Jake Paul backs himself to beat MMA’s biggest stars in boxing and wants to fight them all.
The American has gone as far as to say that he’s even previously offered Paddy Pimblett $1million and a private jet to fly over for a sparring match, but the response was ‘radio silence’.
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Paul says MMA fighters like Pimblett and Ilia Topuria ‘act like they’re better than they are to the world’Credit: Getty
Paul, who broke his jaw in two places in his last fight against Anthony Joshua, has been in a war of words with UFC CEO Dana White throughout his career.
Paul’s war with the UFC
‘The Problem Child’ has frequently targeted the UFC’s fighter pay model, adding that he’d have no issue bringing White’s best fighters over to boxing to beat them in the ring.
This has prompted many of the sport’s elites to question Paul’s legitimacy as a ‘real’ fighter.
In February, Paul continued the war by trading X-rated, verbal blows with UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria on a live stream with popular creator Adin Ross.
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Topuria said Paul ‘sucks’ as a boxer, so the latter challenged the champion to a sparring bout to settle the debate.
This week, Paul continued to stir the pot regarding his thoughts on facing MMA fighters in boxing, something he says they all want to do.
“I’ve proven it time and time again with the best strikers from MMA by beating them pretty easily at an earlier point in my career,” Paul told Complex News.
Paul has wins on his record over many former UFC fighters, including Anderson Silva, Nate Diaz and Mike Perry.
Diaz and Perry fight one another under Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) next month, as part of a stacked Ronda Rousey vs Gina Carano card for Netflix’s first MMA show.
Paul: Topuria would be ‘warm-up’ for me in boxing
He continued: “So when they say they can beat me in boxing or whatever, what they’re saying is a joke to me.
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Paul has put together a massive card for MVP and Netflix’s first-ever MMA eventCredit: Getty
“And I finally just want someone to get in there with me.
“I tried to send a jet to Paddy Pimblett, actually, to spar. I was going to give him a million dollars, and then it’s just radio silence.
“I’m guessing it’ll be the same with Topuria. They say publicly when they’re on live streams, ‘I’ll do it right now.’ And then when it goes to happen, it just doesn’t come to fruition.
“We will see, and I have respect for him. But in a boxing match, that’s honestly a warm-up for me. All jokes aside.
“If we did MMA, he would probably win. But you just have to know the truth, and these fighters try to boast too much and act like they’re better than they are to the world.”
Speaking on a future contest against Topuria, Paul concluded: “It would be like playing with a little toy, I’m not even kidding.
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Paul wants the UFC’s biggest stars to get in the ring with him and back up their wordCredit: Getty
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The American believes Topuria would be easy work in the ringCredit: Getty
“Also, he’s like 5’5”. If we were the same weight and height, it would probably be closer.
“I would still beat him, but he can’t even ride rollercoasters; the guy’s tiny.”
One of the biggest talking points around Paul’s Netflix show has been the money MVP are paying their fighters.
Main eventer Rousey has blasted the UFC for its ‘poverty-level’ pay in the build-up, claiming those on her card are making a minimum of $40,000.
This is why Paul continues to fire shots in the direction of the UFC’s big names, saying they’re shying away from him.
Paul says UFC stars should follow Ngannou
Paul believes UFC fighters should follow a similar path to Francis Ngannou, who faces Philipe Lins as the co-main event to Rousey-Carano on May 16.
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Ngannou left the UFC in 2022 after a contract dispute with White and accepted two lucrative boxing fights against Tyson Fury and Joshua, before contesting his only bout with the PFL.
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Paul says Ngannou is ‘making more than the whole UFC roster combined,’ having now signed with MVP.
Although Paul denied any ‘poaching’ tactics, there’s no doubt MVP are keeping an eye on the best of the best in the UFC.