Tag: Ben Askren

Jake Paul details how Ben Askren boxing match came to be

Jake Paul details how Ben Askren boxing match came to be

Jake Paul details how Ben Askren boxing match came to be

Clay Collard blasts Jake Paul vs. Ben Askren boxing match

MMA fighter-turned-boxer Clay Collard blasted the Jake Paul vs. Ben Askren boxing match.

Editor’s note: This article was originally published on MMAJunkie.USAToday.com.

***

Clay Collard thinks Jake Paul venturing into the world of boxing is disrespectful to the sport.

MMA fighter Collard recently laced up the gloves to start a pro boxing career and has found success in the ring, amassing a record of 9-3-3.

Collard has captured plenty of headlines during his short boxing career but he hasn’t reached the level of YouTube sensation Paul, who has the whole combat sports world talking despite never competing against an actual boxer.

After scoring knockouts of fellow YouTube star AnEsonGib and former NBA player Nate Robinson, Paul has agreed to fight former Bellator welterweight champion and ex-UFC fighter Ben Askren on April 17.

[lawrence-related id=17513,17333]

Askren never boxed in his life and isn’t known for his striking, leading Collard to believe the matchup is a mockery of the sport.

“I don’t even want to talk about it, bro,” Collard told MMA Junkie. “It’s embarrassing to me. That’s stupid to me. Jake Paul, I mean he doesn’t box boxers. It’s all fake to me. They’re not fighters, man, and shame on Ben Askren for taking the fight. And Ben Askren might get beat up because he’s the guy [who] don’t know how to box at all. So I don’t know, man. It’s just embarrassing to me.

“Jake Paul should not be in combat sports. Go back to making YouTube videos, bro. I said it back when [the Paul brothers] first started fighting: People have been working their entire lives to get on those big shows and get opportunities like that, and just because this guy has a little bit of a following, he just gets tossed in there and gets to fight on these shows and fight these guys, and I just think it’s embarrassing for the sport.”

Collard (18-8-1) will shift his focus back to MMA when he enters PFL’s upcoming 2021 lightweight season with the likes of former UFC lightweight champ Anthony Pettis and reigning PFL champ Natan Schulte.

He will compete in MMA for the first time since April 2019, when he picked up a unanimous decision win over Randall Wallace at Final Fight Championship 35.

Clay Collard blasts Jake Paul vs. Ben Askren boxing match

MMA fighter-turned-boxer Clay Collard blasted the Jake Paul vs. Ben Askren boxing match.

Editor’s note: This article was originally published on MMAJunkie.USAToday.com.

***

Clay Collard thinks Jake Paul venturing into the world of boxing is disrespectful to the sport.

MMA fighter Collard recently laced up the gloves to start a pro boxing career and has found success in the ring, amassing a record of 9-3-3.

Collard has captured plenty of headlines during his short boxing career but he hasn’t reached the level of YouTube sensation Paul, who has the whole combat sports world talking despite never competing against an actual boxer.

After scoring knockouts of fellow YouTube star AnEsonGib and former NBA player Nate Robinson, Paul has agreed to fight former Bellator welterweight champion and ex-UFC fighter Ben Askren on April 17.

[lawrence-related id=17513,17333]

Askren never boxed in his life and isn’t known for his striking, leading Collard to believe the matchup is a mockery of the sport.

“I don’t even want to talk about it, bro,” Collard told MMA Junkie. “It’s embarrassing to me. That’s stupid to me. Jake Paul, I mean he doesn’t box boxers. It’s all fake to me. They’re not fighters, man, and shame on Ben Askren for taking the fight. And Ben Askren might get beat up because he’s the guy [who] don’t know how to box at all. So I don’t know, man. It’s just embarrassing to me.

“Jake Paul should not be in combat sports. Go back to making YouTube videos, bro. I said it back when [the Paul brothers] first started fighting: People have been working their entire lives to get on those big shows and get opportunities like that, and just because this guy has a little bit of a following, he just gets tossed in there and gets to fight on these shows and fight these guys, and I just think it’s embarrassing for the sport.”

