Jake Paul has made a habit out of targeting prominent UFC names, but Francis Ngannou said he’d be best avoiding one brutal knockout artist.
Much of Paul’s journey in boxing has seen him feuding with figures from across the combat sports pond, much to the dismay of those hoping to see him regularly face active boxers close to his age.
Thus far, ‘The Problem Child’ has shared the ring with five ex-UFC stars. Most notably, Paul knocked out former welterweight champion Tyron Woodley, outpointed the legendary Anderson Silva, and comfortably got the better of Nate Diaz.
Given that trend, and the attention it brings him, it’s unsurprising that Paul hasn’t let up with his callouts of MMA names.
One of his more recent ones, however, may have crossed the line from ambitious to death wish…
Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty ImagesFrancis Ngannou warns Jake Paul about the danger of facing UFC star Alex Pereira
After defeating former UFC fighter-turned-BKFC star Mike Perry in July 2024, Paul made a bold callout of then-UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira.
Israel Adesanya, Jiri Prochazka, Jamahal Hill, Sean Strickland, and Khalil Rountree have all fallen to the Brazilian’s renowned power in the Octagon, but the YouTuber-turned-boxer fancied his chances in the ring.
While interviewing Francis Ngannou, one of Pereira’s fellow MMA powerhouses, on his podcast, Paul was strongly advised against pursuing ‘Poatan’.
“(Pereira’s) tough, he has some tough hands,” Ngannou said.
“I think you’re going to get some tough nights. I mean, he’s a big size guy, Alex.
“What’s your weight right now? 215 (pounds). Come on, man,” Ngannou added. “This guy is big, solid, and he’s mean.
“He walks straight to you like, ‘I’m gonna eat this guy.’”
What Alex Pereira said about fighting Jake Paul
Moments after being called out in July 2024, Pereira got on FaceTime with Paul and teased a potential crossover clash against the Cleveland native.
But the Brazilian told Bloody Elbow in the lead-up to his most recent UFC fight that any talk of a boxing match with Paul was purely to garner publicity.
“I think that was more for the media, for the hype,” Pereira said of the pair’s run-in last summer. “I don’t necessarily know if that makes a lot of sense. Maybe for an exhibition match or something like that.
“But honestly I’m on another level, granted he is a boxer now. He’s a guy that trains boxing but I just feel like I’m different, on a different level.”
Pereira was subsequently unseated from the light heavyweight throne by Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 313 and now has his sights set on revenge in their expected rematch later this year.