Jake Paul, who signed with the PFL over two years ago to eventually transition into MMA, appears increasingly focused on his boxing career, staging high-profile matches and targeting notable opponents like Anthony Joshua, while any plans for an MMA debut seem to have diminished.
It’s been over two years since Jake Paul inked a deal with the PFL. Not just as an ambassador, but also to eventually step into the MMA cage.
Despite his MMA teases, Paul’s focus seems glued to boxing. He recently staged a massive showdown against Mike Tyson on Netflix. Oh, and he’s been poking at Anthony Joshua and reviving beef with Tommy Fury—his sole loss in boxing.
Dan Hardy, a PFL analyst, once saw Paul vs. Nate Diaz as an ideal MMA debut for the influencer-turned-fighter. Now? Not so much.
“Do we ever see him in MMA? I don’t think so,” Hardy confessed to MMA Fighting. “He’s pretty focused on boxing.
“Switching to MMA is tough work. He’s not gonna fight no-names; it needs to be someone notable. Even MMA veterans could likely handle Jake.”
When Paul started boxing professionally, he took down MMA fighters like Ben Askren and Tyron Woodley. Later, he bested Anderson Silva, Nate Diaz, and Mike Perry.
Reversing roles to enter MMA would mean pausing boxing for months—maybe longer—to master new skills for PFL competition.
Things got trickier when a potential fight with Canelo Alvarez fizzled out. Canelo signed a last-minute deal in Saudi Arabia instead. Ouch.
In short, Paul’s eyes are on big-time boxing matches right now.
Nothing’s set in stone, but it looks like MMA is on the back burner while Paul chases boxing glory.
“I’m not seeing him making any moves in that direction,” Hardy noted. “He called out Anthony Joshua recently, didn’t he? Keeps things spicy in combat sports.”
“He’s definitely a disruptor,” Hardy added. “That’s his main role now—and it benefits the PFL too.”