Jake Paul vs Ben Askren Odds & Prediction: YouTube Star vs Former MMA Star

We are one day away from the highly anticipated boxing match between YouTube sensation Jake Paul and former MMA champion and Olympic wrestler Ben Askren.

That’s right. After a second-round knockout win over former NBA guard Nate Robinson in the co-main event of the Mike Tyson vs Roy Jones Jr. fight, Jake Paul is taking on the former Bellator and OneFC champion, Ben Askren, who may be most remembered for his flying knee knockout loss to Jorge Masvidal.

One year ago today at UFC 239, @GamebredFighter knocked out Ben Askren in 5 seconds making it the fastest KO in UFC history
pic.twitter.com/EVdtXK94oT

— Chamatkar Sandhu (@SandhuMMA) July 6, 2020

It may be a little surprising, though, to see in the Jake Paul vs Ben Askren odds that the YouTube star is a slight favorite over the former professional mixed martial artist. Paul and Askren will be boxing on April 17 on Thriller PPV.

Online sportsbook [Sportsbook not available for your region] has released Jake Paul vs Ben Askren odds with Paul listed at -155 and Askren coming back at +125. This means you would have to bet $155 to profit $100 with a Paul win, while a $100 bet on an Askren victory would profit you $125.

Jake Paul vs Ben Askren Odds

Odds as of April 17 at [Sportsbook not available for your region]

See Odds Shark’s Best Boxing Sites

Looking at the Paul vs Askren odds, our sports betting calculator tells us Paul’s odds of -155 represent an implied win probability of 60.78 percent while Askren’s odds +125 have an implied win probability of 44.44 percent.

Unfamiliar with betting on boxing? Be sure to check out our awesome how to bet on boxing guide to help get you in on the action. Also, keep an eye on our boxing odds page for all of the Jake Paul vs Ben Askren betting lines.

Jake Paul vs Ben Askren Betting Analysis

This fight is very interesting and should draw eyes from various different backgrounds. It’s also quite funny that the man with the professional boxing history is the YouTube star, not the former Olympian and MMA champion.

Is Paul ready for real competition?

Like him, hate him, or maybe you don’t even know who he is, Jake Paul has some boxing skills, no doubt about it. He has had two professional boxing matches, both in 2020, scoring a knockout victory in each one. The second came over former NBA player Nate Robinson midway through the second round of their bout.

His first triumph came over AnEsonGib, another YouTuber, so he has evolved from a YouTube boxing match to fighting an NBA player to now being favored over a former MMA champion.

Jake Paul and Ben Askren traded swipes during their first faceoff 

(via @marc_raimondi) pic.twitter.com/YnORF49ppZ

— ESPN Ringside (@ESPNRingside) March 27, 2021

Should Askren be the underdog?

If you were to ask a random person on the street whether a YouTuber could beat a mixed martial artist, I’m fairly certain the results would be 100 percent behind the fighter. However, “Funky” Ben was an Olympic wrestler and that was the method he employed to win 19 of his 22 pro MMA bouts – take them to the ground and punish them. But you can’t grapple in boxing.

That said, Askren has a really good chin, which was tested against Robbie Lawler and Demian Maia, though the notable test was the five-second knockout loss to Jorge Masvidal via flying knee. But you can’t throw knees in boxing.

Jake Paul vs Ben Askren Preview

Credit both men for taking on this challenge. On one hand, you have Jake Paul stepping into the ring with a man who has trained striking and punching for a significant amount of time, in contrast to Paul’s last two opponents, who looked like they’d never seen a 12-ounce glove.

Meanwhile, Ben Askren has to stand up for the sport of MMA, and losing or getting knocked out by a YouTuber would result in endless ridicule, I’m sure.

Askren’s striking: Is it really that bad?

It was clear throughout Askren’s career that his main approach was to close the distance on his opponents, grab them and take them to the floor to punish them. The guy we saw in the UFC was not the same guy who fought in Bellator and OneFC, mostly due to a lengthy layoff and a troublesome hip that eventually required surgery.

That said, he has been sparring and striking for years and definitely understands the basics of boxing. I wouldn’t be surprised if Ben tried to clinch and do some dirty boxing. He does a good job throwing straight punches and has really deceptive strength and power that may catch Paul by surprise. He has a tendency to overreach and rush his opponents, which is similar to what Nate Robinson did.

