For anyone doubting Jake Paul’s intention to try mixed martial arts, he insists it’s going to happen. It just won’t come before he gets at least one more boxing match in.
Speaking with commentator Sean O’Connell on this past Friday’s 2023 PFL 2 broadcast, Paul teased when his MMA debut could happen and what he’ll focus on in training before it does.
“It’s looking like end of 2023, maybe beginning 2024. But I’m really excited,” Paul said. “Even just watching (the PFL 2 fights) has got me hyped up. I’ve been training jiu-jitsu a little bit and getting back to my wrestling roots. I grew up wrestling in Ohio, Division I, have that background. So I really just have to focus on learning the kicks. I need about a year or so, and then I’m gonna be ready.”
Paul, 26, kicked off 2023 by announcing in January the big news that he signed with PFL to compete in a super fight division expected to take place on pay-per-view. The signing came after Paul, who rose to fame as a social media influencer before becoming a professional boxer, spent more than a year taking aim at UFC president Dana White on the issue of fighter pay and feuding with a number of big-name UFC fighters.
Four of Paul’s seven boxing fights have come against former MMA champions. Paul beat Ben Askren by vicious first-round TKO in April 2021 and then twice defeated Tyron Woodley (by split decision and sixth-round knockout) later that year. Paul also won a unanimous decision against Anderson Silva in October 2022.
Fighting MMA guys led to calls fans wanting to see Paul step inside a cage, which will happen (eventually) with the PFL. Paul said he isn’t looking for some kind of warm-up fight, either.
“Excited to be doing it with the PFL, and hopefully we can lock down a big name,” Paul said. “I want to challenge myself. People think I’m crazy, which I am, but I like doing things differently. Since the beginning of this whole ‘influencer boxing thing,’ I’ve always said that I’ve wanted to do MMA. So for me, I’m excited to do it and to be doing it with the PFL.”
.@jakepaul plotting out his next move 🤔#PFLRegularSeason LIVE NOW
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🌎 https://t.co/jPNvomD5xg pic.twitter.com/FeelLvhVny— PFL (@PFLMMA) April 8, 2023
But first, more boxing as Paul (6-1) is looking to rebound from the first loss of his career, a split decision against Tommy Fury this past February. Paul long has been linked to a showdown with Nate Diaz, but he didn’t specify if that could be his next opponent in the ring.
Paul is weighing his options.
“I’m revisiting the drawing board, going back to the basics, changing some things around with my team, and we’re assessing who it is that I’m gonna fight next,” Paul said. “There are some really big names out there. We’re talking to multiple different teams, trying to make another massive fight. So stay tuned and hopefully you’ll hear an announcement from me soon.”
