Will Jake Paul vs Conor McGregor happen? YouTuber challenges MMA fighter to boxing match: 'I’m not afraid'
CLEVELAND, OHIO: In terms of his fight career, Jake Paul has always had alternatives, but after taking on Nate Diaz on August 5, the outspoken "Problem Child" has his sights set on one specific battle.
The 26-year-old social media celebrity-turned-boxer has been eyeing a matchup with UFC star Conor McGregor for several years. Paul feels that after he defeats Diaz, who has a 1-1 record against McGregor in two spectacular fights, it would be the ideal moment to schedule that showdown.
‘I think that Conor McGregor’s going to see me’
Paul spoke to TalkSport about what's coming up, “There’s so many fighters, there’s so many people out there. We have offers out to Tommy [Fury], we’ve been trying to do the KSI negotiations for years so there’s just a lot down the horizon.”
He added, “But when I knock out Nate Diaz, I think that Conor McGregor’s going to see me, want a payday and come and get knocked out.” Paul has defeated two former UFC champions, Anderson Silva and Tyron Woodley in boxing matches, but now he is committed to making records in mixed martial arts.
Paul signed a contract with the PFL that not only grants him stock in the organization but also makes him a potential MMA competitor in the future, though there is no fixed timetable for when that would really happen.
‘I’m not afraid’
According to Paul, he's studying that possibility and would even consider a mixed martial arts matchup with McGregor if the former two-division UFC champion thought it would be more advantageous. “We can fight in the PFL smart cage, whatever it is. I told everybody I would fight Conor in any form of fight. Because, in my opinion, he is that shot,” Paul said.
“I’ll do MMA. I’m not afraid. I’ve wanted to do that my whole career. [I have] a wrestling background. All I’d have to learn is some jiu-jitsu and some kicks, which seems pretty easy to me,” he added.
Other options aside, Paul certainly wants the chance to get revenge on Tommy Fury, who delivered him his sole defeat in a split decision back in February. Although the possibility of facing KSI next is still open, Paul quickly disregarded it despite their increasing enmity.
