Jake Paul targets 2027 for MMA debut

Jake Paul has set 2027 as his target year for an MMA debut, following the merger of his Most Valuable Promotions organization with the PFL. The boxer-turned-influencer, speaking to ESPN, confirmed that negotiations have long been underway to transition from boxing into mixed martial arts competition.

"I've been trying to make it happen for a long time," Paul said. "I'm going to come back hopefully later this year into boxing and then looking to do MMA in 2027." Paul has built a boxing resume that includes bouts against Anderson Silva, Nate Diaz, Mike Tyson, and Anthony Joshua—the latter handing Paul his second professional boxing loss in December.

Paul's MMA ambitions are not new. He signed a multi-year deal with PFL in 2023, though his contract ended in 2026 without him ever competing under MMA rules. The MVP-PFL merger creates what Paul views as a formidable alternative to the UFC, combining the MVP roster with PFL's deep fighter pool—approximately 400 athletes combined—and leveraging recent viewership records. The inaugural MVP MMA event, headlined by Ronda Rousey versus Gina Carano on Netflix, peaked at 17 million viewers for the main event.

Despite his boxing pedigree and Division-I wrestling background from his high school days in Ohio, Paul acknowledged he has yet to train in MMA. "I've never even done a single day of MMA training," he admitted. He expects the transition to involve splitting his preparation across boxing, kickboxing, kicks, jiu-jitsu, and wrestling—a workflow he's never attempted before. Paul believes the combined MVP-PFL organization, with increased capital and infrastructure, now positions them to compete directly with the UFC for fighter talent and audience viewership.