Multiple reports have confirmed that Jake Paul’s next in-ring opponent will be UFC legend Anderson Silva. The match will take place in October. Paul was supposed to fight Hasim Rahman Jr. in July but refused to fight Rahman after the former heavyweight failed to make weight failed to make weight.
Paul is set to fight Silva, who won the UFC Middleweight Championship and held it for 2,457 days from 2006 to 2013. Despite spending most of his career in mixed martial arts, Silva has performed as a boxer in multiple stints over the course of his career. He holds a 3-1 record and won both of his professional bouts in 2021.
Paul, meanwhile, has earned more respect as a fighter recently after defeating another UFC legend, Tyron Woodley, in two straight matches in 2021, including a knockout in December. He continues to take criticism, however, for scheduling fights with overmatched opponents, or fighters with name recognition who are either old or unfamiliar with the sport. Silva fits both of these latter descriptions as a 47-year-old UFC retiree with limited experience in the ring.
In the months leading up to his fight against Rahman, Paul’s team, Most Valuable Promotions, demanded that his opponent weigh 200 pounds on the day of the fight. Once weighing in at 260 pounds, Rahman initially agreed to these terms but later complained that it wasn’t feasible. The two subsequently accused one another of running away from the fight.
Addressing rumors of a match between Paul and Silva, UFC President Dana White seemed exasperated but admitted that it would be a test for Paul.
“If he’s really fighting Anderson Silva, and that’s true, it’s about time he’s got a real fight on his hands there,” White told reporters at a press conference. “Regardless of how old Anderson is, yeah, that’s a real fight.”
An official announcement from Paul’s team will likely be announced next week.
