One month after being released from the UFC, middleweight American
Top Team fighter Markus
Perez accepted an invitation from Jake Paul´s
team to help him with sparring to prepare for his boxing match
against Ben Askren on
April 17.
In an interview with Brazilian outlet
AgFight, “Maluko” detailed how what was supposed to be a
friendly training session turned into a war. Perez immediately felt
disrespected upon his introduction to the YouTube personality.
“To tell you the truth I had no idea who he was, but when someone
related to him offered me $300 (to train with him), I decided to
accept. When I arrived at his house with my friend Alexandre
Pantoja, I politely went to greet everyone,” Perez said. “But
when I went to shake hands, he gave me a closed fist. Then I looked
at Pantoja and asked, ‘That was the guy I came to help?’”
Once Perez and Paul hit the ring to spar, intensity quickly reached
levels beyond what is normal for that type of session.
“He started the sparring going hard, and I hit him with a jab in
the end of the first round and his nose started to bleed. From that
point on we started to fight,” Perez said. “I called for him to
beat me up and he was afraid, just circling and staying out of my
range. Of course, he is able to box and has a good cross, but he is
clearly not a fighter — just an adventurous (type).”
Based on that experience, Perez sees Askren, a former Bellator and
One Championship title holder, as a clear favorite in the
matchup.
“Askren is a real fighter,” Perez said. “He will close the distance
and beat him up around the body and liver, just like I did. A fight
is always a fight, anything can happen, but I believe he will knock
Paul out around the second or third round.”
The Brazilian, who remains without a promotional home, said he
didn’t receive the full $300 for the session that was initially
promised by Paul’s team.
“They just gave me $150,” he said. “But in that regard, I have to
support their attitude. I also wouldn’t pay $300 for someone who
kicked my ass, the way I did with him.”
Paul and Askren will square off in the main event of a Triller
Fight Club-promoted card at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on
Saturday. The card, which also includes a heavyweight clash between
former UFC champ Frank Mir and
Steve
Cunningham, starts at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. ET and is available via
Fite TV for $49.99.