UFC veteran keeps Jake Paul higher than Georges St-Pierre on his must-watch list
Jake Paul receives plenty of criticism whenever he fights, regardless of whether he wins or loses, but he has made a great impression on UFC veteran Chael Sonnen. The former UFC title challenger even went as far as saying he considers him to be more of a must-see fighter than UFC Hall of Famer Georges St-Pierre.
Sonnen uploaded a video to his YouTube channel where he spoke about the boxer-turned-YouTuber signing with the PFL and what that means for the MMA landscape. During the video, he mentioned that he keeps 'The Problem Child' higher than St-Pierre on his must-watch list, saying:
"Anybody in the sport, I don't think I could tell you I'm watching without any information. Georges St-Pierre came back, I don't know that I could committ to you now that I'm watching without knowing who the opponent or the weight class or the reason, so it's a really unique spot." {4:32 - 4:48}
'The American Gangster' also discussed the booking surrounding Paul's foray into MMA and that it should be a notable fighter. He mentioned that 'The Problem Child' might even want to test himself against the best possible opponent rather than against another fighter with a similar skillset, saying:
"There's generally a sucker's move done in MMA that when you get a star like him, you then protect him. You bring in a bum and you make sure that he gets a good result. It's never been business speaking a good idea, but it is a mistake that is made and it is made over and over and over again." {5:30 - 5:49}
It will be interesting to see what timeline the PFL has in mind for Paul's MMA debut. They will definitely want to capitalize on all the attention the event will generate and showcase some of their top fighters.
Check out the full video:
Chael Sonnen believes Jake Paul will push a big name opponent for PFL debut
Signed, Sealed, Delivered. Welcome to the Professional Fighters League @jakepaul https://t.co/pgMDUprK6S
Chael Sonnen believes that Jake Paul will push for a matchup with a notable fighter in his PFL debut.
Sonnen uploaded a video to his YouTube channel where he discussed what the signing means for the PFL and the sport. He mentioned that even though it's common for promotions to protect their stars, he believes 'The Problem Child' wants a meaningful fight, saying:
"I don't know if it's a bad idea to stick to a similar model that he did in boxing...If I find out that Jake Paul is going to be fighting Tyron Woodley, that works for me. And moreover if I found out Jake Paul is going to be fighting Anderson Silva in MMA, that works for me." {6:00 - 6:42}
The social media superstar will definitely generate interest in the PFL as fans will be curious to see if he does well in MMA.