Former UFC double champion Daniel Cormier predicts that one way or another, the boxing fight between Mike Tyson and Jake Paul will end in a knockout.
Whether you love it or loathe it, the upcoming boxing fight between Mike Tyson and Jake Paul will likely be one of the most-streamed sporting events of the year thanks to having Netflix as the global distribution partner.
Yet with such an enormous audience watching from around the world, there remains a hope (however slim it may be) that the iconic boxer can turn back the clock to defeat the divisive social media star in dramatic fashion.
UFC legend Daniel Cormier predicts Tyson vs Paul ends in a knockout
Speaking in a recent interview with MMA Junkie Radio, former UFC double champion Daniel Cormier criticized the upcoming Tyson vs Paul boxing event, arguing that he remains cautious about even describing the bout as a ‘fight’ itself.
“I don’t know, I don’t even know how they’re even calling this a fight – honestly, I don’t even know how it’s a fight [at all] … It’s a weird, weird deal but I think it’ll be fun.”
Despite the ‘weird deal’ going on with the matchup, DC will still be tuned in to see if Tyson can turn back the clock in a big way against a professional fighter almost three decades his junior:
“Hell, I’m watching it – it’ll be fun as long as it lasts because anytime ‘Iron’ Mike fights, it doesn’t matter.”
“I think if Mike Tyson can fight and is free to fight the way he wants to, he’s either going to knock him out or get caught with something that get him knocked out.”
Yet Tyson’s age will remain a key question all the way to the opening bell on July 27, with the fan-favorite UFC fighter-turned-commentator arguing that “it’ll be tough because age [always] wins, right.”
“Father time is undefeated, there’s nothing ever said more true than father time is undefeated and Mike looks great, but let’s see how he operates.”
That was a point that Cormier touched on back in March when he spoke to Stephen A. Smith on First Take, in which he reminded fans that Tyson needed assistance in walking out of an arena in 2023:
“I love that Mike will make his money; I really do, but to me this is some baby back BS man… We watched Mike last year walk into a UFC event walking on a cane and now you’re telling me a year after that he’s going to fight Jake Paul – What are we doing?!”
Cormier isn’t the only UFC veteran who is expecting a dramatic finish
The fan-favorite former champion isn’t the only UFC legend who is expecting the Mike Tyson vs Jake Paul boxing fight to end in a knockout finish; with a large portion of fellow veterans also siding with ‘Iron’ to get his hand raised in dramatic fashion.
Former two-weight UFC world champion Randy Couture claimed that the only way that Jake Paul wins a legitimate contest with Tyson is if the finishing sequence is scripted:
“I think he’s [Paul] in trouble with this one unless the fix is in, which I don’t even want to say that because I don’t think Mike would do that. I see Mike going out there and tearing him up in probably under two rounds.”
‘The Natural’ also went on record to argue that Tyson will be fighting for the sanctity of boxing, given that the crossover celebrity events in recent years have started to sway the general public’s perception of the sport.
“I think there’s a little more at stake here for Mike, I think Mike sees some of these crossover fights and what’s going on, and how that’s affecting boxing and people’s perception of boxing. If you take him at his word, he wants to kind of straighten some of that rhetoric out.”
Elsewhere from the world of MMA, Michael Bisping shared how the outspoken American “can’t win” here, as a victory over Tyson will be labeled “elderly abuse”, whilst a defeat will see him banished from the boxing world for good.
“If Jake Paul loses, listen, it’s Mike Tyson, but still come on… He’s 58 years old but stop it [if you lose], never show your face again.”
Mike Tyson vs Jake Paul, supported by Katie Taylor rematching Amanda Serrano in the co-main event of the evening, goes down on Saturday, July 27 live on Netflix.