Jake Paul beating Ben Askren will be a humiliating but hilarious day for MMA, according to UFC welterweight Leon Edwards
- Jake Paul knocking out Ben Askren would bring shame to the MMA community.
- Regardless, it would also be pretty funny to watch.
- That's according to the UFC star Leon Edwards, who foresees an easy win for the YouTube star.
It will be a humiliating day for combat sports when the internet sensation Jake Paul beats the former MMA champion Ben Askren in their upcoming showbiz boxing bout, UFC star Leon Edwards said.
The crossover match takes place April 17 at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, the home of NFL side Atlanta Falcons. The Triller Fight Club bout will be broadcast as a pay-per-view event with a $49.99 price tag.
Askren takes far more fighting experience into the ring than YouTube creator Paul. He is a former Bellator MMA champion, a former One Championship titleholder, and a former UFC competitor.
Paul, in contrast, is yet to compete against an actual fighter. He's fought in two professional boxing bouts, but neither has been against a true pro. He first toppled fellow creator AnEsonGib before flattening the former NBA player Nate Robinson in 2020.
Regardless, Paul appears to be the favorite to defeat Askren. That's largely because Askren is renowned for his wrestling and ground-game, as opposed to his striking.
As such, Edwards foresees a demolition job that will bring shame to the MMA community.
"He's going to get knocked out, I'm serious," Edwards said of Askren during a virtual media roundtable Insider attended last month.
"It's going to be bad for MMA … I don't know who agreed to this," the British fighter added. "I don't think it's going to be good for MMA, and he's going to get chinned. But … it's going to be funny to see it."
Edwards headlines Saturday's UFC Fight Night 187 event
Edwards is one of the best welterweight fighters in the world, but has not competed since 2019.
The 29-year-old has beaten a who's who of 170-pound competitors since a 2015 loss to Kamaru Usman, tallying wins over Donald Cerrone, Gunnar Nelson, and Rafael dos Anjos.
Edwards was supposed to fight the UFC super prospect Khamzat Chimaev but the bout had to be rescheduled three times because both fighters tested positive for the coronavirus at separate times.
While Edwards has recovered from COVID-19, Chimaev continues to suffer issues.
He was flown to the US from Europe for treatment, coughed-up blood, and hinted at retirement until a phone call from the Chechen warlord Ramzan Kadyrov.
Edwards, meanwhile, returns to the Octagon for Saturday's behind-closed-doors UFC Fight Night 187 event against Belal Muhammad, and wants to use the bout as a springboard to a title shot later this year.
"I've proven to the world and myself that I belong in the top five," Edwards said.
"I've got an amazing body of work behind me and this will be the ninth win in the row when I go out and beat Belal Muhammad, which is the third-most in the whole promotion's history."
He said he cannot be denied a title shot and is determined to force one by continuing to do he has done best for the last six years - winning.