In a never-before-seen respect and recognition press conference, Jake “The Problem Child” Paul and Anderson “The Spider” Silva showed that fighters don’t need to trade insults to publicize a match which promises to be fireworks. (photos by Esther Lin)
The pair sat down at Monday’s kickoff press conference to promote their mega-fight which will take place Saturday, October 29 at the Gila River Arena in Phoenix, Arizona, live on SHOWTIME PPV, and which will will be contested in eight rounds at the catchweight of 187 pounds. Paul and Silva even posed for photos together with Paul’s brother, Logan, to recreate a snap the trio took 13 years ago.
Tickets go on sale Wednesday, September 14 at 1 p.m. EST and can be purchased at ticketmaster.com. The press conference was hosted by former BELLATOR MMA and UFC world title contender and Silva rival Chael Sonnen.
The press tour that kicked off Monday in Los Angeles at NeueHouse Hollywood will continue Tuesday at the Gila River Arena in Glendale, Arizona, with Paul and Silva taking center stage.
Paul has never hidden his admiration for Silva, an MMA legend who holds the UFC record for the longest title reign in the organization’s history (nearly seven years) and the most consecutive UFC wins (16) and has now made a successful transition to boxing. Silva announced his return as a world-class boxer in June 2021 when he defeated former middleweight boxing champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. by a split decision that wasn’t as close as the scores showed. indicated.
Silva also expressed his appreciation for Paul and what he was able to accomplish in boxing in such a short time. Sports Illustrated’s 2021 Boxer of the Year, Paul last fought in December 2021 when he recorded one of the most spectacular knockouts of the year – a one-punch knockout of the former UFC champion Tyron Woodley in front of a packed crowd on SHOWTIME PPV.
Despite the mutual admiration, Paul predicted the fight would not go past five rounds and pledged to get a spider tattoo if Silva wins on October 29.