JAKE PAUL has a custom-made cage built in his gym in preparation for his MMA debut – which could be against a familiar face.
The YouTube star has an 11-1 boxing record since making his debut in 2020 and has lofty ambitions of winning the world title.
But in 2023, he also signed to the Professional Fighters League – a rival to the UFC – where he is set to make his MMA debut.
Paul has a £3MILLLION two-storey gym in his adopted home of Puerto Rico, where he trains for his big-money boxing fights.
And in the upstairs section – next to where brother Logan films his popular Impaulsive podcast – Paul has a section dedicated to MMA.
He has even built an exact replica of the PFL’s SmartCage as his preparations to cross over from the ring progress.
It even features branding on the posts and was recently lit up with lights for a photoshoot.
PFL CEO Peter Murray said: “That’s Jake’s commitment. It’s not necessarily a sideshow.
“I mean Jake is as real as it gets as boxer and he’s taken on that sport with storm and he’s done it in such a disruptive way.
“And behind the scenes, Jake is refining his game in MMA.
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“And you go back to it, it’s a timing thing of when is the right time for Jake to come into the PFL cage?
“It’s the right opponent and but he’s definitely sharpening his combat skills, that’s for sure.”
A month before Paul, 28, announced his deal with the PFL, he suffered the first boxing defeat of his career.
He lost a split-decision to Tommy Fury, 25, in Saudi Arabia but has bounced back with five wins since.
Paul most recently beat heavyweight great Mike Tyson, 58, on points in November in a controversial clash slammed for the age gap.
Now attention has turned to his next bout and he remains linked with a rematch against Fury.
Paul’s business and promotional partner Bidarian – as well as PFL founder Donn Davis – have talked up a deal worth £15m.
It would see Fury rematch the American in boxing and then complete a trilogy in MMA.
And Murray added: “It’s a conversation, yeah.”
Fury himself has filmed a training video with UFC star Tom Aspinall – wearing PFL gloves – and opened the door to a cage switch.
And Paul in August named his celebrity boxing rivals as a potential opponent to make his MMA debut against.
He said: “I think that’s actually still a discussion. So that could be interesting for sure. Me versus Tommy in MMA.”
