Cristiano Marcello, a former MMA fighter and head of CM System, recently shared his insights on the October 2022 boxing match between ex-UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva and American YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul. Paul emerged victorious by unanimous decision. Marcello, speaking on the “Connect Cast,” suggested that Silva didn’t approach the bout with full seriousness, treating it more as entertainment than a competitive fight. He implied that if Silva had fought earnestly, Paul would have stood little chance.

“Anderson Silva is a seasoned professional who trains relentlessly. What’s fascinating is the debate this fight has sparked. It’s not about whether Silva threw the fight, but rather that he didn’t engage in it with his usual intensity. Winning would have ended the spectacle. Anderson is exceptional; if he had fought aggressively, he would have triumphed. Considering the fight took place shortly after Silva’s retirement and he’s stayed active, recall his performance against Forrest Griffin. Jake may train hard, but he wouldn’t have stood a chance against a fully-committed Silva,” Marcello stated.

Anderson Silva, now 48, boasts a professional MMA record of 34 wins, 11 losses, and one no contest out of 46 fights. He retired from MMA in 2020 but has since participated in three boxing matches, defeating Julio César Chávez Jr. and Tito Ortiz, with the only loss being against Jake Paul.

Jake Paul, 27, is building a notable boxing career, with nine victories and just one defeat. His most recent win was against Ryan Bourland in March, via a first-round knockout. Paul has gained attention for defeating former UFC fighters, including Tyron Woodley (twice), Nate Diaz, Anderson Silva, and Ben Askren. His sole defeat occurred in February 2023 against Tommy Fury. Up next for Paul is a July 20th boxing match against the legendary Mike Tyson.