Jake Paul is itching to make his mixed martial arts (MMA) debut.
And if UFC welterweight turned bareknuckle “king” Mike Perry is prepared to accept the rematch clause that Nate Diaz rejected, “The Problem Child” is willing to face “Platinum” inside the PFL “SmartCage” after they throw down atop the DAZN pay-per-view (PPV) card this Sat. night (July 20) in Tampa.
Paul expressed his willingness, stating, “Count me in. If I manage to defeat Mike Perry in a boxing match, why not have a rematch in MMA? I have a strong desire to compete in mixed martial arts, especially since the SmartCage is conveniently nearby. Given my wrestling background, I believe I have the potential to become a formidable MMA fighter. Therefore, Mike Perry should be prepared. My hands are open-minded and ready to embrace any challenge, including MMA.”
Perry is 0-1 as a professional boxer but 5-0 on the bareknuckle circuit with three knockouts. “Platinum” accepted the Paul fight after Mike Tyson was forced to postpone his “Problem Child” headliner to deal with an ulcer flareup. Whether or not that fight remains booked for November could depend on how well Paul performs this weekend at Amalie Arena.
Perry replied, “I’ve got Jake’s support. Jiu-jitsu and wrestling are not skills you can simply keep as backups. I mean, I saw Logan Paul and Paulo Costa fooling around, but I question how dedicated they truly are. I don’t allow anyone to have an easy victory over me, whether it’s in the ring or during training sessions.”
Well see how easy things get this weekend in “The Sunshine State.”
