The Unexpected Fight Between Jake Paul and Mike Perry.

A much-anticipated crossover boxing match is set for this Saturday, featuring social media star Jake Paul going head-to-head with former UFC fighter Mike Perry in an eight-round main event. The showdown is scheduled to start at 9 p.m. ET at the Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida.

Originally, Paul was set to face Mike Tyson, but that bout was postponed due to a medical issue with Tyson. That match has been rescheduled for November, so Paul is staying active by taking on Perry, a fierce competitor who boasts a 5-0 record in the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship.

Perry was also the backup fighter for Paul's previous match against Tommy Fury, Perry has been an enigma in the world of  combat psorts, with his many controversies and exciting personality, Perry will be a tough match for the influencer turned professional boxer Paul.

at Amalie Arena in Tampa on Saturday night, we’ve seen:

• Perry "attacking" a mascot dressed like a deodorant can, needing to be "restrained" by "security."

• Paul arriving at the pre-fight press conference with a graduation cap that read "private school Perry," possibly marking the first time anyone’s joked about Perry having an overly good education.

• Perry telling Paul he’d “dig through your eyeball and find your memories,” to which Paul humorously responded, “please don’t do that.”

In the latest betting odds, Paul is the favorite at -360 (bet $360 to win $100), while Perry is listed at +280. The over/under for the total rounds completed is set at 7.5.

For those looking to place bets, it's worth considering the advice of Brandon Wise, the combat sports editor for CBS Sports.

Wise has an impressive track record, including correctly predicting Paul's first-round win against Ryan Bourland and advising on the under 1.5 rounds. His picks have consistently delivered significant returns.

From the outside, this fight looks like a bizarre concoction fueled by energy drinks, ayahuasca, and tquila in the water supply. Both men are pretty absurd, with at least one doing it on purpose. Yet, they’re both enjoying great success and wealth.

Paul has morphed from a Disney kid to an annoyingly famous YouTuber to a surprisingly decent boxer—a career path that’s only possible in today’s world. Perry went from being a mid-level UFC welterweight to an MMA cautionary tale to a well-paid, oddly respected bare-knuckle boxer—a title that makes sense only in 2024 or 1890.

Critics of Paul's boxing opponents note that the former UFC fighters he's faced were often undersized and past their prime. Tyron Woodley and Nate Diaz were nearing 40 when they fought Paul, and former UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva was 47 during their 2022 bout. These fighters also competed at weights below Paul's preferred cruiserweight limit of 200 pounds.

Perry, like Ben Askren and Woodley, competed at welterweight (170 pounds) in the UFC but has fought at 185 pounds in BKFC. Despite giving up a size advantage to Paul, Perry remains confident, stating that at 32, he's hitting his physical peak, unlike Paul's previous opponents

"I'm just now reaching my prime," Perry said. "I've been doing my best work lately. I learned a lot in the UFC, which was a tough place to learn. Now, I'm having success brawling."

This fight with Perry, however, is different. Despite being in a smaller venue and on a niche streaming service, it’s a genuine bout against a real opponent.

Here’s why: Unlike the other ex-UFC fighters Paul has faced, Perry is still in his athletic prime and was always better at striking than grappling.

He also has actual boxing experience, albeit mostly in a very specific style.

Perry’s fighting career got a boost in the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC).

His blend of close-quarters combat and disregard for his own safety made him a perfect fit. He has legit boxing skills best used in a small space for maximum damage. Perry fights like life means nothing to him, entering battles intent on bloodshed, indifferent to whose it is.

Paul hasn’t faced anyone quite like Perry. There’s a part of Paul that seems to think he could be like Perry, but that’s not something you can fake. And one of the fascinating aspects of combat sports is how they reveal your true self.

Paul has fought big names like Anderson Silva and even a decent boxer in Tommy Fury, who handed Paul his only loss.

But he hasn’t fought someone with Perry’s mix of malicious intent and surprising skill. This is a real fight, even if it all seems ridiculous from a distance.