'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/4AAQSkZJRgABAQAAAQABAAD/2wCEAAMDAwMDAwQEBAQFBQUFBQcHBgYHBwsICQgJCAsRCwwLCwwLEQ8SDw4PEg8bFRMTFRsfGhkaHyYiIiYwLTA+PlQBAwMDAwMDBAQEBAUFBQUFBwcGBgcHCwgJCAkICxELDAsLDAsRDxIPDg8SDxsVExMVGx8aGRofJiIiJjAtMD4+VP/AABEIAAYACgMBIgACEQEDEQH/xABiAAEBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABwgQAAIDAQADAQAAAAAAAAAAAAECAwQRAAYHEyIBAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQFEQEAAAMJAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABAAIEAwUREyExU3Gx/9oADAMBAAIRAxEAPwDFtjySonrul8IVWWxL9J5BXSN0aH8BEdW1kYjcwZvQx0rs7MwYEkk5gHOcSkVzceSb2K95AFNpvYSL2gx//9k='%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The MMA community has various reactions to Jake Paul signing with the Professional Fighters League.
We are five days into 2023 and the unpredictable MMA headlines aren’t slowing down. ‘The Problem Child’ has officially signed a deal with the PFL to compete in MMA. The ESPN-partnered promotion made the official announcement on Twitter by saying:
“Signed, Sealed, Delivered. Welcome to the Professional Fighters League @jakepaul”
Paul made several claims about fighting MMA in the past, but many people questioned his sincerity. Now that he’s signed with the PFL, social media exploded with opinions and callouts, including some saying:
“Hey @PFLMMA I’m a free agent. I wouldn’t mind welcoming @jakepaul into the MMA world. But let’s be real. He’d never take this fight, even tho I’m like the shortest middleweight in history should be a manageable W for him!”
“Wow Jake Paul to PFL that’s wild. Who we want to see him fight? I think @HurricaneShaneB should get it.”
“This is good. If fighters start to jump ship to the PFL, maybe the UFC reacts by improving relations with fighters to counter. Either way the fighters benefit and I’m all for that!”
“Respect to him for stepping in the cage, something most boxers wouldn’t dare to do. With that being said, he’s prolly gonna get subbed pretty easily lol”
Along with being a future MMA fighter, ‘The Problem Child’ has become the co-founder of PFL’s pay-per-view super-fight division. The division will reportedly give fighters 50% of the earned revenue from a fight. It’s unclear when Paul plans to make his MMA debut, but several fighters have offered to be his opponent, including former UFC champion Anthony Pettis.
Anthony Pettis offers to fight Jake Paul
Jake Paul has compiled respectable boxing experience, but his lack of proven grappling makes him an intriguing opponent for other fighters. One of those fighters interested is former UFC champion Anthony Pettis, who is 1-4 since joining the PFL in 2021. He had this to say on Twitter:
“Welcome to the PFL @jakepaul More than happy to welcome you to MMA’s league if Nate isn’t available @PeteMurrayPFL @PFLMMA @DonnDavisPFL”
The former YouTuber has also called out Nate Diaz for a two-fight series that features MMA and boxing. ‘The Problem Child’ holds a professional boxing record of 6-0 with four KOs. Paul reportedly competed in high school wrestling, but it’s not guaranteed that the experience will successfully translate to MMA. It’ll be intriguing to see who the YouTuber fights in his PFL debut.
