According to YouTube sensation Jake Paul, he’ll try his hand at being a mixed martial artist.
“The Problem Child” is set to box former UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley for the second time. They’re scheduled to fight on December 18, 2021, via Showtime PPV.
Paul fully expects to defeat “The Chosen One” and continue competing in bigger and bigger fights. And he won’t just stick with boxing, he told the media on Thursday.
Paul plans to compete as a mixed martial artist in the future, and to prepare for the new sport, he’ll enlist the help of former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov.
GettyKhabib Nurmagomedov
“People seem to forget that I was a state wrestler, Division 1 in Ohio, one of the hardest wrestling states,” Paul said via MMA Junkie. “I don’t see why if I can do boxing at this high of a level that I couldn’t do MMA at this high of a level.
“I’m gonna go get coached up by Jav Mendez, Team Khabib, and that’s that. They’re down, 100 percent.”
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Woodley Offered to Fight The Problem Child in an MMA Match Next
GettyTyron Woodley.
When Paul said during the pre-fight presser that he was considering competing in MMA, Woodley, of course, had something to say.
“You a lie,” Woodley said via MMA Junkie. “Let’s do MMA then. Let’s do this MMA after we do this boxing so I can elbow you in the head and knee you in the nugget.”
Woodley is a five-time UFC welterweight champion and is considered one of the greatest 170-pound MMA athletes of all time. The Chosen One holds notable victories over the likes of former UFC welterweight champion Robbie Lawler, one-time title challenger Josh Koscheck and submission-ace Demian Maia.
Woodley has a professional MMA record of 28-11, however his time with the UFC came to a rough end. The fighter lost four bouts in a row, which started with him dropping the welterweight title to Kamaru Usman in March 2019.
His last MMA bout took place in March 2021 when he was defeated by Vicente Luque via first-round submission. He parted ways with the UFC weeks later.
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Six Fights Make Up the Showtime Fight Card
Six boxing bouts will take place during the event on December 18, 2021. Take a look at the card (via DAZN):
- Jake Paul vs. Tyron Woodley; Cruiserweight
- Amanda Serrano vs. Miriam Gutierrez; Women’s lightweight
- Anthony Taylor vs. Chris Avila; Super middleweight
- Deron Williams vs. Frank Gore; Heavyweight
- J’Leon Love vs. Marcus Oliveira; Cruiserweight
- Liam Paro vs. Yomar Alamo; Super lightweight
The event can be purchased through Showtime PPV for fight fans watching in the US. And if fight fans are living in the UK or Canada, they can purchase it through Fite TV.
The event takes place in Tampa, Florida, and the PPV is scheduled to start at 6 p.m. PT/9 p.m. ET.
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Jake Paul Plans to Work With UFC Superstar to Become MMA Fighter