UFC champion Ilia Topuria called Jake Paul a bad boxer during an appearance on Adin Ross' Kick stream, leading to a live confrontation where both traded insults and agreed to spar. Topuria referenced Paul's recent jaw injury from his loss to Anthony Joshua, while Paul mocked Topuria's height and MMA fighters. No official fight has been confirmed, but the exchange has generated significant online buzz.
Ilia Topuria, the UFC's two-division champion holding both featherweight and lightweight titles with an undefeated 17-0 record, appeared on Adin Ross' Kick stream on February 26, 2026. When asked about Jake Paul, the YouTuber-turned-boxer, Topuria did not hold back. "He’s a very bad boxer," Topuria said, acknowledging Paul's success in marketing and brand-building but criticizing his boxing skills. He specifically called Paul's 2021 win over a 46-year-old Anderson Silva a "disgrace" and labeled him a "joke" for treating it as a legitimate victory.
The conversation escalated when Paul called into the stream live, sparking a 15-to-20-minute exchange filled with personal jabs. Paul defended his record and challenged Topuria: "Hey, I respect you, bro. I think you’re awesome. I just think if you think I’m a bad boxer, then we should spar." Topuria accepted immediately: "Yeah, whenever you want. I’m open to it. Your jaw is okay already?"
Topuria's remark alluded to Paul's broken jaw suffered in a sixth-round knockout loss to Anthony Joshua on December 19, 2025, which required a second surgery on February 20, 2026, due to hardware complications. Paul countered by claiming other UFC fighters, like Paddy Pimblett, had backed out of sparring offers, including a $1 million deal with private jet accommodations. Topuria responded sarcastically: "As a YouTuber and streamer, you’re the best boxer. But compared to real boxers? You’d never be on that list. As a boxer, you suck."
Paul mocked Topuria's height, calling him a "little guy" at 5'6" and declaring, "All you MMA fighters are trash. You’re not gonna touch me." Topuria fired back: "Maybe I'm not the highest guy in the room but I'm gonna give you a combo that's gonna put you at the height of my balls. You’re gonna be on your f—king knees." He clarified that under MMA rules, the outcome would differ, and Paul surprisingly agreed to consider it.
Topuria is awaiting his next UFC fight in the second quarter of 2026, potentially at the UFC White House event on June 14, delayed by personal issues. Paul remains sidelined from his injury. Clips from the stream quickly spread on X and TikTok, fueling memes and discussions, though it remains verbal sparring for now.