Jake Paul’s audacious bet with Anderson Silva, takes swipe at UFC boss
Jake Paul has agreed to an audacious bet should he defeat former UFC champion Anderson Silva in their boxing fight this weekend.
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Jake Paul has agreed to rematch Anderson Silva under kickboxing rules if he loses their fight after making a bet live on stage.
The Sun reports the YouTuber-turned boxer returns to the ring on Sunday (AEDT) in Arizona for his first bout in ten months.
Watch Boxing: Paul v Silva LIVE on Main Event available on Kayo, Sunday 30 October from 12pm AEST. ORDER NOW >
Paul last fought in December, knocking out Tyron Woodley, 40, four months after beating the ex-UFC champion on points.
Beforehand, they agreed the loser would get the winner’s name tattooed on them, with Woodley briefly getting Paul inked on his finger.
For the American’s return, he raised the stakes by suggesting he goes into Silva’s territory should he suffer defeat.
Paul said: “If you win I will fight you in an MMA fight.”
“Woah, you’re so smart,” Silva replied. “Because I don’t fight MMA any more, you’re so smart.”
The ex-UFC champion has retired from MMA so called for a sequel to take place in the kickboxing ring instead.
But Paul wants the Brazilian to help launch a fighter’s union if he is victorious.
He said: “If I win, me and you come together to create a united fighters association to help UFC fighters get better pay and better health care.
“You come become the interim president and we united to help these fighters once and for all.”
Paul, 25, has called out UFC president Dana White in the past and been critical of the MMA promotion’s pay and health care system.
Hee also wants boxers to receive help in retirement and called out stars of the past and present to get involved.
“I think it should be all MMA and all boxing. It should just help all fighters, because that’s truly what needed,” Paul said.
“We need all the help we can get.
“People will need to be selfless and use their platforms to create this and make it an amazing thing that is forever.
“This is not just a ten-year thing, this is not a couple years, this is something that can stand forever.”
UFC president White claimed last year that Paul would not dare challenge Brazilian icon Silva.
He said: “I f***ing guarantee you this, you ain’t gonna see Jake Paul calling Anderson Silva out.
“That I f***ing promise you. He’s his size, and he’s actually good. He’s old, which is what Jake Paul looks for, he likes to fight old guys.”
But Paul wanted to prove his promotional rival wrong and claimed White feels threatened by him.
He said: “I think it’s because I’m the No. 1 figurehead that is exposing his business model and how much of a shark he is and how poorly he treats his fighters.
“He said I wouldn’t fight Anderson Silva, who is one of UFC’s greats, and now here I am fighting him.
“And he largely, in part, promoted that. He’s the reason why I took this fight … it’s to prove him wrong and shut him the hell up.”
This article originally appeared in The Sun and was reproduced with permission.
Originally published as Jake Paul’s audacious bet with Anderson Silva, takes swipe at UFC boss
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