Controversial social media star turned boxer Jake Paul has sparked debate in the combat sports world with his latest comments about mixed martial arts, claiming the sport is becoming a less refined version of boxing.
Speaking in a recent interview, Paul offered his candid assessment of MMA’s current state and its comparison to boxing.
“MMA is not what it was, that’s the truth of the matter. Boxing is bigger than ever – the biggest sporting event of the year in 2024 was boxing, whereas MMA is becoming a shittier version of boxing essentially,” Paul stated.
The 27-year-old elaborated on his perspective, suggesting that the evolution of MMA athletes’ defensive skills has fundamentally changed the sport’s nature.
“Everyone is getting good takedown defense and everyone’s a black belt in jiu jitsu. There’s no more submissions, really. There’s not a lot of takedowns, and even if there is, it’s boring,” Paul explained.
He pointed to UFC champion Alex Pereira as an example, saying, “Guess who the biggest star of the sport is in MMA? Alex Pereira, who’s a kick boxer, because he’s knocking everyone out… because no one can take him down, no one can submit him.”
Paul concluded by comparing the longevity of both sports, expressing skepticism about MMA’s future while highlighting boxing’s historical persistence: “Boxing is going to stand the test of time because it has – it’s been since the 1500s, so five, six hundred years of boxing. I don’t think MMA…”
These comments have already begun generating significant discussion across social media platforms, with fans and athletes from both sports weighing in on Paul’s controversial take.
