Francis Ngannou says he is open to a fight with Jake Paul after his next bout on the MVP MMA card that will stream on Netflix in May.
Ngannou returns to MMA in May
Ngannou will fight Philipe Lins on the MVP MMA card in May. This will be his first fight since 2024. The event is the first MMA card from MVP, the promotion co-founded by Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian in 2021.
The MVP event will be the first MMA show to stream on Netflix. The card is headlined by Ronda Rousey vs Gina Carano, with Ngannou on the same bill.
| Fighter | Recent Result |
|---|---|
| Francis Ngannou | Returning to action for the first time since 2024 |
| Philipe Lins | Scheduled to face Ngannou on the MVP Netflix card in May |
| Ronda Rousey | Headlining the card vs Gina Carano in May |
| Gina Carano | Headlining the card vs Ronda Rousey in May |
Jake Paul has called for the fight
Jake Paul has publicly said he would like to fight Ngannou. Paul used the media buildup to the MVP event to say he would try to face Ngannou if he returns to boxing. Paul told Sky Sports he believes he could knock Ngannou out.
Ngannou’s reaction
Ngannou spoke with Ariel Helwani about Paul’s comments. He said the talk would have bothered him a few months ago, but not anymore. “Jake is just being Jake,” Ngannou said.
When asked if he was interested in a fight with Paul, Ngannou kept his answer open. He said, “I don’t know. If it happens, okay.” He then added bluntly, “Not boxing him, kicking his a**.” When Helwani asked if that meant an MMA fight, Ngannou smiled and said, “I want to.”
Next steps and what to expect
Ngannou confirmed that a fight with Paul has not been formally discussed with MVP or Netflix. He said any future matchup may depend on how well the first MVP Netflix event does in May.
The May card is an important moment for MVP and for the fighters on the show. If the event succeeds, it could open the door for more big-name matchups, including a possible Ngannou vs Paul fight in the future.
