Tyron Woodley has denied his credibility will be on the line in his clash with YouTube star Jake Paul on Sunday night.
The former UFC welterweight champion has switched from mixed martial arts to boxing to attempt to derail Paul's blossoming career.
Woodley is expected to provide Paul with his toughest test to date but is the bookies' underdog ahead of the Cleveland clash.
And the 39-year-old insists he is not risking his reputation against the social media star.
“None of my credibility is on the line, I’m a 'G' what can you say," Woodley said. “I will go out there and perform on Sunday night and I will be victorious.
“People that have been through adversity are a champion to me and I am a champion and I’m going to show it with a victory on Sunday night.
“Even If Paul is doing very best to start mind games, I am a man and I don’t play cute games I am going out there to hurt you.”
The former champion last fought in March before he was released by the UFC on the back of four consecutive defeats in the cage.
But current UFC welterweight Jorge Masvidal has backed Woodley to knock Jake Paul 'the f*** out' citing his "power on the pads" as one of the advantages he holds going into the fight.
" I was wrong. I don’t know sh** about fighting, right? But, chances are Woodley‘s gonna knock him the f**k out," Masvidal said on The MMA Hour.
“So, it’s not to diss Jake…Woodley can throw them hands; Ben Askren never could…Woodley could’ve made his money grappling, which he did.
Who wins? Jake Paul or Tyron Woodley? Comment below
"He’s good enough of an athlete, and he’s good enough of an athlete to make his money with his hands and knock people the f**k out.
"I know Jake’s never been in there with a guy like that – That’s explosive, is a good athlete, and has a ton of experience over. So, (if) Jake wins, f**king wild. My hat’s off to him.
Paul has made a lasting impression in the boxing world calling out the likes of Canelo Alvarez and Gervonta Davis which he now has admitted makes him "delusional".
But the 24-year-old has also not been shy in calling out currently injured UFC star Conor McGregor to a duel in the boxing ring which he still believes is a "massive" fight.
And his coach BJ Flores has backed his fighter to win the fight, warning McGregor that his career will come to a "tumbling stop" if he paces Paul in the future.
