Valentina Shevchenko has publicly responded to Jake Paul after the boxer and youtuber once again criticized the UFC and competitive level of mixed martial arts fighters. The Kyrgyz champion strongly defended the athletes of the organization and assured that many of the company's fighters could easily dominate Paul if the fight was played under MMA rules.
Shevchenko explained that the technical level in the UFC is much broader than in a traditional boxing match, since the fighters must master multiple disciplines such as grappling, wrestling or submissions. According to the champion, that difference in skills would mark a clear distance if Paul faced a complete athlete inside a cage.
Shevchenko's response comes in the midst of a new cycle of statements by Jake Paul about UFC and its business model. The champion's words have been interpreted by many fans as a direct defense of the competitive level of the organization and its champions.
The exchange reactivates the debate about the possible crossovers between boxing and MMA, a topic that has been generating interest among fans of both sports for years and that usually resurfaces every time a media figure criticizes the fighters of the UFC.