Francis Ngannou tells Jake Paul he wants to "beat his ass" ahead of the May 16 PFL event. Read about the fiery exchange and the upcoming Super Fight details.
‘I Want To Beat Your A**’: Francis Ngannou Drops Brutal Warning to Jake Paul in Heated PFL Press Conference Ahead Of May 16 Event (Image Source: X)
The combat sports scene just lit up after a heated back-and-forth between ex-UFC heavyweight champ Francis Ngannou and YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul. Both are gearing up for the big PFL (Professional Fighters League) event on May 16, 2026. Ngannou didn’t hold back. When talk of a fight with Paul came up, he cut straight to the point and told him, “I am interested in beating your ass, not fighting you.”
That line exploded online. People can’t stop talking about the huge size and experience gap between them. Still, Jake Paul didn’t flinch. He snapped right back with, “Let’s do it.” Now, with all this energy swirling around them, the May 16 card feels even bigger. It’s turning into one of the wildest matchups in hybrid combat sports anyone’s seen in a long time.
Francis Ngannou: “I’m not interested in fighting Jake Paul, I’m interested in beating his ass.”
— Happy Punch (@HappyPunch) March 10, 2026
Jake Paul: “I’m down. You ran like a duck.”
👀👀👀 pic.twitter.com/icGjG5RNiF
A lot of fans saw Ngannou’s words as a wake-up call for Jake Paul, but Jake has been saying he’s serious about trying MMA with the PFL for a while now. Ever since he joined the “PPV Super Fight” division, he’s dropped hints about leaving boxing for the cage. Ngannou isn’t just any opponent either—he’s the Chairman of PFL Africa and pretty much the top dog in heavyweight MMA. So, Jake stepping up and saying he’ll fight him? That’s gutsy. Maybe a little reckless, but gutsy.
“Francis is a legend, but I’ve been proving people wrong my whole career,” Jake said after their back-and-forth. “If he wants to ‘beat my ass,’ he’s going to have to catch me first.” The PFL keeps pushing these big crossover fights, trying to chip away at the UFC’s lead. If Ngannou and Paul ever do face off, you just know pay-per-view numbers would go wild. For now, though, both guys are locked in on the May 16 card. That night’s shaping up to be stacked, with some huge fights lined up across a bunch of divisions.
