Jake Jake is a touchy subject among the MMA community but rising heavyweight contender Tom Aspinall is a fan.
The British heavyweight stated he was a fan of everything Jake Paul brought to the table and knows he’s among the small minority that is routing for the Youtuber-turned-boxer to be successful. Aspinall went as far as predicting that Paul would defeat Anderson Silva when the pair meet between the ropes on October 29.
Tom Aspinall on Jake Paul
“I will say something that not a lot of fighters will say, I actually really like Jake Paul,” Aspinall expressed to Midnite.com.
“I like what he’s doing. He’s got a lot of eyes on the sport that would not be watching the sport before. I’m talking all the way across combat sports.
“I think he brings a lot of eyes to combat sports, and he’s looked great boxing so far.
“He’s obviously a very athletic guy and picked it up really quick, and he’d look great doing MMA as well, I think.
“In my opinion, if he was given the right fights and brought on properly, had the right training – his mentality is great – so he could far with it, definitely.”
Paul has fought some big names inside the ring, but none come bigger than former UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva. The bout is scheduled to go down on October 29 in Phoenix, Arizona. Despite being criticized for not fighting a “real boxer”, Silva is undoubtedly the best striker Paul has yet to face.
Even with all the accomplishments, Silva holds to his name, father time is undefeated, and age plays a huge factor in combat sports. Although looking like Silva of old against Julio César Chávez Jr. and Tito Ortiz, he’s not the same man that once dominated the world of mixed martial arts.
That being said, Aspinall does back the young and hunger of Paul to prevail when he meets the UFC legend.
Aspinall Predicts Paul vs. Silva
“I think he’s got Anderson Silva at a good time,” Aspinall said.
“Silva has obviously got a lot of miles on the clock. But he also has a lot of skills so it’s an interesting fight. Silva has got to be pushing 50 now, but the skills are still there, the body is still there.
“I think Jake Paul takes it, I think Paul should be able to outwork him being the younger and fresher man but you never know.
“Silva getting a bit older and Paul’s young and hungry – and Jake Paul’s looked good. I don’t care what anybody says, it looks like he has got skills. So I think he wins that one.”
Do you agree with Tom Aspinall? Will Jake Paul have enough ability to defeat Anderson Silva?
Featured image credits to Embed from Getty Images and Embed from Getty Images
