TLDR
- Jake Paul is actively trying to bring retired UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov back for an MMA fight
- Paul mentioned President Trump’s interest in seeing the Khabib fight happen as motivation
- He also targets Conor McGregor while dismissing UFC champion Ilia Topuria as just a warm-up opponent
- Paul is looking for a comeback after losing to Anthony Joshua by TKO in his second career defeat
- No official fights with McGregor or Nurmagomedov have been confirmed yet
Sources: Bloody Elbow | Times of India | MMA Fighting | ESPN
Jake Paul is making headlines again with his latest callouts, this time setting his sights on retired UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov. In a recent interview with Complex’s Matt Welty, Paul outlined a specific plan to bring Nurmagomedov back from retirement for what would be a high-profile MMA bout.
Paul referenced President Donald Trump’s interest in seeing the fight happen as part of his motivation. The social media star turned boxer expressed full willingness to make the matchup a reality, proposing lucrative terms and a prime-time slot to entice the retired champion.
Khabib Nurmagomedov retired from MMA in 2020 and has shown no public interest in returning to competition. His camp has not yet responded to Paul’s latest challenge.
Paul is currently looking for his next fight after suffering a TKO loss to Anthony Joshua last year. That defeat marked only the second loss of his professional career.
Jake Paul believes a good cause for Dagestan is the ONLY WAY to bring Khabib out of retirement. 😅🏔️
“We need to get Khabib out of retirement. I don’t think it would be about the money for him, maybe if it was for a good cause or something that we could do together. I’m down to… pic.twitter.com/rCUE9U0cxd
— FREAK.MMA (@FREAKMMA1) April 29, 2026
Paul Dismisses UFC Champion as Easy Opponent
During the same interview, Paul also spoke about current UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria, making it clear he does not view the champion as a serious threat in a boxing match. Paul called a potential bout with Topuria “honestly a warm up for me.”
“It would be like playing with a little toy,” Paul said about Topuria. “He’s like 5’5″, can’t even ride a roller coaster. The guy is tiny!”
Paul did acknowledge that Topuria would likely beat him in an MMA fight. “All jokes aside, if we did MMA, he would probably win,” Paul admitted. “But in a boxing match? That’s honestly a warm up for me.”
Topuria has built his reputation with knockout victories over Alexander Volkanovski, Max Holloway, and Charles Oliveira. He is expected to fight Justin Gaethje at UFC Freedom 250 later this summer.
Paul also criticized UFC fighters for not following through on their public challenges. “They have to publicly, when they’re on the live streams, say ‘I’ll do it right now! Let’s do it!’ Then when it goes to happen, it doesn’t come to fruition,” he explained.
McGregor and Khabib Remain Primary Targets
Beyond Topuria, Paul confirmed his interest in fighting both Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov. Both names would generate massive attention and viewership for any potential matchup.
Paul has previously defeated UFC veterans Nate Diaz, Anderson Silva, and Tyron Woodley in boxing matches. These wins have given him confidence in his ability to compete against mixed martial arts fighters in boxing-only bouts.
During the interview, Paul also mentioned that his relationship with UFC President Dana White remains strained. This ongoing tension could complicate any potential fights with current or former UFC athletes.
Fans have reacted strongly to Paul’s callouts on social media, with many expressing interest in seeing the potential clash of styles between Paul and Nurmagomedov. Others remain skeptical that the retired champion would agree to return for any amount of money.
Paul had earlier challenged Topuria, and the UFC champion seemed open to the idea at the time. However, no official fight has been announced between them, and Topuria’s focus appears to be on his upcoming UFC bout.
For now, none of Paul’s proposed fights with McGregor, Nurmagomedov, or Topuria have been officially confirmed or scheduled.
