Paul's fight with Silva could be called off over knockout claims

Jake Paul’s fight with Anderson Silva could be called OFF with Arizona Boxing and MMA Commission ‘looking into’ the claims by UFC legend that he was knocked out during sparring

  • Jake Paul and Anderson Silva are scheduled to meet in Arizona on Saturday
  • UFC legend said he was knocked out during sparring in preparation for the fight 
  • Brazilian later insisted he misspoke because English is his second language 

Jake Paul’s fight with Anderson Silva could be cancelled after the UFC legend revealed he was knocked out during sparring in preparation for Saturday’s fight. 

The Arizona Boxing and MMA Commission will meet on Thursday evening to decide if the 47-year-old Brazilian will be allowed to compete. 

UFC legend Silva said in an interview with MMA Weekly last month that he had been knocked out twice while preparing for the fight.

Jake Paul (left) and Anderson Silva (right) are scheduled to meet in Arizona on Saturday night

But Silva later insisted he misspoke as he often does because English is his second language.

In a statement, Silva said: ‘After seeing the reports and concern for me, I’d like to clarify two important things. One, I was NEVER knocked out in sparring. I misspoke in that interview as I sometimes do when interviewing in English and exaggerated the normal back-and-forth action that occurs in sparring.

‘Second, this sparring session I referenced was in early September. The interview with MMA Weekly was done on September 13 and, for some reason, just released this week. So, it wasn’t recent. More importantly, my training camp has been great. I am fit and ready to fight and the only knockout people should be worried about is the one I’m about to deliver to Jake Paul on Saturday night.’

Paul makes his return to the ring on Saturday as he takes on Silva in what will likely be his toughest test yet.

The UFC legend revealed he was knocked out during sparring in preparation for the fight 

‘The Problem Child’ moved to 5-0 with a stunning knockout win over rival Tyron Woodley last time out, after original opponent Tommy Fury was forced to withdraw from the contest.

Paul has since seen bouts against both Fury and Hassim Rahman Jr fall through, but the 25-year-old is now set for his return following nearly a year out.

In the initial interview, Silva told MMA Weekly: ‘I’m training hard for win. I’m training with the good boxers of a high-level, and five guys have come to help me.

‘And in the last sparring with my partner, he knocked me out two times, and when I finished the training, I talked to my coach and I said, ‘Coach, let me tell you something, why have the guys knocked me out two times?’ And the coach said, ‘You need [to] prepare for war, and you will prepare for war’.’

Paul claimed an emphatic knockout win over bitter rival Tyron Woodley in his last outing




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