Could 2027 be the year that Jake Paul finally gets in the MMA cage? PFL CEO John Martin thinks so.
"Jake is very serious about doing MMA next year," Martin said Wednesday on "The Ariel Helwani Show."
Paul, the YouTube star turned boxer, has talked about fighting in MMA for years. He signed a deal with the PFL in 2023, but he ultimately never fought for the promotion, instead choosing to focus on his boxing career.
But the PFL's recent merger with Paul's company, Most Valuable Promotions, has once again sparked conversations about his potential transition to MMA.
MVP and the PFL announced in July that they were joining forces to create a new combat sports company focusing on both MMA and boxing. It will operate under the MVP brand beginning in January.
Martin said he hopes an MMA bout between Paul and former UFC star Nate Diaz comes to fruition. Paul and Diaz squared off in the boxing ring in 2023, with Paul earning a unanimous decision win.
"That'd be a lot of fun," Martin said of a possible rematch under MMA rules.
Martin added that there's also been talk about UFC pioneer Royce Gracie training Paul for his MMA debut.
Paul, 29, hasn't fought since suffering a knockout loss to former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua last December.
