A former UFC title contender has dismissed the possibility of a crossover MMA fight between Jake Paul and Oleksandr Usyk.
Jake Paul has recently turned his attention to Anthony Joshua after almost securing a boxing match with Canelo Alvarez. However, there has also been speculation about Paul potentially facing Oleksandr Usyk, the heavyweight boxer who defeated Joshua twice.
Usyk had mentioned Alex Pereira as a desired opponent before retirement, but the landscape shifted after Pereira`s title loss at UFC 313. Following this, Usyk surprisingly expressed interest in fighting Paul in MMA on his Instagram story.
Dan Hardy Believes Jake Paul Will Opt for Easier MMA Opponent Than Oleksandr Usyk
In a Bloody Elbow interview, Dan Hardy discussed the idea of Oleksandr Usyk competing against Jake Paul in MMA. Hardy confirmed that Usyk`s interest is genuine and not just publicity.
Hardy noted that Usyk is the kind of fighter who would be willing to take on such a crossover challenge, especially with the PFL promotion now involved with Jake Paul.
However, Hardy believes a significant obstacle exists: Usyk`s potential skill in MMA. While Paul has some wrestling experience and has been preparing for an MMA debut alongside his boxing career, Hardy doesn`t see this as a major advantage against Usyk.
Hardy suggests that when Paul enters the MMA cage, it will likely be against a less formidable opponent, implying that someone as skilled as the 38-year-old Usyk would be too risky.
“I know for a fact that Usyk is legitimately interested in fighting in MMA. He`s eccentric enough to have wrestling skills, possibly even a brown belt in something. He seems like someone who would adapt to MMA very well,” Hardy stated.
“The problem for Jake Paul is that unless his wrestling is significantly improved, fighting Usyk would be a bad matchup in either boxing or MMA. Usyk is intelligent, has excellent footwork, and is ambidextrous. He would be a tough challenge in MMA. If Jake Paul does fight in MMA, it will probably be against someone in their 40s,” Hardy concluded.
Oleksandr Usyk Presents Too Much Risk for Jake Paul Right Now
Despite being older than Jake Paul, Oleksandr Usyk, as Dan Hardy pointed out, poses a significant threat. If Paul cannot dominate the grappling exchanges, he would be forced into a striking battle with an elite boxer, possibly one of the greatest of all time.
While a crossover fight against a boxer isn`t out of the question for Paul, facing Usyk at this stage would be too risky before Paul gains more MMA experience to offset Usyk`s boxing prowess.
For the time being, it would be more logical for Paul to choose opponents with limited experience or recognizable names past their prime.
This approach might draw criticism, but it has proven successful for Paul in his boxing career, even though an MMA fight with Usyk would undoubtedly be captivating.
