‘I don’t play fighting’ – Kamaru Usman sends warning after more taunts from Jake Paul

Since Jake Paul took his pro boxing record to 3-0 (against opponents who all had 0-0 records) with his KO of Ben Askren last…

By: Tim Bissell | 2 years ago
‘I don’t play fighting’ – Kamaru Usman sends warning after more taunts from Jake Paul
Bloody Elbow 2.0 | Anton Tabuena

Since Jake Paul took his pro boxing record to 3-0 (against opponents who all had 0-0 records) with his KO of Ben Askren last month, he has been doing the rounds; poking legitimate fighters and trolling fans.

One person Paul has set his sights on, for annoyance more so than an actual fight, is UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman. Paul recently watched Usman KO Jorge Masvidal, who had trained with Paul, at UFC 261. At that event Paul also spent time beefing with Daniel Cormier and getting one of the biggest crowd reactions of the night.

Since then Paul has jabbed at Usman, eliciting a non-serious call out from the UFC champ. After Paul accepted a speculative fight with Usman, the ‘Nigerian Nightmare’ reminded everyone that he wasn’t interested in fighting a hobbyist or a ‘Disney kid’ as he put it.

Paul, of course, fired back, mocking Usman for visiting Disney World.

In response to this latest shot from Paul, Usman delivered his most stern warning yet.

“I understand you think this is a game which is probably why you don’t realize that this is how people truly get hurt,” Usman tweeted. “I don’t play fighting and I can change your life in the worst way.”

In beating Masvidal last month Usman extended his winning streak to 18 fights. His last, and only loss, was a submission defeat in his second ever pro fight back in 2013. Since beating Tyron Woodley for the title in 2019, Usman has been one of the more active champions on the roster; defending the belt four times.

In defeating Masvidal (twice), Gilbert Burns and Colby Covington, Usman cemented his candidacy as the greatest welterweight of his generation.

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About the author
Tim Bissell
Tim Bissell

Tim Bissell is a writer, editor and deputy site manager for Bloody Elbow. He has covered combat sports since 2015. Tim covers news and events and has also written longform and investigative pieces. Among Tim's specialties are the intersections between crime and combat sports. Tim has also covered head trauma, concussions and CTE in great detail.

Tim is also BE's lead (only) sumo reporter. He blogs about that sport here and on his own substack, Sumo Stomp!

Email me at tim@bloodyelbow.com. Nice messages will get a response.

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