- A prospective bout between Jake Paul and Anderson Silva continues to generate headlines.
- UFC commentator Joe Rogan called Paul "a bad motherfucker" because of how he fights.
Jake Paul is in for a "very, very, very tough fight" against Anderson Silva, according to podcaster and UFC commentator Joe Rogan.
Insider reported last week that, according to two sources with knowledge of the situation, Paul's next boxing match would be against Silva — one of the best MMA fighters of all time — and will take place October 29.
American YouTuber KeemStar was first to report the rumor. Boxing reporter Dan Rafael later reported in his Fight Freaks Unite newsletter that Phoenix, Arizona, would likely host the event.
When talking about the prospective fight on The Joe Rogan Experience podcast, host Rogan said: "I love it."
Rogan: Silva would have been a boxing world champ had he dedicated himself to that sport
Paul has built an unbeaten record of four knockouts from five wins, while feasting on overmatched and inexperienced opponents.
However, he has recently signaled an intention to step up his level of competition by attempting to arrange bouts against British prospect Tommy Fury and American heavyweight Hasim Rahman Jr.
At 47 years old, Silva is 22 years older than Paul and finished his MMA career on a losing skid. The Brazilian, though, has enjoyed a second combat sports career fighting boxing matches against Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. and Tito Ortiz.
Silva beat the former boxing champ Chavez by decision before trouncing Ortiz by knockout.
"Anderson, if he just went straight into boxing, would have been a fucking world champion," Rogan said on his show.
Jake Paul is a 'bad motherfucker,' Joe Rogan said
Praising Paul for rising to the challenge of fighting Silva, should that fight get announced as official, Rogan said if it weren't for his background on YouTube he'd be hailed as "really legit."
Rogan said: "Jake Paul is one of the smartest marketers that the fucking sport has ever seen. And he can fight.
"The thing is, people think he's this YouTube guy and he can't fight," he said. "The way he knocked out Tyron Woodley? Come the fuck on.
"I've said this multiple times: If that guy was just a boxer and you never knew anything about his background on YouTube, and you saw him knock out Tyron Woodley with one shot, you'd be like, 'Holy shit, there's this new guy coming up — and he's a bad motherfucker."