Dan Hardy Doubts Jake Paul Will Ever Fight in MMA

It has been over two years since Jake Paul signed with the Professional Fighters League (PFL), with plans to represent the brand and eventually compete in mixed martial arts.

While Paul has hinted at an MMA career, the 28-year-old boxer appears more dedicated to boxing, especially after his high-profile 2024 bout against Mike Tyson, broadcast on Netflix. Recently, Paul has targeted boxing figures like Anthony Joshua and reignited his rivalry with Tommy Fury, his only boxing defeat. Talk of his MMA debut has significantly decreased.

PFL commentator Dan Hardy, who once suggested a Paul versus Nate Diaz fight as ideal for Paul`s MMA entry, now believes it`s increasingly improbable that “The Problem Child,” also known as “El Gallo,” will actually transition to MMA.

“Will we ever see him in MMA? I doubt it,” Hardy told MMA Fighting. “I think his focus is firmly on boxing.”

“Switching to mixed martial arts requires significant effort, and he won`t face unknown opponents. To attract viewers, he needs to fight established names. Even veteran MMA fighters could likely defeat Jake Paul in MMA,” Hardy suggested.

Early in his boxing career, Paul gained notoriety by defeating MMA fighters who crossed over to boxing, including Ben Askren, Tyron Woodley, Anderson Silva, Nate Diaz, and Mike Perry.

To compete in MMA, Paul would likely need to pause his boxing career for several months to train in the necessary MMA skills for a promotion like PFL.

Furthermore, Paul was reportedly close to securing a boxing match with Canelo Alvarez before the deal fell apart when Alvarez signed with Turki Alalshikh and Riyadh Season in Saudi Arabia.

Currently, Paul seems to be prioritizing the biggest possible boxing matches.

While circumstances can change, Paul seems to have shifted MMA to the back burner to concentrate on his boxing career.

“I don’t see him moving towards MMA at all, from my perspective,” Hardy stated. “He called out Anthony Joshua recently, didn`t he? He`s certainly keeping the combat sports world interesting.”

“He is definitely a disruptor, and that`s his main role right now. He benefits the PFL in that aspect as well.”