Next month, Jake Paul will face former UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley in a professional boxing match. The upstart celebrity boxer has recorded three KOs in his first three bouts, including knocking out former Bellator and ONE Championship welterweight champion Ben Askren his last time out, and in Woodley, Paul faces his biggest challenge to date. But should he win, Paul says that a bout with another former UFC champion would be on the horizon: Conor McGregor.

“I think it will happen. Look, I’m the money fight for Conor McGregor right now,” Paul told The Herd. “There is no other fighter right now who is on a bigger level than me that is calling out Conor McGregor and wants to fight Conor. Our team is in touch with his team and there’s talks of it actually happening. People at first thought I was just joking when I said I wanted to fight him. But now it’s as real as it gets, it’s more real than ever and by the way, if we do fight, I’m going to knock him out.”

Paul has been calling out McGregor for nearly a year now, including making McGregor a $50 million offer to box him, and earlier this month, Paul engaged in a bit of schadenfreude following McGregor’s loss to Dustin Poirier at UFC 264, sending a gaudy “Sleepy McGregor” chain to Poirier who intends to auction it off for charity. McGregor, for his part, hasn’t fired back at Paul much but following his second straight loss to Poirier and his third loss in his last four fights, it’s possible McGregor is thinking a return to boxing could be good for him, once his leg heals.

But before Paul can start focusing about McGregor, first he has to settle up with Tyron Woodley. The former UFC welterweight champion is renowned for his punching power and is seen as a big jump up in competition for the YouTube sensation and Paul agrees, saying that he even thinks his fight with Woodley will be more difficult than a fight with McGregor, though he, of course, plans to win both matches.

“I think Tyron Woodley is a harder opponent than Conor McGregor,” Paul said. “Conor, I think the fame, the money has gotten to his head. He’s lost that fighter’s edge, that motivation. Look, he’s a smaller guy. He’s 5’8”, 155 pounds. Tyron Woodley is a 200-pound, massive, explosive guy. He’s a lot more dangerous than Conor McGregor.

“He’s a very, very dangerous opponent but my boxing ability is just better. I have better coaches, I have a better team, and I have that natural talent. I’ve got a God-given gift of power and speed and I electrocute my opponent and shock them and leave them on the canvas.”

Paul and Woodley face each other on Aug. 29 at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland, Ohio.

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TOP STORIES

Results. T.J. Dillashaw takes split decision over Cory Sandhagen at UFC Vegas 32.

Results. Rachael Ostovich takes unanimous decision over Paige VanZant at BKFC 19.

Injuries. TJ Dillashaw reveals multiple injuries ahead of UFC Vegas 32 win, declares ‘I want my belt back’.

Unhappy. Cory Sandhagen reacts to split decision loss to T.J. Dillashaw: ‘It sucks … but like I said, I don’t want to be a little whiny baby’.

Stalwart. Maycee Barber doesn’t see any controversy in win over Miranda Maverick.

Rematch. Aljamain Sterling vs. Petr Yan 2 in the works for UFC 267 on Oct. 30 in Abu Dhabi.

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VIDEO STEW

UFC Vegas 32 Post Show.

UFC Vegas 32 Post Fight Press Conference.

Countdown to Bellator 263.

Doctor discusses the cut on T.J. Dillashaw at UFC Vegas 32.

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LISTEN UP

On To The Next One. Matchmaking for the fighters following UFC Vegas 32.

Severe MMA. Discussing UFC Vegas 32 and T.J. Dillashaw’s return.

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SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE

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FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS

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FINAL THOUGHTS

Thanks for reading and see y’all tomorrow.

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EXIT POLL

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