UFC President Dana White has taken note of Jake Paul, and has responded to several of the social media celebrity’s public jibes while speaking with the media. That’s the case once again this week, with White responding to Paul calling out Jorge Masvidal of late.
Paul and “Gamebred” appeared to be on the same page back when the Youtuber knocked out fellow foe Ben Askren. The relationship soured more recently, with Paul alleging that a “drunk” Jorge Masvidal, “who can’t type by the way,” had slipped into his DMS.
That led to Paul calling out the UFC star on Ariel Helwani’s The MMA Hour on Monday. Which had Dana White replying while speaking to Australia’s The Daily Telegraph.
“Come on, Masvidal is 170 pounds,” White exclaimed to The Daily Telegraph. “He likes 170 pounders. Go fight somebody your own size.”
As many have noted, there are more suitable fights out there — including one former UFC star who has recent wins in boxing. Which is who White feels the youngster should face next. “Anderson Silva is not in contract, he’s 46 years old, that’s the age group you love to fight, and he’s your size, and he’s actually winning fights. If you look at Jake Paul’s history, Jake Paul either fights basketball players who have never fought, or he wants to fight washed-up older guys who haven’t fought in years. Anderson Silva has actually been boxing, he’s won some fights, he’s 46 years old, and he’s in your weight class. There you go, that’s a no brainer, fight Anderson Silva.”
Paul mulled the Silva option while speaking to Helwani Monday, but claimed he would want the 46-year old to undergo extensive testing to ensure he was fit to compete. Silva has won two boxing matches in the past few months: an exhibition fight against Tito Ortiz last weekend, and a professional bout against 35-year old former champ Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. prior to that. None of the athletic commissions involved raised any concerns about Silva’s health.
