Jake Paul vs. Logan Paul — will it ever actually happen? The long-teased bout between the Paul brothers remains one of combat sports’ most hyped matchups that never came to life. Both brothers, once known solely as YouTubers, have transitioned into the fight game through unconventional and often controversial bouts. For some, their rise has been wildly entertaining; for others, it borders on a mockery of legitimate competition.

Jake Paul, in particular, has built a resume by taking on older, retired fighters — or those close to retirement — earning a reputation for cherry-picking opponents rather than pursuing truly competitive matchups. ‘The Maverick’ isn’t far off in terms of spectacle but has since found his niche in the WWE, showcasing a different kind of athleticism under the sports entertainment banner.

Despite years of playful jabs and hints, a real fight between the Paul brothers always seemed unlikely — until now. Logan Paul finally broke the silence on the possibility during a recent episode of his podcast, IMPULSIVE, stating he won’t fight Jake Paul “unless it’s MMA.” But not everyone is buying into the drama. Former UFC star Nate Diaz didn’t hold back, taking to X  to fire shots at both brothers. In classic Diaz fashion, he wrote, “i whoop these pu–y.”

Oddly enough, a rematch with Diaz might not be a bad move for Jake Paul. The two first clashed in Diaz’s boxing debut back in 2023 — a bout Jake won by unanimous decision. Given Jake’s track record of taking on retired fighters, especially those pushing 40, Diaz still fits the mold. And with Diaz fresh off a win over Jorge Masvidal, he’s proven he’s not just collecting paychecks.

That said, Jake seems to be aiming higher these days. Earlier this year, he publicly committed to fighting a “real fighters,” signaling a shift from celebrity matchups to more legitimate competition. So, with his sights set on stepping into the ring with serious contenders — who’s next on Jake Paul’s radar?

Who does Jake Paul want to fight next?

After enduring relentless criticism from fans and analysts, Jake Paul appears ready to break out of his comfort zone. Earlier this year, the 28-year-old made waves by publicly expressing his desire to face none other than Canelo Álvarez—widely regarded as one of boxing’s most dangerous fighters. Though ‘El Gallo de Dorado’ has built a reputation for calling out aging or less experienced opponents, it’s not as if he’s avoided fighters his own age altogether. He did step into the ring with Tommy Fury, the younger brother of Tyson Fury, but fell short when faced with real competition.

Still undeterred, Jake Paul set his sights on Álvarez and entered negotiations for what was shaping up to be a blockbuster bout under the banner of his own Most Valuable Promotions (MVP). According to Paul, the deal was nearly finalized. But just as the finish line came into view, Álvarez backed out. Instead, he capitalized on the media buzz around the Ohio native’s name to secure a lucrative four-fight, $150 million contract with Saudi advisor Turki Alalshikh.

Frustrated by how the deal unraveled, MVP co-founder Nakisa Bidarian opened up about what went wrong behind the scenes. “Ultimately, it fell through because they had a desire to do it on pay-per-view at the last minute, and we had made a commitment to our distribution partner Netflix,” Bidarian told CNN. “We refused to budge, and they refused to budge. Then Álvarez got an offer to do another fight and sign a four-fight deal with the Saudis, and that’s what he chose to do.”

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Meanwhile, Nate Diaz has now called out not just Jake Paul, but his brother Logan as well. The real question is—can Diaz realistically handle both Paul brothers, especially considering his hard-fought experience against the younger Jake? Share your thoughts in the comments below.