MVP CEO Nakisa Bidarian proposed Jake Paul vs. Conor McGregor fights in both boxing and MMA during a TMZ Sports interview on March 12. He suggested a co-promotion with UFC's Dana White, noting Paul is eager for an Octagon bout despite no pro MMA experience. McGregor, last fighting in 2021, remains under UFC contract. This could create historic combat sports events blending boxing and MMA audiences. It matters for crossover appeal but faces hurdles like McGregor's inactivity and UFC logistics. Next steps hinge on White's response and negotiations.
Reports surfaced on March 12 that Most Valuable Promotions CEO Nakisa Bidarian floated the idea of Jake Paul fighting Conor McGregor in both boxing and MMA, with the proposal emerging during a TMZ Sports interview. The concept, which remains unconfirmed and unofficial, would reportedly involve a co-promotion with UFC president Dana White.
Conor McGregor, 37, is one of the most recognizable figures in combat sports history. The Irishman, who trains out of SBG Ireland, carries a professional MMA record of 22 wins and 6 losses and last competed inside the Octagon in 2021. A southpaw striker standing five-foot-nine with a 74-inch reach, McGregor has averaged 5.32 significant strikes landed per minute throughout his career, with a striking accuracy of 49 percent. He remains under contract with the UFC.
Jake Paul, by contrast, has no professional MMA experience, though Bidarian indicated his fighter is eager to compete in the Octagon. The promoter suggested the dual-format series could be structured as a co-promotional arrangement, though no formal talks with White have been confirmed.
Why it matters
- McGregor's long layoff since 2021 adds significant uncertainty to any timeline for a return, in either sport.
- A boxing-plus-MMA format would be genuinely unprecedented at the highest commercial level, drawing audiences from both disciplines.
- The proposal depends entirely on UFC cooperation, which has not been reported as forthcoming.
- Paul stepping into MMA without professional experience would represent a stark competitive leap from his boxing background.
Any concrete movement hinges on White's response and the outcome of negotiations that, as of now, have not been publicly confirmed to have begun.
