Jake Paul vs. Anderson Silva set for Oct. 29 in Phoenix

Jake Paul and Anderson Silva will square off in a boxing match Oct. 29 at Gila River Arena in Phoenix, Ariz., Paul’s promotion Most Valuable Promotions announced Tuesday.

Paul is 5-0 in boxing since his debut in 2020, a run that includes a pair of wins over former UFC welterweight king Tyron Woodley and former Bellator and ONE champion Ben Askren. The 25-year-old was scheduled to meet Tommy Fury and Hasim Rahman Jr. earlier this year but both matches fell through.

“It’s an honour to be there with Anderson Silva, although I will knock him out in under five rounds,” Paul said in his announcement.

Silva, 47, made the transition from MMA to boxing after parting ways with the UFC in 2020 to win three times inside the squared circle, including a decision over veteran Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. and a knockout against Tito Ortiz. As a UFC fighter, “The Spider”, knocked out Vitor Belfort and Forrest Griffin as well as Nate Marquardt and Rich Franklin.

The Brazilian boxer Bruno Machado faced off against Paul in Dubai earlier in the year. He knocked down the UAE Warriors lightweight champion but Paul wasn’t impressed and promised to beat Silva and Floyd Mayweather in “the same night .”

Silva’s former boxing coach Luiz Carlos Dorea said to MMA Fighting that he would “pay dearly,” if he agreed to fight the UFC legend.

“If the man is considering a [against Silva], fight, I believe he will be very hurt,” Dorea stated. “In promoting, it’s all valid. While he’s giving his best, he’s also using his tongue. However, you cannot use your tongue within the ring. Anderson is far better. Anderson is a far superior .”