Shields] and Savannah [Marshall] crossing over, it’s who do you combat in your first combat?” Hardy theorized. “You’re not going to place Jake Paul in there in opposition to Anthony Pettis however then if you happen to give him somebody that’s 2-2 in MMA that nobody’s heard of, it’s principally a wasted coaching camp and a combat for him as a result of he might combat Roy Jones Jr. or one thing. The opponent’s acquired to be proper and that’s the problem.
“Even when he fought me, I simply turned 42, I haven’t fought since 1963, it’s been some time. I practice most days, however I’m an outdated man. I don’t suppose Jake would final a spherical with me in an MMA combat and that’s no disrespect to him. It’s simply the truth of the missing expertise that I’d think about he’d must fill together with his coaching camps. You’ve acquired to search out the correct opponent.”
