Tensions are ramping up between former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou and Jake Paul ahead of a potential boxing showdown.<\/p>\n
Just minutes after former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou\u2019s triumphant return to Mixed Martial Arts, he and polarizing boxing star Jake Paul began to plant the seeds of a future fight.<\/p>\n
Ngannou and Paul were once business partners in the Professional Fighters League, before things took a swift turn in recent months. After Paul\u2019s TKO loss to Anthony Joshua in his most recent boxing outing, Ngannou struck a nerve with Paul in mocking his performance in the ring.<\/p>\n
Things came to a head at the first Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano pre-fight press conference<\/a> earlier this year, when Ngannou and Paul traded barbs, and Ngannou threatened to \u2018beat Jake\u2019s a**\u2019. Before Paul agreed to fight Joshua last year, Ngannou was offered and declined a short-notice fight<\/a> with Paul, escalating ongoing tensions.<\/p>\n Ngannou returned to the win column with an impressive knockout of Philipe Lins on the Rousey vs. Carano main card last Saturday in Los Angeles. In his post-fight interview, Ngannou seemed to entertain potential showdowns with Paul and Jon Jones for his next fighting appearance.<\/p>\n Things didn\u2019t end there, however, as Ngannou and Paul got into a heated exchange backstage, which Ngannou\u2019s media team captured.<\/p>\n WATCH: Francis Ngannou and Jake Paul enter new stage of feud after Rousey vs. Carano<\/p>\n Watch Ngannou and Paul trade barbs and plant the seeds of a potential fight below<\/a>.<\/p>\n \ud83d\ude2c Behind the scenes footage shows a heated exchange between Francis Ngannou and Jake Paul:<\/p>\n \u26a1\ufe0fFrancis: \u201cAre you scared?\u201d<\/p>\n \u26a1\ufe0fJake: \u201cNo, never\u201d<\/p>\n \u26a1\ufe0fFrancis: \u201cYou should be\u201d<\/p>\n \ud83c\udfa5 @francis_ngannou<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/RMLY4Dzs9f<\/a><\/p>\n