Speculation that Jake Paul is training for a move into MMA grew this weekend when he posted footage of him practicing leg kicks at the gym – although it seems fans are a little divided over the prospect. Take a look below:
Paul, 24, posted the clip on social media yesterday (8 January), writing: "First day training kicks. Doubted every step of the way... but kick down the doors of the doubters."
He also tagged MMA promoter Bellator and the Professional Fights League (PFL) in the tweet, further hints at him dipping toes into mixed martial arts.
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While many fans seemed excited by the idea that Paul could be taking on the new combat sport, saying his technique looked ‘actually pretty nice’ and even ‘lethal’, others weren’t quite so convinced.
One commented: "Lmao noooo stay at boxing bruh."
Someone else said Paul would ‘get knocked out with a left hook or straight right dropping them hands like that’, while a third simply wrote: “Weak kicks.”
A fourth added: "Bro you’re lined up to eat a right hand coming straight down the chamber kicking like that.
"Stay in boxing dude lots of money for you there and you won’t get your wig spilt open and choked unconscious.”
There was no tag for the UFC in Paul’s post, after President Dana White admitted he’d ’never’ work with the YouTube star.
But that doesn’t seem to be too off-putting for Paul, who previously spoke about his plans to enter into the MMA world.
Ahead of his rematch with Tyron Woodley, he said in a press conference: "For sure, 100 per cent I think it could happen. Why not?
"If I can learn how to box in two years and beat people like [Woodley], then why can't I learn how to do MMA in two years and beat people like him?
"That's my answer, it will happen at some point, 100 per cent."
He also told The Sun last May that he could be better than Conor McGregor, saying: "First and foremost I'm a better athlete than McGregor.
"He never played football, he never played lacrosse, he never wrestled, he was never an All-State football player.
"I'm taller by four inches or so and I'm about 60 pounds, 50 pounds heavier without a weight cut.
"And that's what a lot of people don't understand when I'm hitting these guys - I've got knockout power because I'm cutting down from 210lbs."
Jess Hardiman