Why Francis Ngannou and Jake Paul reignite feud: ‘Lasted longer with Anthony Joshua
Former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou has finally opened the door to a potential fight with YouTuber-turned-fighter Jake Paul after the two traded fiery insults at a press conference on Tuesday.
The moment came ahead of Ngannou’s upcoming bout against fellow UFC veteran Philipe Lins. The two heavyweights will face off on May 16 at an event promoted by Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions, with the fight serving as the co-main event of a stacked card at the Intuit Dome in California.
The headline fight will see MMA pioneers Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano come out of retirement to clash in a highly anticipated showdown.
Ngannou vs Lins Set for May 16
Ngannou (18-3) is preparing to return to MMA against Brazil’s Lins (18-5), another former UFC fighter. While Lins never reached Ngannou’s level in the UFC, he captured the PFL heavyweight title in 2018, proving he remains a dangerous opponent.
The bout will mark an important moment for Ngannou, who has fought only once in the Professional Fighters League (PFL) since leaving the UFC in early 2023. In that appearance, he delivered a brutal first-round knockout of Renan Ferreira in October 2024.
Jake Paul Calls Out Ngannou
During Tuesday’s press conference, Jake Paul stood up from the crowd and began taunting Ngannou, reigniting talk of a potential fight between them.
Paul reminded Ngannou that he had previously tried to arrange a boxing match.
“I’ve always been down,” Paul said. “You were the option before Anthony Joshua, and you ran like a duck.”
The American also mocked Ngannou’s performance against British heavyweight Anthony Joshua, who knocked out the Cameroonian star in two rounds in March 2024.
Paul added:
“I bet you didn’t think I would last longer than you did with Anthony either. You know you get worked in boxing. I’d love to see it someday.”
Ngannou Fires Back
Ngannou didn’t hold back in his response.
“No, I’m not interested in fighting Jake Paul… listen, I’m not done,” Ngannou said. “I’m interested in beating his ass.”
The 39-year-old explained that he had previously ignored Paul’s challenge because he felt the offer wasn’t serious.
Now, however, his mindset has changed.
“I really didn’t want to fight you before,” Ngannou said. “But now I want to beat you up. That’s the difference.”
Ngannou’s Boxing Journey
Ngannou shocked the combat-sports world when he stepped into professional boxing in 2023. In his debut, he pushed heavyweight champion Tyson Fury to the limit in a controversial split-decision loss that many fans believed he deserved to win.
His second boxing appearance ended in dramatic fashion when Anthony Joshua stopped him with a devastating knockout.
Despite the loss, Ngannou still carries a reputation as one of the most powerful punchers in MMA history.
A Future Super Fight?
With tensions now rising between the two fighters, a showdown between Ngannou and Jake Paul could become one of the biggest crossover fights in combat sports.
For now, Ngannou remains focused on defeating Philipe Lins on May 16. But after Tuesday’s heated exchange, fans may finally get the fight they’ve been waiting for.
