A former UFC title contender has dismissed the possibility of a crossover fight in MMA between Jake Paul and Oleksandr Usyk.
Jake Paul recently shifted his focus to Anthony Joshua after nearly securing a boxing match with Canelo Alvarez.
However, there was also discussion about Paul facing Oleksandr Usyk, the heavyweight boxer who defeated Joshua twice.
Usyk had mentioned Alex Pereira as a potential opponent before retirement, but his crossover fight options might have changed after Pereira`s recent title loss.
Usyk surprisingly suggested fighting Paul in MMA, even indicating interest on his Instagram story.
Dan Hardy Believes Jake Paul Will Fight Older, Less Challenging Opponent Than Oleksandr Usyk
In a recent interview, Dan Hardy discussed the idea of Oleksandr Usyk competing against Jake Paul in MMA.
Hardy stated that Usyk`s interest in MMA is genuine and not just for publicity. He believes Usyk is the type of fighter who would take such a risk, especially with PFL`s involvement with Paul.
However, Hardy believes a major obstacle is Usyk`s potential skill level in MMA. While Paul has some wrestling experience and has been preparing for an MMA debut, Hardy doesn`t think this will be enough against Usyk.
Hardy suggests that Paul`s MMA debut is more likely to be against a less formidable opponent, possibly someone older, implying Usyk at 38 might be considered too risky.
“I know for a fact that Usyk is legitimately interested in fighting in MMA. He seems like the kind of person who would adapt to MMA very well. He`s a smart guy with great footwork, he’s ambidextrous, I think he would be a problem in mixed martial arts.”
“The downside for Jake Paul is that unless his wrestling is very good, a fight with Usyk would be terrible for him in either boxing or MMA. I think if Jake Paul does an MMA fight, it will be against someone well into their 40s.”
Oleksandr Usyk Presents Too Much Risk for Jake Paul Right Now
Despite being older than Jake Paul, Dan Hardy argues that Oleksandr Usyk poses a significant risk. If Paul can`t dominate with grappling, he would be facing a world-class striker in Usyk, potentially one of the best boxers ever.
While a crossover fight against a boxer might seem plausible for Paul, Usyk might be too risky until Paul gains more MMA experience against less challenging opponents.
For now, it would be more sensible for Paul to fight less experienced or past-their-prime opponents. This strategy has worked for him in boxing, even though a bout with Usyk in MMA would be incredibly interesting.
