JAKE PAUL continues his transition from YouTuber to boxer when he fights Ben Askren.
The two will clash on April 17, with former UFC star Askren having his first pro boxing fight.
Paul beat AnEsonGib in his pro debut in January 2020 with a first-round TKO and backed that up by knocking out ex-NBA star Nate Robinson in November.
Here, SunSport checks out who some of the stars of UFC think will win the mouthwatering scrap
Dana White
White had Mike Tyson giddy after betting $1million Jake Paul would lose to Ben Askren.
And the YouTuber responded by DOUBLING the wager.
White said: “I hope you can bet on this thing because I will bet $1m (£720,000) that he loses this f***ing fight.
“I bet a million dollars that he loses this fight!”
Paul responded pretty quickly, writing on Instagram.
He wrote: “Dana let’s double the bet up! $2million. We wire the money into escrow.
“$4 million total. Winner takes all. My team will be in touch to make a contract.”
Prediction: Askren
Jorge Masvidal
Masvidal, who is seen by many as the best boxer in UFC, thinks Paul is the superior athlete AND boxer to Askren that will see him victorious.
Gambred told Fight Hub TV: I have seen Ben, but if it goes after the second round, Ben can start hand fighting and make it a little slower.
“I see Jake winning.”
Prediction: Paul
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Leon Edwards
Leon Edwards predicts Askren is ‘going to get chinned’ against Paul – with the result ‘bad for MMA’.
Current 170lb contender Edwards, 29, told talkSPORT: “He’s going to get knocked out, I’m serious.
“It’s going to be bad for MMA, man! I don’t know who agreed to this. I don’t think it’s going to be good for MMA and he’s going to get chinned.
“But, it’s going to be funny to see.”
Prediction: Paul
Michael Chandler
UFC’s exciting talent Chandler thinks Askren can KO Paul – and he is even confident enough to pick the round.
In an interview with ESPN’s Ariel Helwani, Chandler stated that Askren can win if he makes the fight dirty.
Striking isn’t Askren’s forte, as admitted by the man himself, but Chandler thinks the 36-year-old can find a way to win.
Prediction: Askren
Raush Manfio
Askren has no chance of being victorious in his showdown with Paul, according Titan FC lightweight Raush Manfio.
The Brazilian told MMA Fighting: “I believe Ben Askren can take a punch, but Jake Paul has knockout power.
“If Askren goes in there to trade hands, he’s going down. No doubt. He’s going down.
“I can only see Jake Paul winning by knockout or points, Jake Paul is far superior. I can’t see one weapon [Askren] can use.
“[Paul] has knockout power and cardio. Meanwhile, [Askren] might have a chin but doesn’t have firepower to drop him, so I don’t see how Askren wins this match.”
Prediction: Paul
Tyron Woodley
Woodley thinks Askren can end the fight early – but he is helping his former UFC buddy train.
The former UFC lightweight champ told Endless Hustle podcast: “My prediction is he’s [Askren] probably going to drown him out.
“Ben says seven rounds, I don’t know why they’d want to fight that many rounds. Probably in the fifth or sixth round, Ben will probably end up with a TKO.”
But Woodley does acknowledge Paul should not be taken lightly.
He added: “Jake has a chance in the first round. Maybe first two rounds. And I like Jake. But when it’s my dawg, I gotta ride for my dawg.”
Prediction: Askren
