Popular YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul is already searching for his first opponent in MMA. He signed with the PFL a while back but clarified that he would need some time to prepare for his MMA debut.
Paul will now be leading a “super-fight division” outside the regular season. This division will serve as the platform for his highly anticipated MMA debut, scheduled for 2024. Alongside his business partner Nakisa Bidarian, Paul is determined to find a worthy adversary for the match.
PFL owner Donn Davis expressed confidence in the marketing abilities of Nakisa and Jake. He also stated that the much-anticipated MMA debut of Jake Paul is expected to take place in either the first or second quarter of 2024.
Davis told SunSport: “Nobody is smarter than Nakisa and Jake for scouting and marketing Jake’s opponents, and they’re on it. We’ve always said consistently that’s going to be in the first or second quarter of 2024 and I still consider the first or second quarter of 2024 as when you will see Jake’s MMA debut.”
In February, the 26-year-old Paul suffered his first defeat at the hands of Tommy Fury. He ended up losing the match via a split decision in Saudi Arabia.
Despite the opportunity for a rematch against Fury, Paul declined. He opted to return to the ring on August 5th against former UFC star Nate Diaz, who will be making his professional boxing debut.
Consequently, Paul’s MMA debut will be delayed until the following year. Nevertheless, Donn Davis and the PFL will continue to benefit from Paul’s exceptional promotional skills during this period.
Davis shared his insights, stating: “We always thought Jake would have two kinds of impact. The first – which was think will be bigger – is just as a brilliant marketer. Jake has more social media followers himself than then UFC, just to put it into perspective. So how does he bring his voice, his audience, his social, his marketing, to events that he’s not fighting in.”
“And you’ll see more and more of that happening once he gets through his Diaz fight. And the second is obviously his debut in MMA and the excitement and spectacle that will bring.”