Jake Paul is done with boxing politics. The Problem Child is plotting a cage debut in 2026, and his sights are locked on either Nate Diaz or Mike Perry—both of whom he’s already beaten in the squared circle.
In a Friday interview, the 29-year-old fighter confirmed he’s targeting Nate Diaz for an MMA showdown, saying “the Nate conversation has been ongoing” but “things just got a lot more serious with this announcement,” and he wants “the Nate Diaz MMA fight very, very bad.” Paul’s backup play: “We love Mike Perry.”
For the culture, this is HUGE. Paul isn’t just running his new MVP MMA promotion after Most Valuable Promotions’ merger with Professional Fighters League—he’s actually stepping into the cage himself. This isn’t exhibition boxing for YouTube clout anymore. This is a legit MMA venture.
But Paul’s got a major obstacle: his health. In December 2025, Paul suffered a double jaw fracture during a sixth-round knockout loss to Anthony Joshua, an injury that required the surgical insertion of two titanium plates, delaying his 2026 combat sports plans. He’s recovering, but jaw rehab takes time. Should Diaz emerge victorious against Perry and Paul receives full medical clearance from his jaw specialists, the MMA rematch could headline a dedicated Netflix event in late 2026.
Historically, Paul’s fought both men already—in boxing. He defeated Nate Diaz by unanimous decision on August 5, 2023, and Paul defeated Perry in a boxing match in July 2024. But MMA is a completely different animal. Perry defeated Nate Diaz on May 16, 2026 by doctor’s stoppage in round 2, and the win gave Perry immediate leverage to call out Paul for a rematch under MMA rules.
The chess move is fascinating: Paul’s saying he’ll take either fight—Diaz if he beats Perry, or Perry if Perry wins again. It’s a hedge, but it’s strategic. Nate is the bigger name, the cultural heavyweight with a star-making rivalry with Conor McGregor, who he famously submitted in 2016. Perry’s the hungrier killer coming off a clean victory. Both fights move the needle.
Nate Diaz’s return to MMA after competing for the first time in four years when he took on Mike Perry on May 16 shows the Stockton legend still has gas in the tank. He lost that round to Perry, but a second chance against Paul in the cage—where Diaz’s submission game and wrestling shine—is the fight fans actually want to see.
The culture’s watching. Paul’s done the YouTube-to-boxing-stardom arc. Now he’s trying to legitimize himself in MMA, the sport that demands real wrestling, real grappling, real cardio. Diaz and Perry would both expose every gap in Paul’s skillset. That’s what makes this real.
The 16BARS take: Jake Paul’s jaw might be wired shut, but his ambition just got bigger. MMA against Nate Diaz or Mike Perry isn’t hype—it’s a test he actually might fail, and that’s exactly why the culture needs to see it.
