UFC women’s flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko has publicly challenged Jake Paul to try MMA after the YouTuber-turned-boxer said the UFC is “dying.” Shevchenko dared Paul to step into the octagon and see for himself.
The challenge
Shevchenko saw Paul’s comments on social media and replied on X. She wrote that Paul does not understand MMA and should stop criticizing from a distance.
Shevchenko wrote: “UFC dying?! Hey Jake, you definitely don’t know what you’re talking about. Criticizing MMA from a long distance. Try to get into an octagon with one of them, and they’ll wipe the floor with your pretty face.”
The champion added that a real MMA fight would be “spectacular, breathtaking” and that Paul could judge how fun or boring it is after he tries it for real.
What Jake Paul said
Paul made the remarks while appearing on Theo Von’s podcast. He was promoting an upcoming MMA event set for May 16 in Inglewood, California. That show will feature former UFC bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey facing WMMA pioneer Gina Carano.
On the podcast, Paul said he thinks MMA has become too dominated by wrestlers. He called certain fighters “boring,” naming Khabib Nurmagomedov and Khamzat Chimaev as examples. He also said the UFC has become “too greedy” and “super corporate,” and argued boxing has a much longer history than MMA.
Context and recent activity
Shevchenko’s last fight was a win over Zhang Weili at UFC 322 in November last year. She has no fight currently scheduled but has stayed active on social media. She has had public back-and-forths with other fighters, including Rousey and Nurmagomedov.
Jake Paul’s May 16 event in Inglewood is drawing attention because it includes Rousey vs. Carano, a highly publicized comeback fight for both women. The event will test how much interest there is for crossover shows promoted by boxing and influencer-driven cards.
| Fighter | Recent Result |
|---|---|
| Valentina Shevchenko | Outpointed Zhang Weili at UFC 322 (November last year) |
| Ronda Rousey | Set to face Gina Carano on May 16 in Inglewood, California |
For now, the exchange is another chapter in the growing debate between MMA fighters and crossover stars. Shevchenko’s call is simple: if Paul wants to judge MMA, get inside the octagon and prove it.
