This Is Not a Boxing Match…” – Why Would Usyk Skip Wilder and Parker Just to Face Jake Paul in MMA?

In a twist no one predicted—but no one can look away from—Oleksandr Usyk may just skip his rightful boxing title defenses to fight Jake Paul… in MMA. Yes, you read that right. Not in the ring. In a cage. Against a YouTuber-turned-prizefighter.

After a career-defining knockout victory over Daniel Dubois in July, the undefeated Ukrainian heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk now stands at the summit of the sport. With potential fights against Deontay Wilder or Joseph Parker on the table—fights that would solidify his status as the greatest heavyweight of his generation—Usyk is instead entertaining something that’s never been done at this level before: a Mixed Martial Arts showdown against influencer-turned-fighter Jake Paul.

What began as a faceoff inside the ring—Paul stepping in after Usyk’s July triumph, wearing a confident smirk and firing verbal shots—has rapidly snowballed into real negotiations. According to his team, Usyk is “seriously considering” stepping away from boxing in early 2026 to make an MMA debut, and Jake Paul might just be the bait that pulls him in.

And make no mistake: this isn’t just spectacle. It’s strategy.

A World Champion Steps into Chaos – But Why?

In a sport where every decision can make or break legacies, why would a champion of Usyk’s caliber detour into the circus of MMA—especially against a man the boxing world still refuses to take fully seriously?

Money? Definitely. But it’s not just that.

Sergey Lapin, team director of Usyk’s company Ready to Fight, made the team’s intentions very clear. “This is not a boxing match,” he emphasized. And that may be exactly the point. By choosing MMA, Usyk shifts the narrative away from dominance and into the unknown. In a boxing match, a fight against Jake Paul would be laughable. In MMA? Suddenly, there’s uncertainty, curiosity, and danger. The playing field isn’t even—but it’s more balanced than in boxing.

Jake Paul has been training in MMA since signing with the PFL (Professional Fighters League) in 2023. While no expert grappler or black belt, his growing experience and conditioning give him a shred of legitimacy. On the other hand, Usyk’s team knows this is risky. The champion has never fought MMA. The rules, rhythm, and danger of kicks, takedowns, and submissions are entirely foreign.

But that’s where the buzz is.

Is This All Just About the Money?

Let’s not be naïve. The dollar signs are blinding.

Jake Paul has proven time and again that he can draw numbers. Whether it’s filling arenas or breaking pay-per-view records, he understands the business side of combat sports like no one else in his generation.

And when you pair that with Usyk’s global status, you have a recipe for something outrageous: a multi-million dollar fight that could redefine crossover events forever.

Former promoter Alex Krassyuk didn’t mince words. “A boxing match would be a homicide,” he said bluntly, but even he admitted: “money talks.” And this event, if handled right, could bring in Super Bowl-level attention.

The MMA format isn’t just a novelty—it’s a shield, a way to sell the fight as more competitive than it actually might be. Even if Paul loses, he loses to a heavyweight world champion. And if he somehow wins—by submission, by miracle—it would be the most shocking moment in combat sports history.

Skipping Wilder? Skipping Parker? Is Usyk Avoiding Real Fights?

That’s the narrative critics are already jumping on. After all, Joseph Parker is the WBO mandatory challenger, and Deontay Wilder remains one of the most dangerous punchers on the planet.

So why would Usyk consider skipping both for an MMA fight?

Because this is bigger than belts.

Usyk isn’t just building a boxing legacy anymore—he’s constructing an empire. He’s entering entertainment territory where champions become superstars, and purists become background noise. A fight against Wilder is violent. A fight against Parker is respectful. But neither offers the crossover appeal—the headlines, the tweets, the TikToks—that Jake Paul does.

And let’s be honest: Usyk knows he’s in the final chapters of his career. At 38 in 2026, time is not his friend. So if there’s ever a moment to cash in, shock the world, and expand his reach into new markets, it’s now.

What Does Jake Paul Really Gain?

Respect. Legacy. And a ridiculous paycheck.

Jake Paul has been mocked, memed, and misunderstood, but he’s also been relentless, strategic, and smart. From knocking out former UFC champions to building Most Valuable Promotions, he’s no longer just a “YouTuber with gloves.” He’s a full-blown combat business.

A win against Usyk? Unlikely, even in MMA. But if he survives a few rounds? If he lands a punch? Or—God forbid—if Usyk slips and Jake capitalizes? His brand explodes into another stratosphere.

And even if he loses? He loses to Usyk. The man who outboxed Anthony Joshua, who tamed Tony Bellew, who has never lost a professional fight. In short, Jake can’t lose with this deal—unless he quits.

So, Is the Fight Happening?

As of August 2025, negotiations are active and serious. Both camps are reportedly ironing out the conditions—cage size, glove types, fight length, rule modifications, promotional splits.

Insiders say early 2026 is the target. A Las Vegas venue is rumored, possibly in partnership with the PFL, where Jake Paul is signed. A co-promotional mega-event involving MVP, Ready to Fight, and ESPN+ or Netflix Sports has even been floated.

It’s still not a done deal—but it’s closer than most people think.

Is This the Future of Combat Sports?

Maybe. Or maybe it’s the last gasp of a circus era.

What’s clear is that fans no longer care about rankings and mandatories the way they used to. They care about moments, about chaos, about narratives that break the mold.

And that’s exactly what Usyk vs. Paul in MMA promises: something totally unpredictable. It’s not a match. It’s not a bout. It’s not even a proper MMA contest. It’s a moment. And in 2026, that might be all that matters.