Jake Paul says he is open to training with Royce Gracie as his MMA debut nears

Jake Paul has indicated he is open to training with Royce Gracie as he prepares for a planned mixed martial arts debut, a step that could arrive as soon as 2027, according to a report from Yahoo Sports.

Gracie, the widely recognized name in modern Brazilian jiu-jitsu and a UFC legend, represents a different skill track than the boxing-focused background that helped define Paul’s rise in the paid combat-sports spotlight. Training with an MMA icon like Gracie would also report that Paul’s transition is aimed at more than striking, with an emphasis on grappling and control positions that can determine the pace of fights.

The reported timeline matters because it places Paul’s debut in a period when the promoter landscape could look markedly different. Yahoo Sports tied the moment to Paul’s combat-sports promotion, MVP (Most Valuable Promotions), which it said has merged with the Professional Fighters League to form a “superpromotion” that will begin staging major events in 2027.

If that restructured promotion comes together as described, Paul’s MMA entry would align with the rollout of a brand meant to concentrate marquee matchups and mainstream attention into a single ecosystem. That timing could shape how matchmakers, matchmaking style, and marketing positioning develop, especially for an MMA debut that is expected to draw mainstream interest beyond the sport’s usual base.

Even with that broader promotional context, Paul’s stated openness to Gracie does not automatically mean a deal is done or that a specific camp is locked in. Without official confirmation from the parties involved, the most concrete takeaway is that Paul is exploring elite instruction for a move into MMA, and the reported 2027 window sets expectations for when fans and the sport will start testing that plan in an actual bout.

For Royce Gracie, the connection would also be part of a larger theme in MMA’s business cycle: the continued effort to bridge credibility and star power. Gracie’s name carries a legacy that MMA promotions often leverage when they want to emphasize technique and legitimacy as new or cross-over athletes enter the sport.

What to watch next is whether Paul’s team publicly identifies a training location, announces a training partnership, or clarifies the debut target date with the relevant governing and promotional parties. Also, the progress of the MVP-PFL merger will be worth monitoring, because it could affect not only event branding in 2027, but also how soon new main-event opportunities appear for cross-over fighters like Paul.