Conor McGregor recently dropped one of the most unexpected announcements ever amidst his civil lawsuit controversy. There were rumors that the Irishman could be taking on featherweight champion Ilia Topuria when he makes his UFC comeback, but that turned out to be absolutely false. According to McGregor, he’s actually in talks to take on social media sensation and WWE superstar Logan Paul in a boxing match.

When renowned ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith opened up on his thoughts about Conor McGregor’s boxing match announcement, he appeared to have no issues with it. This is because he believes the Irishman is nowhere near ready to come back and compete inside the Octagon, which Smith believes would be a huge mistake for McGregor despite the previously slated Michael Chandler fight.

“I have no issue with this fight [McGregor vs Paul] for a few reasons. Number one – Obviously, I don’t think he’s ready to be back in the UFC. I think he will get his a– kicked thoroughly,” Stephen A. Smith stated on ESPN’s ‘First Take’. “Michael Chandler has been calling him out forever. [He] desperately, desperately wants his hands on Conor McGregor because he knows that would be a big fight… and that hasn’t happened yet.”

Moreover, Stephen A. Smith also pointed out Conor McGregor‘s bad run of form in his past few fives. Having won just once against Hall of Famer Donald Cerrone back in 2020, the ESPN analyst believes that the fight against Logan Paul is the right call from the former UFC dual-weight champion. “We haven’t seen Conor McGregor win a fight. I mean he beat Donald Cerrone… That’s the only victory he’s had in seven years… I appreciate this fight [against Logan Paul] because it’s sheer entertainment,” Smith added.

In all of this, a familiar online foe of ‘The Notorious’ surfaced to give his thoughts on the bout. Conor McGregor’s announcement caught the attention of the younger Paul brother, Jake, who claims that the UFC superstar desperately needs them to stay relevant.

Jake Paul reacts to Conor McGregor fighting Logan Paul

Although Logan is his brother, Jake Paul wasn’t really aware of the fact that ‘The Maverick’ was going to compete against Conor McGregor. However, he did mention that the Irishman’s team tried to contact his promotion for a fight, which ‘El Gallo’ would only accept if Dana White gave his biggest star the green light. Claiming that McGregor is “washed,” Jake believes that there is no other way for him to maintain relevancy than to fight his older brother.

“Now it all makes sense why Conor Mcgregor & his management team have been desperately trying to get MVP to negotiate for a fight between us,” said Jake Paul on X. “The only way we’re willing to explore me vs Conor in a pro boxing / mma fight is if Dana White / UFC are at the table directly or make it clear they are ok with discussions. Conor is washed. Needs the Paul’s. Logan by however he wants.”

Meanwhile, Logan Paul also reacted to Conor McGregor’s announcement, giving legitimacy to his claims. However, he has yet to comment on it as we wait to to see how this boxing match pans out for the former UFC champion.