Jake Paul says he expects to be medically cleared soon, eyes MMA debut vs. Nate Diaz

Jake Paul says he believes his long-awaited switch to mixed martial arts could finally move from talk to reality once he is medically cleared to return to full-contact sparring. In comments reported by Yahoo Sports on July 16, Paul indicated that he expects the clearance process to happen within the next few weeks, tying the next step directly to his recovery from a broken jaw suffered during his bout with Anthony Joshua in December.

Paul’s potential MMA debut matters because it would pit a mainstream, high-profile attraction against one of the sport’s most recognizable veterans. Diaz, a longtime UFC star known for his durability and willingness to fight through discomfort, has previously been a popular target for cross-sport matchups, and the latest wording from Paul suggests the idea has not cooled off.

According to the Yahoo Sports report, Paul also framed the timing as part of an active plan rather than a one-off hope. Paul said he is continuing to recover while he prepares for what would be the most direct bridge from boxing training into MMA-specific work, starting with full-contact sparring. That distinction is significant because it implies the limiting factor is not only conditioning, but medical readiness to take the kind of impact that MMA training can involve.

The same report says Paul plans to make his MMA debut under the Most Valuable Promotions banner. That point is relevant in the business side of combat sports, because it indicates how Paul intends to manage matchmaking and promotional relationships as he makes the transition, rather than waiting for a single existing pathway to open on the UFC side.

In practical terms, a Paul debut would also raise questions about how quickly a late entrant can build credibility against established MMA fighters. Even if he is cleared medically soon, an MMA transition is not just a training switch, it is a new rule set, a different defensive problem, and a different pace, with grappling and submissions as permanent variables. For Paul, the opponent choice would be central to whether the debut is viewed as a competitive contest rather than a spectacle.

While Paul naming Diaz as a target is the headline, the situation also comes with uncertainty. The report indicates Paul’s goal and expectations, not that a contract is already finalized or that an event has been scheduled. Diaz’s own commitments, weight class considerations, and the detailed negotiations that come with any high-profile debut would still need to align for a bout to become official.

For fans, the next milestones to watch are medical clearance details and any announcement that translates Paul’s stated plans into an approved opponent and an actual event date. If Paul is indeed cleared within weeks, the timeline could tighten quickly, but until confirmations come from the relevant governing and promotional channels, the matchup remains an expressed target rather than a confirmed bout.