Jake Paul vs. Anderson Silva is in doubt as the UFC icon’s ‘eligibility to compete’ comes under scrutiny over KO claims

ANDERSON SILVA’s ‘eligibility to compete’ against Jake Paul will be under review TONIGHT after claims he was knocked out in sparring.

The pair will fight over eight rounds this weekend in Arizona.

3

However, Silva, 47, raised concerns after saying he was knocked out twice in training for the 187lb catch weight bout with 25-year-old Paul.

The UFC legend, who spoke at open practice, has since clarified that it was just kidology and got lost in translation.

But the Arizona Commission has now cast doubt on the fight by organizing a meeting at 6:30 p.m. local time to discuss the claims.

Corresponding ESPNSilva’s ‘eligibility to compete’ against Paul is under review, as is ‘additional documentation submitted’ by the Brazilian.

Silva addressed the comments when speaking to members of the media just three days before the fight.

He said, “Listen folks, let me tell you something very important.

“When I talk about the guys doing the hard sparring and the knockout, it was just a joke.

“Because I’m training with the little kids and the guys have been asking me and I’ve got my mind set on something bad and the guys are like, ‘Oh, Anderson is getting a KO in practice.’

FREE BETS AND SIGN UP OFFERS – THE BEST DEALS FOR NEW CUSTOMERS

“Of course not. I just like helping out and accommodating my partners, that is the question.”

Silva made the controversial comments during an interview with MMA Weekly.

He said: “I train hard to win – I train at a high level with the good boxers and five guys come to help me.

“And the last sparring with [my sparring partner]he knocked me out twice, and when I finished practice I spoke to my coach and even said, ‘Coach, let me tell you something, why are the guys knocking me out twice?’

3

🥊 Jake Paul vs. Anderson Silva: Ringwalk Time, Live Stream, TV Channel, Undercard for the Toughest Test

“And the coach said, ‘You have to prepare for war, and you are preparing for war.'”

Silva’s coach Luiz Carlos Dorea denied the comments and Silva later released a statement addressing the situation.

He wrote: “Having seen the reports and been concerned I would like to clarify two important things. Firstly, I was NEVER knocked out in sparring.

“I mispronounced myself in this interview, as I sometimes do in English interviews, and exaggerated the normal back and forth that occurs in sparring.

“Secondly, that sparring session I was referring to took place in early September.

“The interview with MMA Weekly was conducted on September 13th and for some reason it wasn’t released until this week. So it wasn’t new.”

3