Former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou doesn’t just want to fight Jake Paul, but to teach the polarizing boxer a brutal lesson.

Former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou and polarizing boxer/influencer Jake Paul used to be on cordial terms during their roles in the Professional Fighters’ League. But mere years after both athletes joined the PFL, both recently parted ways, and things have taken a turn in their relationship in a hurry.

Ngannou will make his Mixed Martial Arts return on May 16th at Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions upcoming event, headlined by Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano. This will mark Ngannou’s first MMA fight since finishing former PFL champion Renan Ferreira in October 2024.

Ngannou is laser-focused on his upcoming heavyweight opponent, Philipe Lins, ahead of his highly-anticipated return to the cage. But a potential boxing match with Paul remains an option on the table, after Ngannou turned down a short-notice bout against Paul last year.

Paul recently lost to Ngannou’s former foe, Anthony Joshua, in the first TKO/KO defeat of his boxing career. While Paul’s combat sports return timeline remains unclear following the loss to Joshua, he and Ngannou started to plant promotional seeds for a possible showdown.

WATCH: Francis Ngannou, Jake Paul trade barbs over potential boxing match: ‘You ran!’

Watch Ngannou and Paul trade barbs at the Rousey vs. Carano press conference below.

Francis Ngannou: “I’m not interested in fighting Jake Paul, I’m interested in beating his ass.”

Jake Paul: “I’m down. You ran like a duck.”

👀👀👀 pic.twitter.com/icGjG5RNiF

— Happy Punch (@HappyPunch) March 10, 2026

Ngannou hasn’t appeared in the boxing ring since losing by knockout to Joshua, and is 0-2 in his professional boxing career. Paul has accumulated a 12-2 record in boxing, including recent wins over Mike Perry, Mike Tyson, and Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.

If Ngannou is victorious in his MMA return against Lins, don’t be surprised if Paul is his post-fight callout target.

What is your prediction for a possible Francis Ngannou vs. Jake Paul boxing match? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!