5 UFC legends Jake Paul could realistically fight next

It's no secret that Jake Paul's success relies heavily on picking the right opponent. His matchmaking formula involves picking a post-prime, high-profile UFC fighter who's not necessarily known for his striking.

Paul's last two fights are proof of how he and his team follow a blueprint to ensure the YouTube star's success. Paul has been nothing but successful thus far. But his particular way of selecting his opponents is also the main reason why fight fans believe his boxing credentials are dismissible.

Love it or hate it, Paul has proven that his plans work to perfection as all his fights so far have ended with his hand raised. That said, it isn't rocket science to assume that Paul's next opponent is another MMA legend, instead of a fellow up-and-coming boxer.

With that in mind, here are five UFC legends Jake Paul could realistically fight next.

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#5. Jake Paul vs. Tyron Woodley 2

Showtime's Jake Paul vs Tyron Woodley main event

The level of excitement for a Jake Paul vs. Tyron Woodley rematch depends on who you'd ask. According to Ben Askren, it's a fight that makes the most sense for Paul at this stage of his career. Meanwhile, the likes of UFC middleweight champ Israel Adesanya belong to the majority who want to move on from the feud.

After witnessing a lackluster battle between the two, not many are clamoring for a sequel. That said, there are a few arguments that could be made as to why Woodley deserves another shot.

when they try to talk to you in the ring to intimidate you and then realize you’re 10x crazier pic.twitter.com/ZJq8DxxvJR

— Jake Paul (@jakepaul) September 8, 2021

While Woodley was largely gun-shy during his encounter with Paul, he was the only fighter so far to hurt 'The Problem Child'. He landed a huge right hand in the fourth round. Many, including boxing star-turned-MMA fighter Claressa Shields, believe that sequence should have been enough to secure the win for Woodley.

We've also learned more about Paul in his last fight than in his first three outings combined. The YouTube sensation proved that he has the ability to remain composed and recover after getting tagged with a powerful shot.

Tyron’s tattoo guidelines:1. 3x2 inches at least ✅2. Can’t get it covered ✅3. Permanent ✅4. Must post on social media✅5. Has to be visible with shorts and shirt on✅

— Jake Paul (@jakepaul) August 30, 2021

Lastly, it would be interesting to see if Woodley would push through with the tattoo bet. In order to secure a rematch against 'The Problem Child', the former UFC welterweight champ will have to get an "I Love Jake Paul" tattoo.

#4. Jake Paul vs. Rashad Evans

Jake Paul (left) and Rashad Evans (right)

Rashad Evans fits the mold of classic Jake Paul opponents. He's a wrestling-based fighter who's far removed from his physical prime. The only challenge Evans can present is that unlike Askren and Woodley, 'Suga' won't be undersized in a hypothetical matchup against Paul.

Evans stands at 5'10", just three inches shorter than Paul. In comparison, Paul's last opponent Woodley is 5'9". Evans can also match Paul's size. He competed in the UFC light heavyweight division (205 pounds) during his heyday.

So far, Paul has only fought fighters who are way smaller than him. Both Woodley and Askren competed at welterweight (170 pounds). In his last fight, Paul weighed in at 198 pounds.

Interestingly, Evans has already expressed his willingness to crossover into boxing and fight one of the Paul brothers. It will be up to Jake and Logan to decide if a matchup with the former UFC light heavyweight champ piques their interest.

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#3. Jake Paul vs. Michael Bisping

Michael Bisping (left), Jake Paul (right) [Images Courtesy: @mikebisping @jakepaul on Instagram]

If Jake Paul wants to increase his level of competition, taking on former UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping is the way to go.

'The Problem Child' has already challenged the Englishman to a boxing bout before. However, Bisping has said in the past that he has no interest in coming out of retirement. But he did remain open to the possibility.

Should Paul succeed in convincing 'The Count' to lace his gloves up, it would make for an interesting matchup. Bisping, of course, was one of the most talented technical strikers in the UFC when he was active. Unlike Paul's past victims, Bisping is capable of going toe-to-toe with the YouTube star and has the stamina to go the distance without gassing out.

However, there's one glaring problem with Bisping, which is likely the reason Paul is itching to get in the ring with him. It's widely known that the UFC legend only has one eye. He lost his right one following his fight with Vitor Belfort in 2013.

In hindsight, Bisping's partial loss of vision made his title win at UFC 199 even more impressive. Now that the cat is out of the bag, though, it won't be surprising to see opponents exploit Bisping's impairment if 'The Count' ever returns to action.

#2. Jake Paul vs. Vitor Belfort

Jake Paul (left) and Vitor Belfort (right) [Photo via @TrillerFightClub on Twitter]

Nobody is more eager to fight Jake Paul right now than Vitor Belfort. The Brazilian legend and Triller even gave the former Disney teen actor 30 million reasons to accept the challenge.

In his most recent outing not too long ago, Belfort proved he can still put opponents away with his legendary punching power. Not to mention that he appears to have found where the weights are kept again. However, Belfort had very little reason to celebrate his win as it came against an out-of-shape 58-year-old Evander Holyfield.

Vitor Belfort wants a fight with Jake Paul to teach the young YouTuber a lesson.FULL: https://t.co/yFuvBlOwBA pic.twitter.com/jH0NZTWX9X

— The Mac Life (@TheMacLife) September 12, 2021

Therefore, Belfort's capability to put on a decent performance is still in question. If Triller and Showtime could somehow work together to make the Paul-Belfort fight happen, the Brazilian would present new challenges to 'The Problem Child'.

Given Belfort's lack of star power and high level of threat, though, it's highly unlikely that Paul would want to select him as his next opponent. No matter how hard Belfort threatens to steal Paul's YouTube followers away.

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#1. Jake Paul vs. Anderson Silva

Jake Paul (left) and Anderson Silva (right)

On paper, Anderson Silva is the perfect opponent for Jake Paul at this stage of his career. Although Silva's best years are behind him, 'The Spider' is a legitimate striker around the size of Paul. A victory over the legendary UFC middleweight would inevitably erase doubts about Paul's legitimacy as a pugilist.

So far, Silva has been the most successful MMA fighter to have crossed over into the squared circle. His wins over Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. and Tito Ortiz proved Silva's striking arsenal is also effective inside the boxing ring.

The @SpiderAnderson KO hits different from ringside 👀 #SilvaOrtiz (via @OmarESPN) pic.twitter.com/5tUEa9UwgK

— ESPN Ringside (@ESPNRingside) September 12, 2021

The problem, however, is that Silva's recent success might have definitely spooked Paul. 'The Problem Child' is noticeably respectful when he speaks about Silva and hasn't called him out even once.

After seeing Silva make short work of Ortiz, it wasn't difficult to see why Paul might want to avoid him.