Donald Trump has suggested that Jake Paul should face Khabib Nurmagomedov, one of the most dominant fighters in UFC history, in his next bout. The recommendation came during a sit-down interview at a Trump rally, three months after Paul suffered a knockout defeat to Anthony Joshua.
Paul, 29, has a 12-2 boxing record, with wins over MMA stars Nate Diaz, Anderson Silva, and Tyron Woodley. However, his loss to Joshua in December left him with a broken jaw. When asked by Trump who he would fight next, Paul ruled out a rematch with Joshua, saying he wanted to stay at his own weight class and named Francis Ngannou as a potential opponent.
Trump responded by suggesting Khabib Nurmagomedov, who retired undefeated in 2020 as UFC lightweight champion. Paul replied, "I'm down," though Nurmagomedov has not fought since his retirement and now works as a coach. Trump, a close friend of UFC president Dana White, has attended numerous UFC events and will host a fight card at the White House on his 80th birthday in June.
Paul also teased a move into MMA, mentioning potential fights with Oleksandr Usyk, Ryan Garcia, or Tommy Fury, who handed him his first professional loss in 2023. The influencer's promotional company, Most Valuable Promotions, is set to host Ngannou's next MMA fight on 16 May.
