How Jake Paul could be part of never-before-seen mixed-rules MMA fight against the likes of boxing star Deontay Wilder
JAKE PAUL could feature in a never-before-seen mixed-rules MMA fight – against the likes of Deontay Wilder.
Paul is signed to the Professional Fighters League where he is set to make his cage debut in 2025.
The PFL have talked up staging hybrid-rules fights in the cage in a bid to bridge the gap between boxing and MMA.
And with 10-1 boxer Paul closing in on a first fight in the cage – it could come under the all-new umbrella of bouts.
PFL CEO Peter Murray told SunSport: “It could be modified rules. We really haven’t talked about nailing down the specifics of a tweaked ruleset.
“We’re first focused on the opponent and more to come on those details when Jake is ready.
“Listen, I love hybrid rules. It just makes it interesting and fighters want to use all their weapons.
“But, given skill sets and we can have some fun with it.”
Wilder, 38, was touted as a potential boxing star to cross over to the cage with talks to fight Francis Ngannou, 37, under hybrid rules.
Instead, Ngannou went onto fight Tyson Fury, 36, losing a controversial decision before being KOd by Anthony Joshua, 34.
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Meanwhile Wilder also took two fights in Saudi Arabia, losing to Jospeh Parker, 32, and being knocked out by Zhilei Zhang, 41.
But the PFL are not ruling out making a move for former the WBC boxing champ or doing so with customised rules.
Meanwhile Paul’s list of potential MMA opponents continue to grow as he prepares to fight boxing icon Mike Tyson, 58, on November 15.
PFL’s Murray added: “I’d like to see Deontay in the cage and that’ll be exciting.
“But, there’s a list and more to come. You’ll be hearing from Jake in the PFL soon.”