Featured Image Credit: Jake Paul/ X
Topics: Boxing, MMA, Jake Paul, Mike Tyson, UFC, Sean O'Malley
Ben McCrum
Topics: Boxing, MMA, Jake Paul, Mike Tyson, UFC, Sean O'Malley
Weeks after postponing his fight with Mike Tyson, Jake Paul may have announced his Mixed Martial Arts debut.
YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul was set to fight legendary heavyweight Mike Tyson in a boxing bout on July 20 in Arlington, Texas.
But due to an ulcer flare up which temporarily ruled Tyson out of training, the fight was postponed to November 15.
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Rumours have suggested that Paul may now be facing UFC veteran Mike Perry in a replacement boxing match this summer.
But, in a recent post on X, the 27-year-old has teased that he may instead be making his debut in MMA on June 29 and could be facing a current UFC champion.
In the video, Paul faces off with UFC bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley, with the pair shoving each other after exchanging some heated words.
Paul is currently signed with the Professional Fighters League (PFL), another MMA organisation hoping to rival the UFC.
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The bout with O’Malley would be the first-time fighters from the two organisations have clashed.
However, it is unlikely that the bout will go ahead, with UFC president Dana White publicly critical of the PFL.
Speaking after the historic UFC 300 event, White said: “There were more people in my green room tonight [at UFC 300] than there were at the [PFL event on Friday]."
UFC fighters typically are not permitted to fight outside of the organisation, with Conor McGregor’s infamous boxing bout with Floyd Mayweather the most notable exception.
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While it was not the only reason, Francis Ngannou refused to sign a new UFC contract after his final fight with Ciryl Gane because he wanted to pursue a career in boxing.
Ngannou went on to sign for the PFL and has since fought twice as a heavyweight boxer, against Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua.
O’Malley is a close friend of Paul’s older brother Logan, with the pair previously seen partying together and therefore, it is also plausible that this is simply a publicity stunt for Paul’s new men’s personal care brand.
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If Paul and O’Malley were to fight, there would also be a difficult situation regarding the weight class.
Jake Paul typically fights at cruiserweight (200lbs/91kg) whereas Sean O’Malley reigns over the UFC’s bantamweight division (135lbs/61kg).