Oleksandr Usyk, the undefeated heavyweight boxing champion, might step into the cage for an MMA fight. The Professional Fighters League (PFL) wants to set up a big match between Usyk and Jake Paul.
Sergey Lapin, who represents Usyk, first brought up the idea of Usyk fighting Paul in MMA. PFL founder Donn Davis then suggested 2026 as a good time for this fight. Usyk seemed to like the idea and posted a picture on Instagram of him and Paul facing off in front of a PFL cage.
Dan Hardy, who used to fight in the UFC and now works for PFL Europe, says Usyk really wants to try MMA. Hardy also talked about Jake Paul's future in MMA:
"He's not going to fight someone like Leon Edwards. He's going to look for guys like Ben Askren, Nate Diaz-big names, but past their prime."
Hardy thinks Paul might call out Usyk next.
Paul signed with PFL in 2023 but hasn't had an MMA fight yet. He used to wrestle in high school in Ohio and now trains hard with experienced MMA coaches. Paul started boxing in 2020 against another YouTuber, Ali Eson Gib. Since then, he's beaten some big names like NBA player Nate Robinson, MMA fighters Ben Askren and Tyron Woodley, and boxing legend Anderson Silva. Recently, Paul won a decision against Mike Tyson in front of 70,000 fans.
Usyk brings a lot to the table. He's not just undefeated in boxing, but he's also really good at moving around the ring and can knock people out. If he fights in MMA, it'll be a big deal.
If this fight happens, it could be one of the most-watched crossover fights ever. PFL wants to get more popular and is trying to sign big names. Right now, it's just an idea, but it's the kind of fight that could fill up a big arena.
