Jake Paul targets Nate Diaz for long-awaited MMA fight

Jake Paul believes a mixed martial arts debut could be in his future once he returns from the jaw injury that has sidelined him since losing to Anthony Joshua.

Paul recently revealed that he expects to be medically cleared for full-contact sparring within the next few weeks as he continues recovering from the broken jaw he suffered against Joshua last December. Apart from his return to boxing, "The Problem Child” said that he also plans to make his MMA debut under the Most Valuable Promotions banner.

Paul says the proposed Nate Diaz matchup remains a possibility as MVP expands into MMA.

Now weeks away from getting cleared for full-contact sparring, Paul has revealed that he is planning a switch to the cage, with Nate Diaz as the likely opponent. Notably, Diaz has already fought under MVP, losing to Mike Perry at the promotion’s inaugural MMA event.

“Maybe I'll do some MMA. We've got a lot of stuff with MVP coming soon, big promotions getting more into the whole MMA world,” Paul said during an appearance on "The Pat McAfee Show." “The feud between MVP MMA and UFC continues... We've been trying to make the Nate Diaz MMA fight happen for a long time and I think it's still on the table, so we'll see what happens.”

Paul further revealed that he’s never trained in MMA and will need to learn kicking and grappling before his maiden bout.

“I’ve never practiced MMA, but I’ve wrestled and boxed so I just need to learn the kicks and jiu-jitsu… I’m part Jewish, so I feel like I’d be good at jiu-jitsu! See what I did there?” he joked.

Jake Paul wants to fight Nate Diaz in MMA

“I’ve never practiced MMA, but I’m like part Jewish, so I feel like I’d be good at jiu jitsu.”

(via @PatMcAfeeShow) pic.twitter.com/HOkShc0S54— Happy Punch (@HappyPunch) July 15, 2026