Former UFC star Chael Sonnen warns Jake Paul after his defeat to Anthony Joshua, and calling out Francis Ngannou.
Jake Paul’s plans for his return to boxing have already raised a few eyebrows. Just weeks after suffering a double jaw fracture in his defeat to Anthony Joshua, the YouTuber-turned-boxer has now set his sights on former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou.
But not everyone thinks the move makes sense. UFC legend Chael Sonnen has voiced his concerns, urging Paul to reconsider his approach before stepping back into the ring.
Chael Sonnen urges Jake Paul to think twice about chasing Francis Ngannou
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Chael Sonnen addressed comments Paul had made during an appearance on his brother’s podcast.
Paul, still recovering from his injuries at the time, used the platform to call out Ngannou — a move Sonnen questioned.
“Jake Paul has never asked me for advice, but I’m going to give him my advice. Jake Paul went on the ImPaulsive Podcast with a double broken jaw.
“He’s doing the best he can to do these interviews, right? Which he should get credit for. What should Jake do next? Well, what are his goals? What’s left to do? It’s not the same for him.
“Don’t just say, ‘a world championship,’ like anybody else. He didn’t do it for those reasons in the first place. He was chasing something different.”
“To the best I could see, he was chasing respect. He had a competitive drive… but he’s no longer in high school or college, where he could go out and join a team. It was a very unique spot he was in.”
Why Francis Ngannou might be the wrong fight for Jake Paul
Francis Ngannou, known for his power and athleticism, isn’t the kind of opponent most would choose when coming off a serious injury. And Chael Sonnen made it clear he doesn’t see the upside for Jake Paul.
“He’s sitting on the couch with a double broken jaw and calls out Francis Ngannou. As interesting as it is, it’s not likely to go Jake’s way.
“Francis is humungous… a world champion, a beautiful, huge athletic man. So, what would be the point?”
Paul, who entered boxing already rich and famous, has continued to seek respect within the sport. But Sonnen’s comments reflect growing concern that his ambition may outweigh practicality.
Whether Paul proceeds with the Ngannou fight remains to be seen. For now, Sonnen’s message is clear: respect the sport, recover fully, and choose the next step carefully.
Read More: Jake Paul faces indefinite boxing suspension after brutal knockout by Anthony Joshua
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