Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) and SHOWTIME SPORTS today announced that international superstar and serial risk taker Jake “The Problem Child” Paul will face the biggest challenge of his career when he takes on UFC legend and professional boxer Anderson “The Spider.” Silva at Gila River Arena in Phoenix, Arizona on Saturday, October 29 live on SHOWTIME PPV. The fight will be played over eight rounds at a catchweight of 187 pounds. Tickets go on sale Wednesday, September 14 at 1 pm ET and can be purchased at ticketmaster.com.
Often compared to Muhammad Ali and Pele of mixed martial arts, Silva authored one of the strongest resumes of any MMA fighter before returning to professional boxing in 2021. Silva holds the UFC record for longest title reign. long in the history of the organization: 2457 days; the most consecutive wins in the UFC: 16 and the most finishes in fights for the UFC title: nine. Known for his excellent ability to strike in the cage, Silva (34-11, 1 NC in mixed martial arts) has found success in his transition to boxing in a remarkable second act of his career. The Brazilian heralded his return as a world-class boxer in June 2021 when he soundly defeated former middleweight boxing champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., by split decision that was not as close as the scores indicated.
After scheduled fights with professional boxers Tommy Fury and Hasim Rahman Jr. were scuttled, Paul (5-0, 4 KOs) will face an opponent that is possibly much tougher. With deft footwork and an educated jab, Silva proved against Chavez that he is near the peak of his striking powers in what is shaping up to be one of the most intriguing bouts of 2022.
“Jake Paul continues to take on challenges that other professional wrestlers at his level of experience and popularity never have,” said Nakisa Bidarian, co-founder of MVP. “Jake appreciates the platform he has and always aims to provide fans with a compelling product that drives engagement. Anderson Silva is unequivocally the most exciting striker in UFC history. Those skills have translated into his professional boxing career, and he certainly has the ability to end Jake’s undefeated streak. Most Valuable Promotions is honored to have one of the best in combat sports headlining our event. He’s already a Hall of Famer in our books.”
The two fighters will go head-to-head for the first time during back-to-back press events on Monday, September 12 in Los Angeles and Tuesday, September 13 in Phoenix. Paul, who has done some inspiring charity work with his Boxing Bullies foundation, looks forward to supporting boys and girls in the Greater Phoenix Area. “I am excited to bring this massive event to Phoenix and give back to the local community through my Boxing Bullies foundation,” said Paul.
After establishing himself as an all-time great in MMA from 1997 to 2020, Silva has continued to impress with his latest boxing career. He most recently knocked out MMA legend Tito Ortiz in 81 seconds in September 2021 with a massive right hand followed by a left to move his boxing record to three wins, one loss, with two wins by knockout. That followed his dazzling effort against Chavez, who entered their matchup 58 fights and 34 knockouts and had gone toe-to-toe with some of boxing’s best: champions like Canelo Alvarez, Sergio Martinez and Danny Jacobs. It mattered little as Silva repeatedly let go of his hands in combinations, displaying a fluidity in the boxing ring that seemed to confuse Chavez and does not bode well for Paul. Silva’s only boxing loss came in 1998 in his boxing debut.
Sports Illustrated’s 2021 Breakout Fighter of the Year, Paul last fought in December 2021 when he recorded one of the most spectacular knockouts of the year: a KO punch from former UFC champion Tyron Woodley in front of a sold-out crowd on SHOWTIME. pay-per-view Paul then booked a fight with undefeated cruiserweight Tommy Fury, brother of heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, on August 6. However, Fury retired for the second time in eight months when he was denied entry to the United States.
Paul then secured a fight with Rahman Jr., a 12-1 heavyweight who is the son of former heavyweight champion Hasim Rahman. But the event was canceled when Rahman and his team indicated a week before the fight that they couldn’t make the weight limit. In the weeks that followed, Paul and Most Valuable Promotions rescheduled three of the bouts from that event and agreed to pay the other fighters on the card 50 percent of their purse amounts.
