Jake Paul wanted to ‘fight’ Ronda Rousey as far back as 2016, long before signing her to his Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) for her upcoming MMA comeback.
Paul’s remarks from a decade ago resurfaced this week and highlight just how long the idea of a showdown between him and the former UFC champion has lingered in the combat sports world.
Jake Paul’s 2016 challenge to Ronda Rousey resurfaces
A throwback clip put Jake Paul’s early MMA ambitions back in the spotlight. HappyPunch on X shared Paul’s 2016 tweet pitching a fight with Ronda Rousey.
“Ronda Rousey is coming back to the UFC. Ronda, if you ever watch my videos, I’ll fight you and put it on video,” Paul said.
He added: “I actually used to do MMA. I know you’d probably whoop me, but hey, it’ll still be a good video. So, Ronda, if you’re out there, let’s fight.”
That message came at a time when Rousey’s MMA future was already in doubt after her final UFC bout in December 2016.
Paul’s tone was part bravado, part genuine eagerness to test himself against one of the biggest names in the sport’s recent history, even if he admitted he expected to lose.
At the time, Paul was still establishing himself as a social media personality with crossover boxing aspirations, not yet the promoter he is today.
Ronda Rousey to return under the MVP banner in 2026
Fast forward to 2026, and Ronda Rousey’s name is once again front and centre as she prepares to return to MMA nearly a decade after her last fight.
After retiring from UFC competition in 2016 following back-to-back losses, Rousey has agreed to headline a major event for Jake Paul’s promotional company, Most Valuable Promotions (MVP), rather than return under the UFC banner.
The comeback fight is set for May 16, when Rousey will face fellow pioneer Gina Carano in a featherweight clash at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California.
The bout will stream live on Netflix and marks one of the most talked-about MMA events of the year.
Rousey’s return under the MVP banner rather than the UFC highlights how her trajectory and relationships within combat sports have shifted.
After years of speculation, training clips, and gradual buildup, the Hollywood-meets-MMA showdown finally gives fans a chance to see one of the sport’s most iconic figures back in action.
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