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With a high-profile boxing match against Mike Tyson set for November, Jake Paul is aiming to make his MMA debut beforehand at UFC 303, targeting bantamweight champion Sean O'Malley.
Initially scheduled to face Tyson on July 20, Paul's fight was postponed to November 15 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, due to a medical issue with the boxing legend. Now, Paul is looking to stay active by stepping into the cage for the first time, targeting a crossover bout between the UFC and PFL later this month.
“100% will kill O’Malley in MMA,” Paul wrote on X. “He’s a small man. PFL Vs UFC June 29th.”
O'Malley, the current UFC bantamweight champion, fights at 135 pounds. In contrast, Paul, who is preparing for a heavyweight boxing bout against Tyson, weighed in at 200 pounds for his last fight against Ryan Bourland in March. This size disparity adds an intriguing, albeit highly improbable, element to Paul's challenge.
Paul signed a multi-fight contract with the PFL in January to compete in their Super Fight pay-per-view events. Initially, PFL CEO Pete Murray indicated that Paul would make his MMA debut in 2025 following the Tyson fight. However, with the postponement of the Tyson bout, Paul seems eager to accelerate his timeline.
While the prospect of Paul fighting O'Malley in the octagon is virtually non-existent, the possibility of Paul making his MMA debut against a more appropriately sized opponent under the PFL banner remains. UFC 303, already facing uncertainty due to the potential cancellation of the Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler main event, could see some unexpected shake-ups if Paul's plans come to fruition.
PFL is set to host 2024 PFL 6 on June 28, just a day before UFC 303. Given the promotion's previous statements on handling Paul’s MMA debut, it seems unlikely he would fight on such short notice. However, Paul's unpredictable nature means anything is possible.
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