UFC legend Ben Askren is baffled by Jake Paul’s popularity and brands YouTuber an ‘idiot’ who is ‘too stupid to learn’
BEN ASKREN admitted he is baffled by Jake Paul’s popularity and branded the YouTuber an ‘idiot’ who is ‘too stupid to learn’.
The retired UFC welterweight lost to Paul at the 75-000 seater Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atalanta in 2021.
Askren, who had never boxed before, said not even handing the social media star his first loss would humble him.
He told MMA Junkie: “Jake Paul’s gonna be an idiot before me, he’s gonna be an idiot after me.
“This guy’s an idiot. That’s what he does. What kind of lesson? He’s too stupid to learn anything.”
Askren, 38, was so unaware of who Paul, 26, or his older brother Logan, 27, were, he asked the pupils at his wrestling school about them.
And the ex-ONE Championship and Bellator champion still cannot get his head around their massive online following, with over 50MILLION subscribers between them.
Askren said: “I don’t think there’s any good answer. They’re all like, ‘He does a lot of dumb things.’
“Or, ‘He says crazy stuff.’ But it’s like, OK. So? So what? There’s nothing that, I don’t know.
“People who I liked growing up: Chris Farley, I think he’s hilarious; Chris Rock, I think he’s hilarious; Muhammad Ali, I’m inspired by this man.
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His third fight will be his toughest, facing for the first time an experienced and seasoned competitor.
But Askren was renowned for his limited striking style and elite level grappling skills.
As a result, he is the betting underdog, and has linked up with esteemed trainer Freddie Roach to enhance his boxing even more.
Still, Askren predicts an easy night’s work against Paul, most famed for viral videos on YouTube.