Jake Paul Teases MMA Bout With Nate Diaz on Hypothetical UFC vs. PFL Fight Card

Paul has proposed a star-studded fight card where he could make his MMA debut against Diaz.

The PFL’s recent acquisition of Francis Ngannou has inspired Jake Paul to propose a UFC vs. PFL event that would feature some of the biggest names from both promotions.

The news that Ngannou had signed with the PFL was somewhat overshadowed by Dana White’s huge slate of fight announcements on Tuesday night, but the end to the former UFC heavyweight champion’s saga as a free agent was still a massive headline for combat sports fans. 

It didn’t take long for Paul to react to the news that Ngannou had joined the same promotion that “The Problem Child” inked a deal with earlier this year, and in a recent tweet, Paul suggested the UFC and PFL work together to co-promote an event on their shared network of ESPN.

READ MORE: Here's What Francis Ngannou Told Dana White Before Leaving UFC

Or let’s have PFL and UFC work together and put on a massive event on ESPN.

Ngannou vs Jones,
Nunes vs Harrison,
Edwards vs Doumbe
& of course Diaz vs Paul after I knock his ass out in boxing.

Francis, Kayla, Cedric you in? https://t.co/39HKkc1yiu

— Jake Paul (@jakepaul) May 16, 2023

“Or let’s have PFL and UFC work together and put on a massive event on ESPN. Ngannou vs Jones, Nunes vs Harrison, Edwards vs Doumbe & of course Diaz vs Paul after I knock his a** out in boxing. Francis, Kayla, Cedric you in?”

As unlikely as a crossover event between the PFL and UFC may be, Paul’s proposed fight card certainly provides a list of matchups that would be intriguing for fight fans. Jon Jones claimed the vacant heavyweight title at UFC 285 following Ngannou’s exit from the promotion, and both men have already traded words online following the news that “The Predator" had joined the PFL.

Cédric Doumbé was linked to the UFC on several occasions before signing with the PFL last week, and the decorated kickboxer could provide an interesting challenge for the UFC’s reigning welterweight champion Leon Edwards. No significant PFL event could ever be complete without also including Kayla Harrison, who is arguably the biggest star in the promotion’s history and would be matched up with two-division UFC champion Amanda Nunes on Paul’s proposed fight card.

READ MORE: Dana White Provides Update On Status Of Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler

Although his own combat sports endeavors have so far been limited to the boxing ring, Paul did indicate that he plans to make his MMA debut in late 2023 or early 2024 after signing with the PFL earlier this year. The 26-year-old is set to take on Nate Diaz in the latter’s boxing debut on August 5 after Diaz fought out his UFC contract with a submission win over Tony Ferguson in the main event of UFC 279.

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