Jake Paul Hyped By UFC Legend Anderson Silva on Video Ahead of Anthony Joshua Fight

UFC legend Anderson Silva still doesn't think Jake Paul is getting the respect he deserves in the ring as the YouTuber-turned-boxer approaches his Dec. 19 meeting with Anthony Joshua.

During an interview with TMZ Sports, Silva asserted that "lazy people" are passing judgment on Paul's skills. He praised the 28-year-old for not only honing his skills but also helping to showcase other fighters.

"The people don't give the credit to Jake, and the people need to do that," Silva said. "I respect Jake. He's a real fighter."

Silva and Paul crossed paths in 2022, with the latter winning a unanimous decision, so the former UFC middleweight champion is speaking from experience.

Paul boasts a 12-1 record as a pro, but his resume invites some skepticism. He has beaten up a lot of aging MMA fighters (Silva, Tyron Woodley, Nate Diaz and Ben Askren) and respected boxers well past their prime (Mike Tyson and Julio César Chávez Jr.).

Joshua will undoubtedly be his toughest test to date.

The 36-year-old heavyweight hasn't fought since September 2024, and his last bout resulted in a fifth-round knockout at the hands of Daniel Dubois. Still, he possesses massive advantages in both size and experience on Paul.

Should "The Problem Child" notch a 13th victory, his critics won't have as much to say.