BEN ASKREN humiliated Jake Paul as the world watched on by facepalming him at their pre-fight press conference.
And in return the seemingly furious YouTuber reacted in petulant fashion by giving the retired UFC star a slap and a shove as his back was turned.
The loud-mouthed YouTuber faces retired UFC welterweight Askren on April 17, at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
A media event was held on Friday, hosted by Snoop Dogg, to promote the much-maligned but intriguing showdown.
Askren seemed to get under Paul’s skin for much of the night with comments about his older and ‘more talented’ brother Logan.
There was a lot of posturing from a jittery Paul, 23, as he tried his best not to let Askren get a word in.
At one point he even pulled his phone out to continuously replay a clip of his record-breaking defeat to Jorge Masvidal in 2019, the fastest KO in UFC history
But after the back and forward, the two men squared up.
Paul was fidgety and appeared nervous as he bounced from foot to foot muttering expletives in Askren’s face.
But the 36-year-old remained stock still with a grin on his face that suggested he didn’t take the inexperienced fighter very seriously.
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And to make it clear that was exactly how he felt, as Paul turned away to hold his fist up to the camera, a nonchalant Askren turned, pushed him in the face and strolled off stage.
A visibly rattled Paul did NOT like it and ran back towards his opponent slapping him in the back and shoving him.
But Askren kept his cool once again, laughed and carried on walking towards his team.
Paul has two knockouts in as many fights, against online rival ‘AnEsonGib’ and ex-NBA player Nate Robinson.
Askren is an ex-ONE Championship and Bellator champion but was renowned for his grappling rather than striking and even admits he was not gifted with speed or power.
However, after social media barbs between the two, he has agreed to swap the cage to pull on the boxing gloves for theTriller showpiece.
