JAKE PAUL is in danger of being ragdolled and thrown ‘on the floor’ in his fight against Ben Askren.
The YouTuber will throw down with the former UFC star in a boxing match at the Mercedes-Benz Arena in Atlanta on Saturday week.
Despite only having two professional fights to his name, Paul goes into his bout with the former ONE Championship and Bellator welterweight champion as the bookies’ favourite.
But Zhabi, the long-time coach of MMA great Georges St-Pierre, reckons the 24-year-old will be in for a rude awakening.
During a lengthy breakdown of the fight, the Tristar Gym coach said: “I think Ben Askren wins.
“Here’s why, I saw Jake Paul’s last fight, he’d knocked out some guy with a couple overhand rights, stunned him a few times, dropped him.
“But here’s where Jake Paul — I don’t think he knows what he’s getting into.
“Number one, Ben Askren is a wrestler, yes and his forte is not striking, we all know that. He’s not the greatest striker.
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“But he’s been in there with killers. He’s been in there with like legitimately dangerous human beings.
“Robbie Lawler, Douglas Lima — I can go on and on, the list is super long. He’s been in there with real killers, and I know he didn’t use boxing, but he took shots from these guys… it was some serious shots. Ben Askren never wavered.
“The computer was still working, he didn’t panic. He’s a true competitor.
“He’s been training in MMA, he’s been learning how to strike.
“Let’s call it fifteen years, he’s been striking — let’s call it ten years, let’s be very reserved here.
“It’s not only boxing offense that’s the issue.
“I guarantee you that he takes a shot better than Jake, I can guarantee you that, I’m guaranteeing you that right now.
“So Jake’s going to go in there, and in the first two, three rounds he’s going to be dancing around and he’s going to jab Askren. He’s going to look alright, he’s going to look good.
“Askren’s going to hit him back and it’s going to be a give and take. But here’s what Jake doesn’t know, Askren has proven that he’s got an incredible chin.”
Zahabi reckons Olympic wrestler Askren, 36, will use his years of grappling experience to ‘maul’ Paul in the clinch.
He added: “Ben Askren is going to maul him in the clinch, dirty box him. He’s going to get warned by the referee, but it doesn’t matter.
“Barring the exception that Askren’s chin is finished (after that Masvidal KO), Askren is going to maul him.
“It’s not going to be pretty. It’s going to be a dirty fight.
“It’s going to be a seesaw battle a little bit early on, then all of a sudden Jake is going to fatigue and Ben Askren will be all over him.
“He’ll throw him on the floor, ragdoll him.
“Maybe even picks up and slams Jake Paul once or twice. It would not surprise me.
“Ben Askren probably doesn’t have a clause where if he gets disqualified, he doesn’t get paid. In my opinion, Ben Askren doesn’t care if he gets disqualified.
“He’s going to pull on his head, step on his feet — shove him so he’s off balance, and it’s going to be a mauling.
“How is he going to pick and poke, stick and move and stay away from Askren?
“Once they lock up, once they lock up, I guarantee you, Jake’s battery is going to start to drain.”
