Jake Paul has been told he would not be able to win a title in the PFL's "s**t's hard" league format system.
The YouTube star announced that he has signed a long-term deal with MMA promotion PFL to make his debut in the cage under their stewardship in 2024. Paul has limited experience in the cage but will train for several months with a view to competing next year alongside his thriving boxing career.
As part of the deal, Paul announced that he will compete in a newly launched 'super-fight' pay-per-view division next year to deviate from the traditional league format. And former UFC star Anthony Pettis, who suggested he would be open to training Paul previously, has claimed that Paul's ownership of the company could see him tread the best path possible in a newly created division.
"It depends if they make a division specifically for Jake Paul bro," Pettis admitted during an interview with Inside Fighting when discussing Paul's newly signed deal. I mean if he's the owner of the company, he can make a championship. Jake Paul doing the season, hell nah. The season format of PFL is the hardest form of MMA there is. No way, I mean, that s**t's hard."
Fighters in the PFL compete in a regular season which leads into play offs and then a season-ending championship event to become a title holder with the promotion. Prior to the launch of Paul's new division, the organisation did not focus on the promotion of one-off events, but it appears they will now follow the UFC by making moves into the pay-per-view market.
PFL are hoping that the acquisition of Paul to the brand will help them further grow into the role as the second ranked MMA promotion behind the UFC. The YouTube star will also feature outside of the cage as becoming the Head of Fighter Advocacy to help improve conditions for the fighting roster.
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Paul is already preparing his activity for when he begins his career in the PFL, having identified Nate Diaz as his first opponent and offered him a two-fight deal. The 'Problem Child' is yet to receive a response from his rival and it is expected he will instead shift focus on to his potential upcoming boxing clash with Tommy Fury.
And PFL chairman Donn Davis has suggested he is targeting the highest calibre of opposition for when he does step up his MMA plans. "I think what's made Jake interesting to fans is that he works hard and he doesn't underestimate what it takes," Davis told ESPN when reviewing the new deal between Paul and the promotion.
"He knows he's not ready [for his MMA debut] right now, but he's starting to train. I think it's going to be about one year from now, so early 2024, where you'll see him take on his first opponent. But the kind of opponents he is thinking of will shock the world in terms of their status and name brand."
