The world of combat sports is abuzz with the latest news surrounding Jake Paul’s potential foray into the realm of mixed martial arts. The YouTube sensation-turned-boxer, who has captivated audiences with his unconventional path in the fight game, is now reportedly considering a long-awaited MMA debut, and a familiar foe, Tommy Fury, may be the one to welcome him into the cage.
According to Paul’s manager, Nakisa Bidarian, the possibility of the YouTuber making his MMA debut in 2025 is firmly on the table. Bidarian revealed that the team has been actively exploring potential opponents, with Fury being one of the names discussed.
“Look, his goal is to fight in MMA, but everything needs to align for that to be the case,” Bidarian told the MMA Hour. “I think 2025 makes a lot of sense for that, it’s just about finding the right opponent. We’ve talked to Tommy Fury about doing a boxing rematch, and if the winner was to win, then we would do a trilogy in the PFL.”
The potential MMA showdown between Paul and Fury would be a continuation of their burgeoning rivalry, which began in the boxing ring. In February 2023, Fury handed Paul his first professional defeat, and the YouTube star is determined to avenge that loss.
Bidarian acknowledged the significance of that initial encounter, stating, “He does want to fight Tommy Fury again to make that right. That [fight] really is about legacy, because that was the first young boxer he faced.”
The manager also addressed the challenges Paul faced leading up to the first Fury fight, revealing that the YouTuber was dealing with an allergy to dust, which had a detrimental impact on his performance.
“He found two weeks before that fight that he was allergic to dust, and his entire camp was in Dubai, so we’re never making that mistake again,” Bidarian explained. “He still put on a valiant effort that night, he definitely was drained weight-wise, hence why he didn’t have the same energy and hence why cruiserweight is the right weight for him.”
