Getty Image
Jake Paul had already taken a very interesting path through life before he decided to attempt a fairly bold pivot that began when he challenged one of his fellow YouTubers to an amateur boxing match in 2018.
It didn’t take long for the former Vine star to develop a taste for the sweet science, as he decided to take things a bit more seriously by ramping up his training before making his professional debut at the start of 2020. While he hasn’t exactly faced off against the most talented pugilists on the planet, he’s still undefeated over the course of six bouts where he’s showcased a fairly impressive skillset (including the one that saw Nate Robinson find himself on the wrong end of a brutal knockout).
The last three men to step into the ring against Paul (Ben Askren, Tyrone Woodley, and Anderson Silva) are all united by a common thread: each one is an MMA fighter whose best days are behind them. His (possibly rigged) showdown with Silva may have lost millions of dollars, but it doesn’t appear Paul is planning on deviating from that formula based on his most recent challenge.
On Tuesday, the UFC officially granted Nate Diaz the release he’s been asking for since he accused the organization of holding him hostage over the summer. It’s unclear what the 37-year-old plans to do after (presumably) saying goodbye to the Octagon where he posted a 22-13 record, but it didn’t take very long for a new opportunity to present itself in the form of a tweet Paul sent his way almost immediately after the news broke.
Hi Nate. Finally out of your UFC contract?
Let’s see how tough you are in the boxing ring instead of hallway slap contests.@NateDiaz209
I have a venue booked. Offer is ready when you are. Just need you to sign.
— Jake Paul (@jakepaul) November 29, 2022
There’s already a bit of bad blood between the two men, as Diaz appeared to slap a member of Paul’s crew while backstage at the Silva fight.
The ex-UFC star may be in the twilight of his fighting career, but when you consider he dispatched Tony Ferguson in the main event at UFC 279 less than three months ago, this would probably be Paul’s biggest—and most intriguing—matchup to date.