Jorge Masvidal believes Mike Perry has what it takes to beat Jake Paul.
The UFC's first BMF champion was not too keen on the boxing match between Paul and Mike Tyson scheduled for July 20th, because at 27, Paul is half Tyson's age and the former heavyweight champion turns 58 later this month. However, the bout was postponed until later this year after Tyson withdrew due to a recurrence of an ulcer.
Boxing News: Jake Paul to face BKFC superstar Mike Perry before Mike Tyson
Paul will be fighting on the same day, taking on another Mike in former UFC and current BKFC star Mike Perry in Tampa, Florida.
“I like it a lot more than the Tyson fight,” Masvidal said. MMA Mania's Alex Behunin On the matchup: “He's had some health issues. I wasn't going to watch that fight. I probably wouldn't have watched that fight, but I'll definitely watch Perry's fight. I'll watch that fight.”
Masvidal's thoughts on the Paul vs. Perry fight were echoed by many in the martial arts world. The 32-year-old Perry is a highly competitive fighter who joined from BKFC in his prime. Perry traded in his 4-ounce UFC gloves for no gloves and outclassed fighters such as Michael “Venom” Page, former UFC world champion Luke Rockhold and Eddie Alvarez, forcing both men to forfeit their matches in the ring.
Perry faces the 9-1 Paul next month and will be putting on padded gloves again for the first time since his unsuccessful 2015 boxing debut.
The BKFC titleholder may be outdone in terms of pure boxing skill and technique, but Masvidal believes the intangibles will ultimately help “Platinum” as he attempts to decapitate Paul for the biggest win (and money) of his professional fighting career.
“I think the first three rounds will go to Jake,” Masvidal said of the Paul vs Perry fight. “With his boxing, with his range, I think Jake will be able to hold Paul off, but after that it's going to be a hard fight and I think Perry will win. That's how I feel. I think Jake will be able to take Paul out in the fourth or fifth round. Jake will be tired from all the jumping and running. Jake will have to fight and we'll see who's stronger.”
“I think Mike is willing to take the risks and he knows he's capable of taking punches, he can defend with his big gloves and he can go in and do it. I think he's just going to beat Jake mentally. I see him dominating Jake from the fourth round onwards and really hurting him and forcing him to quit or get knocked out.”
While Paul has overcome adversity to take on some of the biggest names in the UFC in the past, a fight with Perry, who is considered a unique fighter because of his tenacity both inside and outside the Octagon, could pose problems for the “problem boy.”
“now [Paul] “He's ready to take on higher risk fights because whatever you call him, Mike Perry has to call him a fighter. He'll fight in any arena because he's not afraid of anything,” Daniel Cormier said on Twitter. YouTube ChannelHe also predicts that Perry will beat Paul on July 20th.
Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson boxing match rescheduled due to health concerns
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