Out here in Atlanta for #TrillerFightClub event. Mr. @BenAskren just did his open workout. What do we think?! pic.twitter.com/Gow51rHZrY

— Mike Bohn (@MikeBohnMMA) April 14, 2021

Does a Paul win open the door for a Conor McGregor fight?

The one thing I’ve said repeatedly about these celebrity boxing matches is that if you can throw a jab and work behind it, you will win. Paul has done a good job learning how to throw a jab and letting the fight come to him so he can land a clean, more powerful shot to end the night.

“The Problem Child” avoids damage by keeping his guard high, moving away from his opponent and tying them up when they get close. When he decides to punch first, he has a bad tendency to drop his hands and load up for a power punch while also usually being heavy on his lead leg.

Jake Paul vs Ben Askren Prediction

I’m of the same belief as UFC president Dana White.

@danawhite taking “put your money where your mouth is” to another level.

Full episode: https://t.co/HZCyAJefbt@jakepaul @Benaskren @SUPERJUDAH @MikeTyson #Hotboxin #DanaWhite #UFC pic.twitter.com/CNVu0JHMUs

— Hotboxin' with Mike Tyson (@hotboxinpodcast) March 10, 2021

OK, maybe I don’t have the capital that White has, but I will be taking the underdog nonetheless. 

While I think that both men will land cleanly in this fight, which could look a little sloppy overall, the conditioning and cardio that Askren has in his back pocket will likely be the difference as this fight drags on to the fourth round and beyond. For me, there’s simply too much value on a professional fighter who was only knocked out by a flying knee but took punishment in other fights and survived much harder shots than Paul can ever throw.

Prediction: Ben Askren (+125) via decision

Paul vs Askren Prop Bets

If you’re looking for different options or perhaps more betting value for this bout, online sportsbook [Sportsbook not available for your region] has released Paul vs Askren prop bets. Be sure to check back frequently leading up to the event as more props may become available.

My Favorite Paul vs Askren Prop Bets

Well, perhaps not a favorite bet of mine but definitely a prop worth looking at is for the fight to end in a draw at +2000. Too many times we as bettors have been burned by a draw in these celebrity-type boxing matches. Even the Mike Tyson vs Roy Jones Jr. bout ended in that manner, so don’t be surprised if we get snaked again.

However, assuming everything is on the up and up, there are a couple of Paul vs Askren prop bets that I like. The first is for the fight to go the distance at +170. I don’t think that Paul has the power or technique to really put Funky in any sort of trouble, especially considering he survived a barrage of punches from the dangerous Robbie Lawler. My only worry for this prop is that Paul begins to tire out and Askren starts landing a few clean shots. 

The second prop bet I like is in the same vein, for Askren to win by decision at +350. I like this value at plus money; it also gives you an out if you’d like to hedge a half unit on Askren to win by knockout at +350 in the event that Paul gasses out.

Here’s a look at all of the Paul vs Askren prop bets:

Odds as of April 17 at [Sportsbook not available for your region]

Odds as of April 17 at [Sportsbook not available for your region]

Odds as of April 17 at [Sportsbook not available for your region]

Odds as of April 17 at [Sportsbook not available for your region]

Online sportsbook Sportsbook has also released a series of exotic Paul vs Askren prop bets such as what color will Jake Paul’s gloves be (silver is favored at +125) and will Snoop Dogg say “for shizzle” during the broadcast (No is favored at -220).

Odds as of April 17 at Sportsbook

Odds as of April 17 at Sportsbook

Odds as of April 17 at Sportsbook

Odds as of April 17 at Sportsbook

Odds as of April 17 at Sportsbook

Odds as of April 17 at Sportsbook

Odds as of April 17 at Sportsbook

Odds as of April 17 at Sportsbook

Odds as of April 17 at Sportsbook

Odds as of April 17 at Sportsbook

Odds as of April 17 at Sportsbook

Odds as of April 17 at Sportsbook

Odds as of April 17 at Sportsbook

Odds as of April 76 at Sportsbook

Odds as of April 17 at Sportsbook

Odds as of April 17 at Sportsbook

Odds as of April 17 at Sportsbook

Steve Cunningham vs Frank Mir

Ben Askren isn’t the only former MMA star who will be boxing on April 17 as former UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir will be taking on former IBF cruiserweight champion Steve Cunningham. Mir is a sizable +1000 underdog in that matchup.

Here’s a look at the Cunningham vs Mir odds:

Odds as of April 17 at [Sportsbook not available for your region]