Jake Paul could finally make his MMA debut in 2027
After years of talking about stepping into a cage, Jake Paul may finally be getting serious about an MMA debut. PFL CEO John Martin says Paul is targeting 2027 for his first professional mixed martial arts fight.
“Jake is very serious about doing MMA next year,” Martin said during an appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show.
It is hardly the first time Paul and MMA have appeared in the same sentence. The YouTuber-turned-boxer signed with the PFL in 2023 and repeatedly teased competing under MMA rules, but his boxing career always remained the priority. No cage debut materialized.
The situation looks a little different now. PFL recently joined forces with Paul’s MVP, creating a combat sports business built around both boxing and MMA. The combined operation is set to move forward under the MVP brand beginning in January, making Paul's involvement on the MMA side considerably easier to imagine than it was a few years ago.
Nate Diaz rematch could move from boxing to MMA
The obvious opponent is Nate Diaz. Paul defeated the longtime UFC fan favorite by unanimous decision in their 2023 boxing match, but an MMA rematch would completely reverse the competitive dynamic.
Martin openly backed the idea, describing Paul vs. Diaz under MMA rules as a fight he would like to see happen.
For Paul, that would be an enormous jump in difficulty. He has spent years developing as a boxer, but MMA would force him to deal with kicks, takedowns, clinch work and submissions against an opponent who spent most of his professional career competing under those rules.
Love him or hate him, Jake Paul took the ultimate risk stepping in with AJ 💀 pic.twitter.com/apX3xPvy0J
— SportsFlix (@sportflixx) August 19, 2026
Paul has already shown a willingness to take unusual risks in boxing, most recently stepping in with former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua and suffering a knockout defeat last December. An MMA fight would represent another dramatic change of direction.
Royce Gracie could help prepare Jake Paul for MMA
Perhaps the most interesting detail from Martin was the suggestion that Royce Gracie could become involved in Paul's preparation.
Gracie is one of the foundational figures in UFC history, using Brazilian jiu-jitsu to win three of the promotion's first four tournaments and helping introduce submission grappling to a huge mainstream audience. If he did join Paul's camp, the work could go well beyond submissions and takedown defense. Gracie's jiu-jitsu was built in the gi, where the jacket and pants create grips that change how athletes control posture, position and escapes; traditional BJJ gis remain a fundamental part of that style of training today. For a boxer whose biggest technical gap would be on the ground, that kind of introduction could make plenty of sense.
Nothing has been formally announced regarding an opponent, date or training arrangement, but the conversation around Paul fighting MMA now appears to have moved beyond the occasional social-media tease. With PFL and MVP operating together and Martin publicly discussing both Diaz and Gracie, 2027 may finally be the year Paul tests himself inside a cage.
Jake Paul MMA Debut FAQ
Is Jake Paul going to fight MMA?
PFL CEO John Martin says Jake Paul is serious about making his MMA debut in 2027, although no fight has officially been announced.
Could Jake Paul fight Nate Diaz in MMA?
Yes. Martin has publicly discussed a possible MMA rematch between Paul and Nate Diaz. Paul defeated Diaz by unanimous decision in their 2023 boxing match.
When could Jake Paul make his MMA debut?
According to Martin, 2027 is being discussed as the potential year for Paul's first MMA fight.
Did Jake Paul sign with PFL?
Yes. Paul originally signed a deal with PFL in 2023 but continued concentrating on boxing instead of making his MMA debut.
Could Royce Gracie train Jake Paul?
Martin said there has been discussion about Royce Gracie helping Paul prepare for his transition into MMA, although no formal training partnership has been confirmed.
What is the connection between Jake Paul, MVP and PFL?
Paul co-founded MVP, which has joined forces with PFL as part of a new combat sports operation covering both boxing and MMA.