On Jake Paul-Anderson Silva Undercard, It’s Le’Veon Bell Vs. Uriah Hall

Call it a novelty fight: a football player vs. an MMA fighter in a boxing match.

Ex-NFL All-Pro running back Le’Veon Bell will face former UFC fighter Uriah Hall as part of the Jake Paul-Anderson Silva undercard on Oct. 29 in Glendale, Arizona. The card — promoted by Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions — will air as a Showtime pay-per-view event.

Bell and Hall are slated for a 4-round bout at a contracted 195 pounds. Neither competitor can exceed 200 pounds on weigh-in day, and they will wear 10-ounce gloves.

Although it’s his pro boxing debut, Bell saw action in an exhibition bout when he demolished fellow former running back Adrian Peterson with a fifth-round knockout on Sept. 10. Bell, who played last season for Tampa Bay and Baltimore, announced in the summer that he would be leaving football to pursue a boxing career.

Paul is now giving Bell his big (boxing) break.

“As soon as Most Valuable Promotions approached me about joining the Paul-Silva pay-per-view, I told them I want in and didn’t care who the opponent was,” Bell said. “Uriah Hall is going to feel my punching power and tap out like he’s getting submitted. He is not built like me.”

Bell, 30, is getting in the ring with a combat-sports veteran in Hall, who is a 17-year MMA pro and owns a black belt in Kyokushin Karate.

Hall, 38, announced his retirement from the UFC in August after losing to Andre Muniz at UFC 276 on July 2, his second consecutive defeat. He spent nine years in the organization.

Hall has always been a dangerous striker, even as a prospect on The Ultimate Fighter in 2013 when he scored a sensational KO with a spinning hook kick. Hall showcased his power during his UFC career with eight KO/TKO victories, which are tied for the most in the history of the organization’s middleweight division. Anderson Silva and Thiago Silva also have eight.

Bell had previously called out Paul for a fight, but now Paul sounds excited to put the former NFL star on his card.

“Adding NFL superstar Le’Veon Bell to the card only increases this fight’s star power and to have him go head-to-head with a fighter as experienced and dangerous as Uriah Hall — it’s going to be fireworks,” Paul said. “Taking on this challenge is proof that Bell, like myself, is serious about professional boxing and after his knockout of Adrian Peterson, he looks like a force to be reckoned with. Hall on the other hand has already proven himself multiple times in the UFC and we know what he is capable of.

Paul, the YouTuber turned prizefighter with a 5-0 record, will headline the event versus Silva, an MMA legend, who owns the record for most consecutive wins in UFC history (16). And perhaps Paul will consider Bell as future opponent, if the former football player beats Hall and increases his star power.