Bellator President Scott Coker and Ben Askren have traded barbs over Jake Paul.
Paul is a YouTube sensation who is insisting that he is taking his pro boxing journey seriously. Paul has a pro record of 2-0. Those wins have come against fellow YouTuber AnEsonGib and former NBA player Nate Robinson. Paul scored the knockout victory in both fights.
Coker was interviewed by Mike Bohn of MMAJunkie.com. When the subject of Paul and Askren was brought up, the Bellator boss gave his prediction for a potential boxing match.
“I already know who’s gonna win that one. Ben’s a wrestler. Let’s put it that way, right? So I think he gets knocked out in a boxing fight. But in an MMA fight, it’s a different story.”
Coker went on to joke about Jake having a smooth transition to the MMA world.
“I know the Paul brothers can do both. Jake is a real wrestler (and) can box now. You have boxing and you have wrestling, just learn the anti-jiu-jitsu techniques that Frank and Ken Shamrock used to teach back in the day, and you’ll be fine. Don’t worry, you’ll be good.”
Askren has said he’d entertain a showdown with Paul, who recently targeted him in a parody video poking fun at MMA fighters. Askren is well aware of Coker’s prediction and he wasn’t happy. “Funky” took aim at Coker in a Twitter post.
Everyone knows @ViacomCBS is trying to sell @BellatorMMA bc @ScottCoker is doing such a terrible job but they can’t even find a buyer!!!!
— Funky (@Benaskren) December 23, 2020
“Everyone knows Viacom is trying to sell Bellator because Scott Coker is doing such a terrible job but they can’t even find a buyer!!!”
Coker wasn’t interested in holding his tongue.
https://t.co/kBgot2u7TA pic.twitter.com/nBfL6PbXpH
— Scott Coker (@ScottCoker) December 23, 2020