UFC lightweight Paddy Pimblett and YouTube content creator turned boxer Jake Paul have engaged in a back-and-forth over the last two days.
Pimblett got Paul’s attention with comments he made earlier this week during an appearance on Pub Talk. “The Baddy” said that he thinks Paul’s boxing matches are ‘fixed’ after watching Paul’s win over former UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva.
“I give Jake Paul his due now, he’s training that much he probably could beat some professional boxers,” Pimblett said.
“He’s got unlimited funds and he hasn’t got to do anything else, he hasn’t got to go and do a job all he’s got to do is box. And he gets the best coaches in, the best nutritionists in, and stuff like that. Jake Paul is actually not that bad now, even though I think his fights are fixed.”
Paul posted a video response to his Instagram account on Tuesday and issued a challenge to the Englishman.
“I’ve got a proposition for you since you wouldn’t rig a fight. Right? Let’s spar,” Paul said in the video. “Fly to Puerto Rico. I’ll get you a private jet. We can do five, three-minute rounds boxing. If you win I’ll give you a million dollars, which is what you deserve to get paid Paddy. You know it, but the UFC’s not paying you that. You deserve to get paid more.
“If I win, you have to join the United Fighters Association and help me sign up all of the fighters in the U.K. So let’s spar since you wouldn’t rig a fight. I’ll fly you out. A million for you. Put your money where your mouth is. Let’s go.”
Paddy Pimblett counters Jake Paul’s challenge
It didn’t take Pimblett long to respond to Paul’s challenge. During an interview with TMZ Sports Tuesday afternoon, Pimblett said he’s interested, but is under contract with the UFC. He also has a fight scheduled on December 10 in Las Vegas.
“He said this knowing full well that I’m fighting next week as if he does not know that I’m fighting next week,” Pimblett said. “He’s like, I’ll fly you to Puerto Rico. Come to the PI (UFC Performance Institute) next week. Come to the PI next week and bring a million dollars in a bag and I will spar with you.”
Pimblett also doubled down on his claim that the match against Anderson Silva was rigged.
“I think Anderson Silva just sat down for him,” Pimblett said. “You’ve seen the video where the punch doesn’t touch Anderson, or it clips him the tiniest bit and he just sits down for him and that wins Jake the fight. A 10-8 round wins Jake the fight. I’ve seen Anderson Silva take bigger blows than that.”
Sean O’Malley doesn’t think Aljamain Sterling wants to fight Henry Cejudo