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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Donagh Corby

Jake Paul's next fight: Six potential opponents after vicious Tyron Woodley KO

Jake Paul could fight any number of opponents after viciously knocking out Tyron Woodley last night in Florida.

The YouTube star is one of the biggest names in the sport, and has a multitude of options going forward now that he has finished his feud with Woodley in decisive fashion.

The pair fought twice this year, and Paul will want to now move on to new pastures, having gotten through another tough test against the ex-UFC welterweight champion.

It remains to be seen who he will face next, but there are plenty of top fighters from the worlds of MMA and boxing who will want the mega-money payday of facing the social media celebrity again.

We've taken a look at the possible next opponents for Paul, ranking the likelihood of any of them actually happening...

1. Nate Diaz

Tommy Fury wasn't in Amalie Arena last night, but Nate Diaz was as he cornered pal Chris Avila to a majority decision win over Paul's teammate Anthony Taylor on the prelims.

Diaz has just one fight left on his UFC deal, which is likely to take place early next year, and could be as early as January or February against Dustin Poirier.

He has also teased a trilogy bout with Conor McGregor, but would likely need to commit to the UFC for that fight to take place.

The reason for Avila being put on the card, Mirror Fighting understands, was to have Diaz in attendance for a possible meeting with Paul.

Nate Diaz in action against Leon Edwards (Zuffa LLC)

2. Jorge Masvidal

Paul called out the top UFC welterweight for a big fight after his win over Woodley, but admitted the contract will be an issue.

He was also in attendance tonight at the Amalie Arena in Tampa, but was gone by the time Paul called him out in the post-fight interview.

Masvidal is still a very active competitor at the top of the UFC welterweight division, and there's next to no chance Dana White will allow it to happen.

3. Tommy Fury

Tommy Fury was the original opponent for this event in Florida, but pulled out due to three broken ribs that he suffered while battling a severe chest infection during camp.

The Love Island star is 7-0 as a professional boxer, and is the most legitimate opponent on this list given his boxing experience and size.

He is currently sidelined and won't be able to return for another two months at least, which would give Paul time to take some much-needed holidays before returning to action for his sixth professional fight.

Fury has insisted that the bout will be rescheduled, but Paul mocked him in his post-fight interview and he likely won't be involved in the next event.

Tommy Fury defeated Anthony Taylor but failed to impress earlier this year (Amanda Westcott/ Showtime)

4. Dillon Danis

This one is less likely, but not completely out of the question.

Back around this time last year, Paul and Danis were inches away from penning a deal to fight in April, but ultimately the Bellator fighter couldn't commit due to injury.

Paul has insisted that it was the last chance Danis will get for that level of a payday, and seemingly gave up on the feud after a years-long back-and-forth between the pair.

But he re-inserted himself in the conversation when he popularised the debunked conspiracy theory that Woodley was paid not to knock Paul out in the first fight.

Danis was one of Paul's first rivals (DillonDanis/Twitter)
But he hasn't fought in almost two years due to injury (Instagram/PeterQueally)

5. KSI

There is no greater feud in the career of Jake Paul than his long-standing rivalry with fellow YouTuber and chart-topping rapper JJ Olatunji, better known as KSI.

Paul originally began training in the sport because of a callout from the Brit, and made his debut on a white collar boxing event against his brother Deji in August 2018.

On the main event of that same card, KSI fought Jake's older brother Logan, and the pair turned professional for their rematch after the bout was ruled a draw.

And after KSI won the rematch by way of a very contentious split decision, it appeared that he would finish his boxing career against Jake until the coronavirus essentially put paid to any fight plans.

Given KSI's current musical success, which will see him tour his No.1 album around the UK and Europe for most of next year, the YouTube stars probably won't end up meeting in the ring for a while.

Who do you think Jake Paul should fight next? Let us know in the comments section below!

KSI and Paul have a heated rivalry, but the American has likely far surpassed the Brit's level (DAZN)

6. Conor McGregor

There is next to no chance that this happens, but Paul claims that talks are ongoing for a bout against the biggest star in combat sports.

His manager Nakisa Bidarian was the UFC's Chief Financial Officer during McGregor's astronomical rise to the top, and is said to have a close relationship with the Irishman's manager Audie Attar.

For a fight like this to be made, McGregor would have to organise a similar deal with the UFC to the one that he had for his 2017 bout with Floyd Mayweather, and the numbers just don't seem to add up for that to happen as yet.

Conor McGregor is a highly unlikely next opponent for Paul, but it would be a lot of fun (Getty Images)

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