Collard (18-8-1) will shift his focus back to MMA when he enters PFL’s upcoming 2021 lightweight season with the likes of former UFC lightweight champ Anthony Pettis and reigning PFL champ Natan Schulte.

He will compete in MMA for the first time since April 2019, when he picked up a unanimous decision win over Randall Wallace at Final Fight Championship 35.

Clay Collard blasts Jake Paul vs. Ben Askren boxing match: ‘It’s all fake to me’

Clay Collard thinks Jake Paul venturing into the world of boxing is disrespectful to the sport.

[autotag]Clay Collard[/autotag] thinks [autotag]Jake Paul[/autotag] venturing into the world of boxing is disrespectful to the sport.

MMA fighter Collard, who recently laced up the gloves to start a pro boxing career in 2017, has found success in the ring, amassing a record of 9-3-3.

While Collard has captured plenty of headlines for his successful boxing career, it wasn’t quite at the magnitude of YouTube sensation Paul, who has the whole combat sports world talking despite never competing against an actual boxer.

After scoring knockouts of fellow YouTube star AnEsonGib and former NBA player Nate Robinson, Paul has drawn former Bellator welterweight champion and ex-UFC fighter [autotag]Ben Askren[/autotag] on April 17.

[lawrence-related id=585709,585638,584706]

Considering that not only has Askren never boxed in his life, but also isn’t known for his striking, Collard thinks the matchup is a mockery of the sport, even taking aim at Askren for joining in the festivities.

“I don’t even want to talk about it, bro,” Collard told MMA Junkie. “It’s embarrassing to me. That’s stupid to me. Jake Paul, I mean he doesn’t box boxers. It’s all fake to me. They’re not fighters, man, and shame on Ben Askren for taking the fight. And Ben Askren might get beat up because he’s the guy (who) don’t know how to box at all. So I don’t know, man. It’s just embarrassing to me. Jake Paul should not be in combat sports. Go back to making YouTube videos, bro.

“I said it back when (the Paul brothers) first started fighting. People have been working their entire lives to get on those big shows and get opportunities like that, and just because this guy has a little bit of a following, he just gets tossed in there and gets to fight on these shows and fight these guys, and I just think it’s embarrassing for the sport.”

Collard (18-8-1) will re-shift his focus to MMA when he enters PFL’s upcoming 2021 lightweight season with the likes of former UFC lightweight champ Anthony Pettis and reigning PFL champ Natan Schulte. He will compete in MMA for the first time since April 2019, when he picked up a unanimous decision win over Randall Wallace at Final Fight Championship 35.

[vertical-gallery id=391022]

[listicle id=584270]

Video: Watch Ben Askren unload on custom-made Jake Paul heavy bag

Ben Askren has enjoyed pounded a heavy bag emblazoned with the face of Jake Paul, his opponent on April 17.

Editor’s note: This article was originally published on MMAJunkie.com.

***

Ben Askren can’t wait to get his hands on Jake Paul – quite literally.

Askren, who’s scheduled to fight YouTube star Paul in an eight-round boxing match on April 17, has received a special gift to help him prepare.

A sports equipment manufacturer called Combat Corner created a custom-made Jake Paul punching bag for Askren, and “Funky” is already having a ball blasting Paul’s face with combinations.

“Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee, hot damn that face is ugly!!!”

In a recent interview with MMA Junkie, Askren took issue with oddsmakers pegging him as a betting underdog, considering his extensive mixed martial arts background. In 22 pro fights, the former ONE FC and Bellator welterweight champion has only been knocked out once, when he was finished by a Jorge Masvidal flying knee.

He expects his experience to play a major factor, predicting a seventh-round TKO over Paul, whose two wins over KSI and Nate Robinson have each come inside of two rounds.

[lawrence-related id=17333,16158,15906,15857]

Video: Watch Ben Askren unload on custom-made Jake Paul heavy bag

Ben Askren has enjoyed pounded a heavy bag emblazoned with the face of Jake Paul, his opponent on April 17.

Editor’s note: This article was originally published on MMAJunkie.com.

***

Ben Askren can’t wait to get his hands on Jake Paul – quite literally.

Askren, who’s scheduled to fight YouTube star Paul in an eight-round boxing match on April 17, has received a special gift to help him prepare.

