Daniel Cormier open to Jake Paul fight: ‘I’m going to rip his face apart’

Cormier addressed his heated exchange with Paul at UFC 261 and said the YouTuber was “disrespecting” him at the event

Daniel Cormier retired from MMA following his defeat to Stipe Miocic at UFC 252 (Zuffa/LLC via Getty Images)

Former UFC heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier says he would “rip Jake Paul’s face apart” if the pair ever met in the octagon, but added that he does not want to fight the YouTube star in the boxing ring.

Retired MMA great Cormier clashed with Paul at UFC 261 in Florida on Saturday after previously exchanging barbs with the 24-year-old on social media.

Paul knocked out former UFC fighter and US Olympic wrestler Ben Askren last weekend to improve his boxing record to 3-0.

Cormier, 42, said he would not chase a fight with Paul but instead challenged the YouTube celebrity to face him in MMA.

“I don’t want to fight Jake Paul,” Cormier said on ESPN’s DC & Helwani show. “But I’m not gonna let Jake Paul disrespect me.

“Let me tell you one thing about Jake Paul, and I’ll refer back to the Conor McGregor deal. Conor went to fight Floyd [Mayweather], made a ton of money, because he had to.

“Floyd Mayweather is the greatest boxer of all time, so you go play on his playing field. Why would I go and box Jake Paul? Who I am doesn’t make me chase anything. I made my money as the heavyweight champion of the world. I don’t have to chase a payday.

“I made my money as the champion of the world. If you want to really fight me, you got an issue with me, fight me in mixed martial arts and I’m going to torture you and I’m going to rip his face apart and I’m gonna hurt the kid.

“I will teach these kids not to continue to do this with people like me, athletes. I will hurt the kid.”

Paul’s win over Askren was the first time he had faced an opponent with a background in combat sports.

The American had previously defeated former NBA player Nate Robinson and fellow YouTube celebrity Ali Eson Gib.