Ngannou or MMA? Paul targets boxing return this year

Paul had two titanium plates fitted and some teeth removed during surgery after the Joshua bout where he suffered the second defeat of his career.

Bidarian says Paul has recently returned to the gym.

"I saw pictures of him back in the gym with his boxing coach yesterday. So take that for what you will," said Bidarian.

"I know he has a desire to be back in 2026."

Bidarian added that the winner of Nate Diaz's fight with Mike Perry on the Rousey-Carano undercard would be a "great MMA match-up" for Paul in the future.

Paul beat American former UFC star Diaz in a boxing bout in 2023, but both fighters have called for a rematch in MMA.

Paul also has a boxing victory over Perry in 2024.

"I know Jake has talked up Nate a little bit, and Nate's obviously mentioned it, but there's no guarantee that Nate's gonna beat Mike Perry," said Bidarian.

"I think the winner of that fight is a great MMA match-up for Jake Paul, if he wants to do MMA, which he's always consistently said he does.

"I think he'll need a concerted six to eight months of MMA training. He obviously has a wrestling background.

"That's what he was doing in high school. And he hasn't done much jiu-jitsu, so that will be something that will have to be quickly learned."