CLEVELAND – Jake Paul points to an old ally.
The award-winning YouTuber winner attacked UFC star Jorge Masvidal on Wednesday after a media training session after Paul’s training in the public square and said he wants to fight him in the future. Paul faces former UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley in a boxing match Sunday in Cleveland, Paul’s hometown.
“I’d love to fight Masvidal,” Paul said. “I think a lot and a lot can happen.”
Paul and Masvidal were friendly during the pre-match boxing match of Paul with Ben Askren in April. Masvidal stopped Askren in 2019 with the fastest knockout record in UFC history, five seconds. Paul and Masvidal trained together a little before Paul’s battle with Askren, and Paul even told a video called Masvidal during a pre-press conference, with both fussing in Askren.
But last week on “The MMA Hour” with Ariel Helwani, Masvidal said it was likely Woodley would not only beat Paul, but “make him out.”
“Not to dissipate Jake, but Woodley can throw their hands at them,” Masvidal said. “Ben Askren never could. You have a guy who can fight and throw fists when it’s time. Woodley could have made his money, which he did. He was good enough as an athlete and he was good enough as an athlete. Win money with your hands, make people fall.
“I know Jake has never been with a guy like that, he’s explosive, he’s a good athlete and he has a lot of experience. If Jake wins … I don’t know the shit of the fight, right? But it’s likely that Woodley the make it fall against. “
Masvidal and Woodley are represented by the First Round Management and have a long affiliation with the American Top Team, so Paul said he wasn’t necessarily surprised by Masvidal’s prediction.
“He has the same manager as Woodley,” Paul said, referring to brothers Kawa, Malki and Abe. “And the guy is kind of an airhead. Let’s be honest. Masvidal isn’t smart. Someone here listens to an interview with Masvidal and says, ‘Wow, this guy is intellectual and he’s a smart guy and his way of speaking, is very well spoken. “He’s a street fighter, a gangster who was eliminated in his last fight, so maybe he loses some brain cells.”
Kamaru Usman eliminated Masvidal at UFC 261 in April to retain the UFC welterweight title. Paul sat in the front row at that event in Jacksonville, Florida, and was lustfully applauded by UFC fans. At one point, the whole crowd sang “F — Jake Paul!” Paul and Usman have also exchanged a few words in interviews and social media.
But Paul said things are a little different with Masvidal, because the two used to be in good shape.
“Wait a minute, he’s my friend,” Paul said. “He texted me to say,‘ Wow, let’s train. Come on, let’s make a video together. Go to my bakery on the street, I want to do a little with you. “And then, oh, all of a sudden, he wants to change. All right. That’s not how I grew up. Not here in Ohio. If I’m your friend, I’m the your friend “.
Masvidal took to Twitter to respond to Paul Wednesday night.
“I guess that means he’ll stop hitting me now on social media to hang out and train,” Masvidal wrote. “Don’t worry about me, you have a handful of problems coming up.”