According to a PFL executive, Jake Paul has no intention of putting his boxing career on hold to transition into MMA.
More than two years have passed since Paul inked an exclusive deal with the PFL in January 2023 to make his cage debut. In partnership with the New York-based MMA promotion, “The Problem Child” launched the PPV Super Fight division, a pay-per-view platform designed to give fighters a 50% share of event profits.
Since then, the 28-year-old Ohio native has repeatedly teased his MMA debut, stirring the pot by calling out UFC superstars like Conor McGregor, Nate Diaz, and other big-name fighters for a matchup in the cage.
Despite assurances from PFL chairman Donn Davis that Jake Paul will make his SmartCage debut in 2025, there has been minimal movement in that direction. Instead, the YouTuber-turned-prizefighter has kept his attention firmly on his flourishing boxing career, stepping into the ring for six bouts between February 2023 and November 2024.
And according to PFL Europe’s Head of Fighter Operations, Dan Hardy, it’s unlikely that anything will change for Paul anytime soon.
During a recent interview with MMA Fighting, Hardy noted that it’s increasingly improbable that “The Problem Child” will hit pause on his boxing career to make the switch to MMA.
“Do we ever see him in MMA? I don’t think so,” Hardy said. “I think he’s pretty focused on boxing. It’s a lot of work for him to cross over to mixed martial arts, and he’s not going to fight anybody that you’ve never heard of before. It’s going to have to be a decent name or otherwise people won’t watch it. Even old guys in MMA could still handle business, I think, with Jake Paul.”
Paul was last seen in action in November, where he secured a unanimous decision victory over the legendary Mike Tyson. “The Problem Child” was also reportedly in talks for a high-profile showdown with multi-division champion Canelo Alvarez. However, those negotiations ultimately fell through when Alvarez signed a high-paying, exclusive contract under the Riyadh Season banner.
Paul has now shifted his focus to a potential showdown with former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua in 2026, even boldly predicting that he has what it takes to defeat him.
