Former UFC champion Tyron Woodley has a warning for Anderson Silva: "He's just tricking everyone"

Former UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley has warned Anderson Silva against underestimating Jake Paul.

“The Spider” Silva will take on “The Problem Child” Paul on October 29. The pair will face off in the headlining bout of a PPV event that includes several influencers, among them YouTube star “Doctor Mike.”

Silva vs. Paul will take place in Glendale, Arizona, and is Paul’s sixth bout since going pro in 2020. Considering Silva’s vast experience as a fighter, it should come as no surprise that the legend is being picked as the one to put an end to Paul’s undefeated streak.

Last time out Paul knocked “The Chosen One” Woodley out cold with a vicious hook in their rematch. Despite some impressive performances, many fans and fighters still dismiss Paul’s skills as a boxer, and put his success down to nothing but hype. After being on the receiving end of Paul’s blows, Woodley disagrees. The former UFC champion believes that Paul is “training his ass off” ahead of the fight against Silva, and that he is not to be taken lightly.

“I know a lot of people want to see Jake Paul get beat up and see him taught a lesson like a bully on a playground,” Woodley told MMA Fighting. “But he really is a kid, not very much responsibility, no financial limitations, energy, he makes everything a bucket list, a challenge. That’s why he likes to bet so much. If he loses, it’s not that big of a deal but he secretly wants to win real bad.”

“Cause he’s been a fan of the combat sports world for so long. I’ve got so many videos of the baby face Jake Paul wanting to take pictures with me and Logan (Paul) and being fans of me back in the day, he’s just tricking everyone.”

“He’s training his ass off. He’s got KO power and he’s learned to throw that particular punch that he’s got timing on.”

However, having said that Woodley certainly believes that Silva will pose a tough challenge for the YouTuber-turned-boxer. Despite his 47 years of age, “The Spider” has looked better than ever in his recent performances in the squared circle. Since his departure from the UFC, Silva has defeated most notably multiple time boxing champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. as well as UFC veteran Tito Ortiz.

“Anderson Silva’s a good boxer. I would say he’s one of the best boxers in MMA. I feel like I’ve got a bias to say Jorge Masvidal is the best boxer that we’ve ever seen in MMA, based upon the fact that he pieced up KJ Noons in the worst way and KJ was supposed to be the best boxer and striker at the time. Every time he got his chance against Nate Diaz or anybody that was just striking, Yves Edwards, I was in the corner for that.”

Woodley looks forward to the upcoming fight, but finds the narrative surrounding it to be laughable.