Jake Paul is defending the choice of opponent for Francis Ngannou's return to MMA on May 16. The former UFC heavyweight champion will face Philipe Lins on Netflix's first MMA event.
The matchup has drawn criticism from fans who expect Ngannou to easily defeat the relatively unknown Brazilian. Lins was released by the UFC in 2024 despite winning his last four fights with the promotion.
Paul Calls Lins 'Very Challenging' Opponent
Speaking on Theo Von's This Past Weekend podcast, Paul pushed back against the narrative that Lins will be an easy fight. He revealed that another, bigger-name opponent was considered but would have been easier for Ngannou.
"He's very f—— good," Paul said about Lins. "It's a more dangerous fight than — who did we have as the other opponent? We had a different name, who was a bigger name and an easier fight for (Ngannou)."
"Francis, we joke around about a fight and blah, blah, blah...but like, respect to him for doing this. It's a very challenging fight," Paul added.
Ngannou Returns After PFL Stint
Ngannou became a free agent after his three-year stint with the PFL ended following just one fight with the promotion. The Cameroonian has won six of his last seven fights via knockout, including his 2021 victory over Stipe Miocic to capture the UFC heavyweight championship.
Rico Verhoeven was reportedly offered the Ngannou fight but declined, having already committed to a boxing match with Oleksandr Usyk promoted by Turki Alalshikh. The Netflix event marks Ngannou's first MMA bout since 2024.