A sports equipment manufacturer called Combat Corner created a custom-made Jake Paul punching bag for Askren, and “Funky” is already having a ball blasting Paul’s face with combinations.

“Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee, hot damn that face is ugly!!!”

In a recent interview with MMA Junkie, Askren took issue with oddsmakers pegging him as a betting underdog, considering his extensive mixed martial arts background. In 22 pro fights, the former ONE FC and Bellator welterweight champion has only been knocked out once, when he was finished by a Jorge Masvidal flying knee.

He expects his experience to play a major factor, predicting a seventh-round TKO over Paul, whose two wins over KSI and Nate Robinson have each come inside of two rounds.

[lawrence-related id=17333,16158,15906,15857]

Watch Ben Askren unload on custom-made Jake Paul punching bag ahead of boxing match

Ben Askren can’t wait to get his hands on Jake Paul – quite literally.

[autotag]Ben Askren[/autotag] can’t wait to get his hands on [autotag]Jake Paul[/autotag] – quite literally.

Askren, who’s scheduled to fight YouTube star Paul in an eight-round boxing match on April 17, has received a special gift to help him prepare.

A sports equipment manufacturer called Combat Corner created a custom-made Jake Paul punching bag for Askren, and “Funky” is already having a ball blasting Paul’s face with combinations.

“Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee, hot damn that face is ugly!!!”

In a recent interview with MMA Junkie, Askren took issue with oddsmakers pegging him as a betting underdog, considering his extensive mixed martial arts background. In 22 pro fights, the former ONE FC and Bellator welterweight champion has only been knocked out once, when he was finished by a Jorge Masvidal flying knee.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpwPK6jqsHA

He expects his experience to play a major factor, predicting a seventh-round TKO over Paul, whose two wins over KSI and Nate Robinson have each come inside of two rounds.

The Blue Corner is MMA Junkie’s blog space. We don’t take it overly serious, and neither should you. If you come complaining to us that something you read here is not hard-hitting news, expect to have the previous sentence repeated in ALL CAPS.

Spinning Back Clique: Dustin Poirier vs. Conor McGregor trilogy for title?

Check out the latest episode of “Spinning Back Clique” opining on Poirier vs. McGregor 3, Paige VanZant’s BKFC debut, and more.

Welcome to “Spinning Back Clique,” MMA Junkie’s weekly show that takes a quick spin through the biggest topics in mixed martial arts. This week, host Simon Head is joined by panelists “Gorgeous” George Garcia from MMA Junkie Radio, as well as MMA Junkie’s Nolan King and Danny Segura. Let’s get into it!

  • The fallout and debate from UFC 257 continues, and we’ve now heard from [autotag]Conor McGregor[/autotag]’s head coach, John Kavanagh, who suggested the UFC could book McGregor and [autotag]Dustin Poirier[/autotag] in a trilogy bout for the undisputed UFC lightweight title. There’s no doubt there’d be plenty of interest in a trilogy, but should the title really be on the line if they run it back for a third time?
  • This weekend sees [autotag]Paige VanZant[/autotag] return to action for the first time since leaving the UFC when she makes her debut for Bare Knuckle FC. Her decision to pick BKFC over potential options in MMA raised a few eyebrows at the time, but now that we’re just a few days away from her debut, what are you expecting to see from her in a new sport?
  • Former Bellator and ONE welterweight champion [autotag]Ben Askren[/autotag] has decided to give [autotag]Jake Paul[/autotag] what he wants, and the pair are going to face off in a boxing match on April 17. We could take this topic in a load of different directions, but let’s just asked this: What’s your take on this whole bout, and are you actually interested in it?
  • To finish off this week, we’ve got a solid card in store with UFC Fight Night 184, as two of the sport’s most respected veterans, [autotag]Alistair Overeem[/autotag] and [autotag]Frankie Edgar[/autotag], return to action in the main and co-main event bouts respectively. Both men are aiming for another shot at championship gold before they call time on their respective careers, but who do you think has the best shot of fighting for a title again, and why?

Hope you enjoy this week’s show. Watch Episode 65 of “Spinning Back Clique” above.