JAKE PAUL hit out at “maniac” Conor McGregor and warned: “There are new sheriffs in town.”
YouTuber-turned-boxer Paul has long chased a fight with UFC legend McGregor amid a war-of-words between them.
But for now the social media sensation marks his return on July 20 against former UFC star-turned-bare-knuckle boxer Mike Perry.
Perry is signed to Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship – which McGregor recently became part-owner of.
Paul goaded that he would give McGregor a “fourth or fifth row ticket” with his star power no longer warranting anything better.
And he argued that the Irishman – who has just one win in EIGHT YEARS – is no longer the biggest draw in combat sports.
Paul said on The MMA Hour: “I would disagree. There’s new sheriffs in town.
“He hasn’t fought, he hasn’t won a fight in what six or seven years? I don’t even know how long it’s been.
“He’s embarrassing himself, he’s ruining his legacy.”
Paul, 27, was set to return against Mike Tyson, 57, on July 20 but the boxing icon pulled out after suffering an ulcer flare up from a flight.
With more sides to his personality than an Octagon, Conor McGregor's rise has been an enthralling watch.
Going from UFC icon to entrepreneur and Hollywood star, the Irishman has transcended the sport he helped bring to the masses.
He has four children with fiancee Dee Devlin and the family enjoy a lavish lifestyle.
McGregor has not fought in UFC since breaking his leg in a trilogy fight with Dustin Poirier in 2021.
That has not stopped him amassing a net worth of over £150m thanks to his Proper No Twelve whiskey and fashion line.
And he is due to return to the Octagon at UFC 303 in an eagerly-awaited headline clash with Michael Chandler.
McGregor also starred alongside Jake Gyllenhaal in the Amazon Prime remake of classic movie Road House, although he is dreading his mum seeing one X-rated scene.
Notorious turned up to the premiere in a £60,000 suit that was outdone by his £460k watch.
The only thing sharper than his fashion sense is his tongue and the Dubliner has several bitter spats under his belt, including with UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov.
That row led to one of his biggest controversies in 2018 as he travelled 3,000 miles to confront Khabib in a vicious attack on his bus.
He pleaded guilty to assault after punching a man in a pub in 2018 and had his £150k Bentley seized by police for driving offences four years later.
Joe Rogan lashed out at McGregor in a four-letter outburst and the Irishman has also fired shots at Jake Paul, KSI and Tommy Fury.
Boxing great Floyd Mayweather also has McGregor on his enemy list after the pair clashed in a cross-sport bout in 2017.
Read all of our latest Conor McGregor stories.
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The controversial clash – scrutinised for the age gap – has since been rescheduled to November 15.
So Paul has kept his July 20 date to face BKFC champ Perry, 32, in Florida.
Meanwhile McGregor, 35, was due to make his comeback on June 29 after three years out against Michael Chandler, 38.
But for the first time in his UFC career, the southpaw was forced out of the fight after suffering injury.
It drags McGregor’s wait to return on as Paul once again took a swipe at the UFC great.
Paul said: “He’s lost his mind, he’s a maniac. At one point Conor was great, everyone loved Conor but man, I feel bad for the guy now.
“You can say all these things you want about him but he hasn’t proven it, he hasn’t backed it up and that’s the way I look at it.”
