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Boxing

18th Apr 2021

UFC legend BJ Penn asks promotion for fight with Jake Paul

UFC legend BJ Penn has asked his former employer to stage a fight between him and Jake Paul after the latter defeated Ben Askren

Alex Roberts

He last fought in 2019

UFC legend BJ Penn has asked his former employer to stage a fight between him and Jake Paul.

Paul, 24, defeated another ex-UFC star, Ben Askren, in the boxing ring on Saturday night, knocking the accomplished wrestler out inside the first round.

UFC president Dana White bet $1 million on Askren picking up the win, so what transpired came as a big surprise.

A swift one-two from Paul knocked Askren to the mat. Although the latter made it back to his feet, he was deemed incapable of continuing by the referee.

Victory over Askren gave Jake Paul his third successive professional triumph following wins over Nate Robinson and fellow YouTuber AnEsonGib.

He was understandably elated, as was his brother Logan Paul, who took the opportunity to call out Floyd Mayweather post-fight.

There is no shortage of suitors for Paul’s next fight.

Conor McGregor, Tommy Fury, Floyd Mayweather and Tyron Woodley have all been linked to a clash with the YouTube star.

However, UFC legend BJ Penn has also put his hat into the ring in fairly emphatic fashion.

He tweeted: “Hey @triller send me a contract and I will happily knock this f***er out in one round.”

Penn, 42, last fought in the mixed martial arts world back in 2019. He was released by the UFC late in the year after video emerged of him embroiled in a street fight.

Back in 2012, boxing coach Freddie Roach selected BJ Penn among his top five boxers in MMA.

Weirdly, Roach helped Ben Askren prepare for his clash with Jake Paul.

Jake Paul has been linked with Conor McGregor, who last fought in the boxing ring against Floyd Mayweather.

McGregor is set to go up against Dustin Poirier in a trilogy fight later this year, but he is no stranger to boxing after previously facing Floyd Mayweather.

If he does go up against Jake Paul, Ryan Garcia doesn’t think McGregor would be able to knock the YouTuber out.