Jake Paul vs Ben Askren Odds and Pick
- Jake Paul vs Ben Askren goes Saturday, April 17th, 2021 at 9 PM EST
- Does Jake Paul take his first boxing loss or will he beat the former UFC fighter?
- Check out the fight odds, analysis, and predictions below
Jake Paul and Ben Askren throw down under Queensberry Rules at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. Paul vs Askren broadcasts on FITE TV as well as Triller Fight Club.
This curious eight-round cruiserweight boxing bout has been steadily capturing more and more interest. We fast approach this circus attraction throwdown between a Youtube sensation and a decorated wrestler.
Jake Paul vs Ben Askren Odds
| Fighter | Odds at DraftKings |
|---|---|
| Jake Paul | -167 |
| Ben Askren | +125 |
Odds as of Apr. 13
Due to Askren’s aesthetically unpleasing standup approach and a ton of recency bias for both pugilists, Paul opened as a favorite. He continues to be a solid favorite as he talks a big game leading into Paul vs Askren this weekend.
[promoted-sportsbook]Jake Paul’s Quest for 3-0
Jake Paul has back-to-back boxing wins over debutant opponents. The Problem Child‘s last stoppage over former decorated NBA player Nate Robinson yielded a lot of social media traction and a viral moment was created around Paul’s faceplant KO of Robinson.
Though he takes on another Queensberry Rules debutant, Askren has by far the most localized, relevant experience than any prior Paul opponent.
Ben Askren is an Olympian and an NCAA Divison I champion wrestler who mostly used his striking to close distance and wrestle in an MMA context.
This dynamic has created a bizarre level of pugilistic parity between these two despite their lopsided resumes in combat.
Ben Askren’s Boxing Crossover
While Ben Askren has a 19-2 MMA record with belts in multiple promotions (Bellator and ONE Championship), he is a neophyte of the sweet science.
Paul is going to be the bigger man in general as he enjoys a few inches of reach on Askren. Jake Paul has fought at cruiserweight (200 pounds) so far while the bulk of Askren’s MMA experience is as a welterweight (170 lbs).
Funky will make his boxing debut this Saturday but he has ample combative experience against world-class opposition.
When you spend 25 minutes in a cage with savages like this guy people like @jakepaul don’t really scare you all that much https://t.co/zaOemyozDE
— Funky (@Benaskren) April 7, 2021
A lot of focus has been allocated to the pad work videos of both men heading into this bout. The type of training videos fighters put out can oftentimes be indicative of their temperament and strategy leading into the fight.
A guy like Paul is going to be a try-hard and really want to show off the finest aspects of his game while training. This is to create intimidation and bolster the idea that he is a killer.
Conversely, a guy like Askren who has a very composed, light-hearted mindset is likely putting out his videos for trolling purposes and also to belie the skills he intends to bring into the prizefight.
Paul vs Askren Tale of the Tape
| 2-0 | Record | 0-0 |
| 2 | Knockouts | 0 |
| 6’1 | Height | 5’11 |
| 76″ | Reach | 72″ |
| Nate Robinson and Ali Eson Gib | Significant Wins | Robbie Lawler, Douglas Lima, Shinya Aoki (MMA) |
| Orthodox | Stance | Orthodox |
It’s not going to be the cleanest, most nuanced display of boxing in the world but I think Ben Askren goes 1-0 as a pro boxer.
I foresee Askren gaining a lot of mileage out of the minimal clinch time available in boxing and really wearing down Paul with his grappling acumen.
I think Paul will charge forward with frenetic energy looking to dispatch Askren in the opening couple of rounds and will gas in a big way if the early finish doesn’t come.
Askren’s sophistication with folkstyle wrestling, his ability to withstand the heat in situations where he’s being fired off on, and his dogged determination to maintain a pressure-heavy approach will be the stylistic hallmarks for Askren here.
There are prop bets on this bout going the distance (+162) and Ben Askren winning on points after eight rounds (+300) that I think both present good value for when Paul vs Askren goes down.
Pick: Ben Askren (+125)
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A part-time writer and full-time broadcaster, Dylan has hosted MMA talk shows Lights Out and Pure Fight Radio with featured guests like Jens Pulver, Roy Nelson, Miesha Tate, and covered some of the biggest MMA promotions like Rumble in the Cage, Unified MMA, and King of the Cage.
