In a surprising turn of events, YouTube star-turned-boxer Jake Paul has announced that he will be taking on former UFC welterweight fighter Mike Perry in a bout scheduled for July 20th in Tampa, Florida. This comes after Paul's highly anticipated match against boxing legend Mike Tyson was postponed due to Tyson's health concerns.

The 27-year-old Paul had been preparing to face Tyson on July 20th, but the fight was delayed after the 57-year-old experienced an ulcer flare-up. While the Tyson match has been rescheduled for November 15th, Paul has decided to take on Perry in the meantime.

Perry, also known as "Platinum," is the youngest former MMA opponent that Paul has faced to date, with the oldest being Anderson Silva at 47 years old. Paul has achieved victories against all his previous MMA opponents in the boxing ring, with his only loss coming against English boxer Tommy Fury.

Since leaving the UFC in 2021, Perry has gained recognition in the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC), winning five consecutive bouts and becoming one of the promotion's biggest stars. He recently defeated Thiago Alves at BKFC Knuckle Mania 4 and also secured wins against former UFC champions Luke Rockhold and Eddie Alvarez.

With Perry's reputation as a formidable brawler, UFC legend Daniel Cormier believes that he will make the fight against Paul "ugly" and ultimately emerge victorious. Cormier expressed his opinion in a recent YouTube video, praising Perry as an "absolute killer." However, he also acknowledged Paul's power and emphasized the potential dangers for Perry if his gameplan isn't ideal.

While fans are intrigued by this unexpected matchup, Cormier questioned whether Paul's November fight against Tyson will actually go ahead, considering it's so close to his bout against Perry. Cormier expressed skepticism regarding the turnaround time and speculated if Paul expects to sustain minimal damage in his fight against Perry.

Despite his focus on boxing, Paul had signed a contract with MMA promotion Professional Fighters League (PFL) last year, with PFL chairman Donn Davis stating that the internet sensation will make his MMA debut before the end of 2024. Rumors had circulated that the PFL had offered former UFC star Nate Diaz a substantial purse to face Paul in the PFL SmartCage. The two previously met in a boxing match last August, with Paul securing a unanimous decision victory.

As fight fans eagerly await the showdown between Jake Paul and Mike Tyson later this year, the upcoming bout with Mike Perry promises to be an intriguing precursor. With the charismatic and controversial Paul aiming to maintain his unbeaten record, Perry will undoubtedly be looking to make a statement and secure a high-profile victory.

The stage is set for an exciting summer of boxing and MMA as these fighters gear up to enter the ring and test their skills against one another.