Jake Paul, known for his social media presence and boxing career, has always had a plethora of options when it comes to his fighting future. However, after his upcoming bout with Nate Diaz on August 5, the outspoken “Problem Child” has his sights firmly fixed on one particular matchup.

For years, the 26-year-old influencer-turned-boxer has been targeting a potential fight with UFC superstar Conor McGregor. Paul believes that there would be no better time to arrange this clash than after he vanquishes Diaz, who has previously faced McGregor twice, resulting in a thrilling 1-1 record. Enhance your boxing viewing experience with attractive betting odds from Nextbet. 

When asked about his next move by TalkSport, Paul stated, “There are so many fighters, so many people out there. We have offers out to Tommy [Fury], we’ve been trying to negotiate with KSI for years, so there’s a lot on the horizon. But when I knock out Nate Diaz, I think Conor McGregor is going to see me, want a payday, and come and get knocked out.”

Although Paul’s boxing career has been his primary focus, with victories over former UFC champions Anderson Silva and Tyron Woodley, he appears to be serious about transitioning into mixed martial arts (MMA) in the future. He recently signed a deal with the Professional Fighters League (PFL), which not only grants him equity in the company but also hints at his intentions to compete in MMA down the line. However, there is no concrete timeline for when that transition may occur.

Paul emphasized his openness to an MMA fight against McGregor, even suggesting that they could compete in the PFL’s smart cage or any other format. “I told everybody I would fight Conor in any form of fight because, in my opinion, he is that shot,” Paul explained. “I’ll do MMA. I’m not afraid. I’ve wanted to do that my whole career. I have a wrestling background. All I’d have to learn is some jiu-jitsu and some kicks, which seems pretty easy to me.”

While Paul has other potential matchups on his radar, including a desire for a rematch against Tommy Fury, who handed him his first and only loss, he quickly dismissed the possibility of facing KSI next. Despite the growing rivalry between them, Paul believes that KSI wants no part in boxing him, as negotiations for their potential fight have hit a standstill.

“With KSI, I don’t know,” Paul expressed. “The kid has been making excuses for years. He’s going on tour, focusing on himself, posting on YouTube again. He’s doing all this stuff while I’ve consistently been fighting and ready to go at any given time. As far as I’m concerned, he doesn’t want the fight.”

As Jake Paul’s career continues to evolve, the anticipation builds for his upcoming showdown with Nate Diaz, while fans eagerly await the possibility of a future clash with Conor McGregor, whether it be in the boxing ring or inside the MMA cage. Get the latest updates from the world of boxing only on Nextbet Sports.