UFC legend Michael Bisping has sent Mike Tyson a warning over his upcoming clash with Jake Paul after the rules for the Netflix mega-fight were confirmed.

Tyson, 57, will return to the ring to face Paul, 27, on July 20 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas in what will be a fully professional bout.

While it was initially expected to be an exhibition, a shock announcement earlier this week confirmed the heavyweight fight would be judged under professional rules.

The fight will be contested over eight, two-minute rounds with each fighter using 14-ounce gloves, with the outcome affecting both of their professional boxing records.

The decision by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulations to sanction the fight is a controversial one, given the huge age difference between the two fighters and the fact Tyson will be 58 by the time of the event.

Former UFC champion Bisping has criticised Paul for accepting the fight and says Tyson must win with an early stoppage, believing he is almost certain to lose if the bout reaches the fourth round.

“If Jake Paul loses, listen, it’s Mike Tyson, but still, come on,” Bisping said on his Believe You Me podcast.

“He’s 58-years-old but stop it [if you lose] never show your face again. Then if Jake Paul knocks out a 58-year-old man that’s called elderly abuse. You can’t win here. Other than a lot of money.

“It’s only two minutes but if you’ve never boxed or fought you underestimate how long two minutes is.

“Mike Tyson, yeah he’s 58 and the rounds are only two minutes long, I think he’s still going to get tired after three rounds.

“That said Jake Paul leaves tremendously massive openings and he’s never fought anyone like Mike Tyson. He went the distance with Nate Diaz, he beat Nate Diaz and I’m not s***ing on him because he’s great, a cult icon.”

Tyson and Paul are set to break a long-standing boxing record when they finally meet in the ring.

That 31-year age gap will be the biggest in the history of professional boxing, surpassing the 24-year age gap between Archie Moore, 49, and Mike DiBiase, 25, when they fought in 1963.

Mike Tyson reveals the shock item on his bucket list amid Jake Paul fight

Mike Tyson has revealed a surprising item on his bucket list.

Mike Tyson has revealed a surprising item on his bucket list.

Last month it was announced the former unified heavyweight champion Tyson would be taking on Jake Paul at the AT&T Arena on July 20 in Texas.

The fight, which will be streamed on Netflix, has caused much controversy given the age gap between 57-year-old Tyson and his 27-year-old counterpart, who has ten professional fights to his name.

The YouTuber-turned-boxer has a record of nine victories, mostly against former UFC fighters, and one defeat, against Tommy Fury.

Meanwhile, Tyson has, of course, been in the public eye since the Eighties, with the boxer becoming the youngest heavyweight champion in history aged 20 in his 28th professional bout.

A year later, in 1987, he went on to become the first heavyweight to hold the WBA, WBC and IBF titles and propelled himself to legendary status.

While he has long been household name, it has emerged that Tyson shares his name with another famous athlete – former second baseman and shortstop for the St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago Cubs between 1972 and 1981.

And Tyson once claimed that one of the items on his bucket list was to meet his namesake and former Major League Baseball star.

Mike Tyson (left) played for the St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago Cubs (Getty)

Speaking to NY Sportsday in 2016, Tyson said: “I always wanted to meet Mike Tyson, the famous baseball player from the St. Louis Cardinals.

“He was always my hero because somebody famous was named Mike Tyson. I was always proud of that.

“I always felt special because of that. I knew I was going to be somebody someday because there was already a famous Mike Tyson out there.

“Isn’t that crazy? Somebody else has your name and they’re famous? I always wanted to tell him that. To meet him, that would be awesome. That’s on my bucket list.”