Anderson Silva moves closer to Jake Paul and collides with dominant exhibition show

UFC legend Silva put on a dominant performance against rival Bruno Machado on the undercard of Floyd Mayweather’s recent exhibition outing to set a possible August 13 meeting with YouTube star Paul

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Anderson Silva scored a knockdown during a dominant performance against Bruno Machado to continue his successful run in the boxing ring and set up a possible clash with Jake Paul.

The Brazilian star has made a seamless transition into the boxing ring since his days as UFC middleweight champion and has shown a flair for the sport even at the age of 47. Silva was thrilled with his latest in-ring performance after the fight, revealing he would next compete in a Middle East jiu-jitsu tournament without challenging rival Paul.

The 47-year-old laced his gloves on his third success in a new sport, having previously defeated Julio Cesar Chavez Jr in a shock victory before knocking out Tito Ortiz. His opponent Machado had fought as an MMA star with the UAE Warriors in the Middle East, his last fight was in January last year when he defeated Mickael Lebout.

After a long wait with the fight threatening to collapse, Silva took time to spy on his opponent early in the verses by extending his quick jab. The 47-year-old scored a knockdown in a previously dull affair with a pounding right hand on the fifth-round bell. His opponent managed to beat the count and fight on after slowly trudging to his corner.

His dominance continued until the end of the fight, with the Brazilian winning a fight that ended with no final result. Judges were not present to judge the show competition, which would certainly have been scored in Silva’s favour.

A fight against Paul could now be set for his next time in the ring, with the UFC legend on a shortlist of opponents for Paul’s scheduled August 13 return. The 25-year-old is keen to touch gloves with someone he previously considered his ‘idol’ provided the event can take place in a safe and sanctioned environment.

Silva has shown his respect for the Paul brothers in the early stages of their boxing careers and previously suggested he was open to a ring meet. He told Sports Illustrated about a possible Paul fight; “It’s possible. People have to respect the Paul brothers. These kids are talented and have opened people’s eyes to the good and bad in martial arts. I’m preparing my body for a challenge. Let’s see what happens.

“I’ve made the transition from my MMA career to boxing and I’m doing something I love. I train hard every day, so I’m not surprised by my successes. I’m not impressed yet either. I still have a lot to do.”