Former UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva has set his sights on a meeting with Jake Paul should he get past Bruno Machado tonight.
The legendary Brazilian fighter has turned his attentions to the boxing ring since his 2020 release from the UFC, and has won his two fights against Tito Ortiz and ex-world champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. He has long been touted as a potential rival for Paul, although it has yet to materialise.
But Silva has been told by Paul in a number of interviews that he is being considered as an opponent for his August 13 return to the boxing ring, should he put on a show this evening. And Silva has again remained diplomatic, while seemingly preparing himself for a possible fight with the YouTube star.
“It’s possible," he told Sports Illustrated of a future Paul fight. "People need to respect the Paul brothers. Those kids are talented, and they’ve opened people’s eyes about the good and bad in combat sports. I’m preparing my body for a challenge. We’ll see what happens.
“I made the transition from my MMA career to boxing, and I’m doing something I love. I am training hard every day, so I’m not surprised at my success. I’m not impressed yet, either. I have a lot more work to do.”
Silva shocked boxing fans with his split decision victory in Mexico over Chavez Jr, a former world champion at middleweight, when they fought last June. Having lost seven of his last nine in the UFC, many felt that the iconic middleweight champion's days were numbered in combat sports.
But he followed that win over Chavez Jr up with a vicious first round knockout of Tito Ortiz in September on the undercard of Evander Holyfield's ring return. Now, he faces fellow Brazilian Bruno Machado on the same card as Mayweather's hastily re-arranged ring return.
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Paul has previously said in an interview with Mirror Fighting that he would be willing to entertain a fight with Silva, particularly in lieu of rival Tommy Fury. Fury pulled out of their planned fight in December, and has since struggled to have their fight rearranged.
"There could be interest there," Paul said of the Love Island star. "But I want to see the Anderson Silva fight and how he does, how he looks. There are other talks with Mike Tyson and other names under the table so really we're just looking for the best opportunity. For me, Tommy is an easy fight, so maybe I'll just run it up, get a quick knockout and then move on from there, But maybe not."
Silva would tick a few boxes that Paul has needed to appear more legitimate in the sport, holding a 3-1 record that includes a win over a world champion boxer. He's also taller than the YouTuber, although at the age of 47 he could be viewed as another opponent who's too old to be taken seriously.
