Jake Paul has drafted in UFC star Jorge Masvidal as a training partner for his upcoming boxing fight with Ben Askren.
After calling out just about everybody under the sun in recent times, the 'Problem Child' has announced he will be taking on retired MMA fighter Askren on April 17.
And he's already made an attempt to get under Askren's skin as he has enlisted the help of BMF champion Masvidal, who scored the quickest knockout in UFC history at the expense of 'Funky' at UFC 239 in 2019.
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'Gamebred' flew out the traps with a devastating knee and in five seconds Askren was out cold on the canvas.
The stunning manoeuver, which was planned and practiced days before the fight, propelled Masvidal to stardom and marked the beginning of the end for Askren.
He retired not long after a second consecutive defeat to Demian Maia in just his third UFC fight.
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YouTuber-turned-boxer Paul reckons Masvidal is going to teach him how to knockout the 36-year-old in even less time than it took 'Gamebred' under the lights in Las Vegas.
Taking to Instagram, Paul posted footage of them in training in Miami, as well as that legendary highlight knockout. Claiming the fight will last just four seconds, he is targeting a slug-fest with Nate Diaz, another man Masvidal beat inside the Octagon.
"I started boxing two years ago and I'm still going to knock his ass out faster than Masvidal," Paul told ESPN when asked for his prediction.
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"These MMA guys think because they throw punches they know how to box. The world complained because I knocked out a basketball player and not a real fighter. So now I'm giving the people what they want by taking on a 'real fighter.' After Ben Askren is added to my knockout meme collection, what can anybody say?"
The 24-year-old claims there were a number of possibilities in regards to his next opponent, following on from his brutal knockout of former NBA player Nate Robinson on the Mike Tyson vs Roy Jones undercard in November.
But it was two-time NCAA champion and 19-2 MMA fighter Askren who showed the most interest.
Paul added: "I think people don't like to give me props for my boxing ability, but deep down people are like 'damn, this kid's here to fight,' and Ben Askren was the only one who was serious about it, and wanted to make it happen and was ready to go.
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"Kudos to him, but there were guys like Dillon Danis who was all over social media who I threw muddy, piss-filled toilet paper at his face. People wanted that fight. People wanted me to fight Ben Askren. People wanted me to fight McGregor. People wanted me to fight Diaz, and I think all of those fights will happen eventually, but Dillon Danis claimed a knee injury. Conor McGregor just lost. Nate Diaz is tied up by the UFC."
Featured Image Credit:Topics: Nate Diaz, Jorge Masvidal, Ben Askren, Boxing News, UFC News, MMA News, Boxing, Jake Paul, UFC, MMA
