TAMPA – Tyron Woodley vowed to correct all of the mistakes he made in their first fight, but it was Jake Paul who emphatically backed up his pre-fight claims in the end.

The celebrated boxing rematch between a content creator and former UFC champion produced a Knockout of the Year contender, with Paul flattening Woodley inside of six rounds. An overhand right forced Woodley to pitch forward face first to the canvas, prompting an immediate stoppage at 2:12 of round six Saturday evening atop a Showtime Pay-Per-View event from AMALIE Arena in Tampa, Florida.

“This is as real as it fucking gets, just like my right hand. I told you… I told you I was gonna fuck him up. And I fucked him up,” Paul exclaimed after the fight, making the same claim at the end of Friday’s official pre-fight weigh-in.

Woodley accepted the fight on two weeks’ notice, replacing England’s Tommy Fury (7-0, 4KOs) who withdrew due to a reported broken rib and bronchial chest infection. It set up a sequel to their first fight less than four months ago, which saw Paul go the distance for the first time in his career in winning a split decision at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland, also on Showtime PPV.

This time, Paul resumed his knockout ways, though ultimately appreciative of Woodley stepping in to save the show.

“This guy is a legend. Don’t take away what he’s done in his career as a UFC champion,” noted Paul. “He took this fight on two weeks’ notice because Tommy Fury’s a bitch. He backed out the fight. This is a real fighter, a dog and a warrior. He’s a legend.”

The combined twelve-minute ring entrance for both fighters was enough to get the crowd hyped, including Paul’s off-the-wall song choice of The Village People’s all-time classic ‘YMCA’ serving as his backdrop. The entertainment value didn’t carry over into the ring, with the first round marred by frequent clinching. Paul worked his jab but didn’t offer much behind it while Woodley repeated his mistake from their first fight in not throwing enough punches.

Boos filled the arena, the crowd already on hand seemingly to root against Paul but by this point—well after midnight—eager for more action than was provided in the main event. Woodley would walk straight inside but not offer any offense.

A similarly disappointing trend transpired in round two. Paul continued to take the lead with his jab, falling short with a follow-up right hand. Woodley—who acknowledged his low punch output cost him the first fight, though one he still feels he deserved the victory—made the same mistake in the rematch, leaving the crowd restless and eager for any form of action.

Jeers turned to cheers on two separate occasions in round three. Paul looked to go on the attack, though walked into a Woodley elbow that left him with a nasty cut along the right side of his forehead. The flow of blood disrupted spontaneous “Fuck Jake Paul” chants, with the crowd cheering on Woodley who landed his best punch of the fight—a right uppercut to snap back Paul’s head.

The first fight saw Paul fortunate to avoid a knockdown call in round four, though he would hit the canvas this time around. It came from a Woodley takedown, using his shoulder to lift Paul’s feet off the ground before turning to his left and depositing him onto the deck. The foul drew a stern warning from referee Christopher Young, who had his hands full in an earlier novelty fight between NBA star Deron Williams and record-breaking NFL running back Frank Gore.

Paul was dealt more adversity in round five. A sloppy sequence at close quarters ended with Woodley’s head slamming into Paul’s left eye. It was the most notable moment of a round devoid of offense and with the extreme displeasure of the sellout crowd.

That would change in an instance.

Paul sent the crowd into a frenzy with the punch that would produce the lone knockout of the night. It came as Woodley left his chin in the air long enough to catch an overhand right, leaving him out on his feet before collapsing to the canvas in a heap. The loss is his second in as many pro fights, having entered the pro ranks after a storied UFC career where he reigned as the welterweight champion.

For the second straight time, Woodley could not solve the riddle that is Paul (5-0, 4KOs), a content creator who turned pro last January and has now knocked out every opponent he’s faced thus far.

“It’s got to be the greatest year of my life,” notes Paul, who goes 3-0 (2KOs) on the year. “Look what I did, unprecedented. One of the most valuable boxers in the sport, four fights, four massive pay-per-views in 13 months.”

Paul got the job done with a single shot, one of 43 he landed on the night out of 170 total punches (25.3%), including 25-of-61 power punches (41%). Woodley ultimately matched Paul’s work rate, landing 43-of-184 total punches (23%), including 39-of-117 power punches (33%).

Among the criticism in Paul’s unique career is that he’s yet to face an established boxer. His pro debut came last January, scoring a first-round knockout of fellow YouTube star AnEsonGib in Miami Gardens. The pandemic limited his progress before returning on the undercard of the Mike Tyson-Roy Jones Jr. exhibition clash, delivering a viral moment in his second-round knockout of former NBA star Nate Robinson.

Prior to his two-fight set with Woodley, Paul knocked out another former MMA fighter in Ben Askren inside of one round this past April. Two more UFC stars were in attendance on Saturday—Jorge Masvidal and Nate Diaz, though both of whom made a quick exit upon the conclusion of the main event.

“Masvidal and Nate Diaz, you’re some bitches for leaving this arena,” noted Paul. “I know you don’t want this shit. I’ll take on both of y’all next. Just get out of your contract with daddy Dana (White, UFC President). I’mma fuck them up too.”

If not either of them, then onto the next one.

“Anyone, anytime, anyplace,” insisted Paul. ANYONE. ANYTIME. ANYPLACE. It’s every fuckin’ day bro.”

Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox