The Jake Paul present returns in Arizona tonight as he faces UFC legend Anderson Silva in a high-profile boxing crossover conflict. It’s been a irritating few months for Paul, who has seen a showdown with arch-rival Tommy Fury fall by means of as soon as once more earlier than his proposed battle with former sparring accomplice Hasim Rahman Jr was cancelled as a result of a weight dispute.
However lastly the web sensation returns to the ring in a bid to increase his skilled file to 6-0 and proceed to defy his critics, having produced a surprising knockout of Tyron Woodley of their December rematch final 12 months. He’s more likely to face his hardest take a look at thus far in opposition to one other MMA nice in Silva, who, whereas nearly 50 now, was one of many UFC’s best strikers and long-reigning champions and has 4 skilled boxing bouts to his title.
Julio Cesar Chavez Jr and Tito Ortiz have each been defeated by ‘The Spider’, who shall be desirous to proceed that profitable streak and put an enormous dent in Paul’s ambitions. Comply with Jake Paul vs Anderson Silva dwell beneath!
Schedule and outcomes
Jake Paul vs Anderson Silva
Ashton Sylve vs Braulio Rodriguez
Alexandro Santiago vs Antonio Nieves
Uriah Corridor vs Le’Veon Bell
Chris Avila vs Dr Mike Varshavski
Comply with Jake Paul vs Anderson Silva dwell beneath!
Dwell updates
Jake Paul vs Anderson Silva huge wager stakes
As ever with a Jake Paul battle, there was a pre-bout wager agreed to on the closing press convention this week.
The stakes are thus – if Silva wins tonight, then Paul has agreed to a rematch with kickboxing guidelines, having initially pledged an MMA bout – just for Silva to remind him that he doesn’t compete in that world anymore.
In the meantime, if Paul wins, Silva should be a part of him in making a united fighters’ affiliation to assist UFC athletes get higher pay and higher healthcare – with Silva himself serving because the interim president.
“The fighters have to band collectively and Anderson is the proper man,” Paul advised ESPN. “He’s all of our idols, each fighters’ idol. So, he can be a really highly effective determine. This kind of factor simply must occur for fighters.
“It’s not gonna be only a couple fighters who’re gonna have the ability to pull this off. However he’s a legend, proper? He’s one of the revered ever. And that’s vital. I believe lots of fighters have animosity in the direction of me, so they won’t take heed to me. So, I want assist in getting this performed.”
Jake Paul at career-lowest weight for Anderson Silva conflict
Tonight’s major occasion is being fought at a catchweight of 187lbs, between light-heavy and cruiserweight.
Anderson Silva tipped the scales at 186.1lbs yesterday, whereas Paul weighed in at a career-lowest 186.5lbs.
‘The Downside Youngster’ was at 191.4lbs for his rematch with former UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley final December, a memorable battle that ended with a vicious sixth-round knockout.
Paul has little doubt intentionally are available lighter in an try to neutralise the strengths of Silva, who, even at nearly 50, shall be no slouch when it comes to his motion and footwork.
Anderson Silva wasn’t the one UFC icon in attendance as the 2 fighters weighed in and stared one another down for the ultimate time pre-bout on Friday afternoon.
A sure Georges St-Pierre was additionally entrance and centre….
The physician will see you now…
The opposite fighter flying the flag for MMA tonight is Chris Avila, the previous UFC and Bellator veteran and pal of Nate Diaz who defeated former rival Anthony Taylor on the Paul-Woodley 2 undercard in Tampa final December.
The Stockton native battles Mikhail Varshavski, the YouTube favorite extra generally often known as Physician Mike.
Varshavski’s earlier expertise got here in a white-collar cruiserweight bout in opposition to fellow web celeb Ian Carter – AKA IDubbbz – again in Might.
So much using on the repute of the MMA group tonight, though it’s price declaring that Anderson Silva has not fought within the UFC since October 2020.
In one other of the high-profile contests in Glendale tonight, former NFL star Le’Veon Bell takes on ex-UFC middleweight Uriah Corridor.
Bell made his boxing debut by knocking out fellow former working again Adrian Peterson in an exhibition in Los Angeles final month.
This night is his professional bow, in opposition to a person whose final MMA contest was a defeat by André Muniz at UFC 276 in July.
Corridor abruptly retired from the UFC over the summer time.
Battle on after Silva rows again from knockout claims
There have been initially some issues over whether or not this battle would go forward or else go the identical means as Paul’s proposed showdowns with the likes of Tommy Fury and Hasim Rahman Jr.
That’s due to the consternation induced after Anderson Silva, who turned 47 in April, appeared to let slip final week that he had twice been knocked out throughout sparring in camp, little doubt resulting in concern among the many Arizona fee.
“I’m coaching with the great boxers, high-level, and 5 guys come to assist me,” he advised MMA Weekly. “And the final sparring with [my partner], he knocked me out two instances, and after I end my coaching, I talked to my coach and even mentioned, ‘Coach, let me inform you one thing, why the blokes knock me out two instances?’ And the coach mentioned, ‘It’s good to put together for warfare, and also you put together for warfare.’”
Nonetheless, the Brazilian has since moved to make clear these claims, saying he misspoke and that the unique interview had been performed in September.
“After seeing the studies and concern for me, I’d wish to make clear two vital issues,” he mentioned. “One, I used to be by no means knocked out in sparring. I misspoke in that interview as I typically do when interviewing in English and exaggerated the traditional back-and-forth motion that happens in sparring.
“Second, this sparring session I referenced was in early September. The interview with MMA Weekly was performed on Sept. 13 and, for some motive, simply launched this week. So, it wasn’t current. Extra importantly, my coaching camp has been nice. I’m match and able to battle, and the one knockout individuals needs to be anxious about is the one I’m about to ship to Jake Paul on Saturday night time.”
Jake Paul vs Anderson Silva prediction
For all his tedious antics and knack for getting himself into so many boxing headlines as of late, it’s not possible to disclaim that Paul has labored extraordinarily exhausting to get to this stage and has some strong fundamentals and expertise, you simply want he would put himself up in opposition to an precise boxer.
Silva is a step up in putting phrases from Woodley and definitely from Askren and has a wealth of expertise, however is pushing 50 and offers up a large 22 years in age to Paul – more likely to be important over eight tiring rounds.
That is more likely to be his hardest take a look at thus far, however we’re nonetheless backing Paul for victory, probably by way of one other eye-catching stoppage within the center rounds.
Battle card in full
Jake Paul vs Anderson Silva
Ashton Sylve vs Braulio Rodriguez
Alexandro Santiago vs Antonio Nieves
Le’Veon Bell vs Uriah Corridor
Mikhail ‘Physician Mike’ Varshavski vs Chris Avila
Jeremiah Milton vs Quintin Sumpter
Danny Barrios Flores vs Edgar Ortiz Jr.
Adrian Rodriguez vs Dominique Griffin
Eliezer Silva vs Phillip Carmouche
Jake Paul vs Anderson Silva begin time and ring walks
The principle undercard is because of get underway from 1am BST, which is 5pm PT and 8pm ET.
Ring walks for the primary occasion ought to observe at round 4am GMT (8pm PT, 11pm ET), although that’s topic to alter relying on the size of these undercard contests.
Don’t neglect UK battle followers that the clocks return an hour at 2am tonight!
watch Jake Paul vs Anderson Silva
TV channel and dwell stream: Within the UK, tonight’s battle is being broadcast dwell on American digital video streaming service Fite TV. The occasion will price $19.99 (£17.22) to observe.