Jake Paul Cleared to Fight, Eyes Sean Strickland Boxing Bout

Jake Paul has been medically cleared to return to the ring after recovering from a broken jaw, and UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland is on the comeback wish list he's circulating.

Paul's recovery update comes alongside a list of opponents he's targeting before he eventually steps away from combat sports, and Strickland's name sits right behind Conor McGregor on it. The timing lines up with Strickland's own frustration boiling over on social media after a planned title defense against Nassourdine Imavov at UFC 335 collapsed over money. Strickland made clear he felt the promotion would not pay him what he believes he is worth, and Paul used the moment to needle him publicly.

"Sean Strickland I see your texts but are you out of contract? Tell your 'promoter' to call MVP," Paul wrote on X, a direct invitation aimed at pulling Strickland away from the UFC and into a boxing ring under Paul's Most Valuable Promotions banner.

Why Strickland Makes Sense For Paul

Sean Strickland fits the mold of opponent Paul has repeatedly chased throughout his boxing career: a credentialed, well-known fighter from another combat sport with no professional boxing background. Strickland is a reigning UFC champion, which gives any matchup instant mainstream attention, but he would be walking into Paul's own sport for the first time. Nothing here is official. Strickland has not confirmed he is out of his UFC contract, and no fight has been signed. But the fact that bookmakers have already installed odds on the matchup shows how seriously the industry is taking the possibility.

Betting Angle

Oddsmakers who have weighed in on a hypothetical Paul-Strickland boxing match have installed Paul as the favorite. That lines up with how the market has treated Paul's past fights against opponents who built their reputations in other combat sports rather than in the boxing ring. Strickland brings name value and a legitimate fighting pedigree, but stepping into boxing for the first time against a fighter with Paul's ring experience is a tough ask, and the early betting sentiment reflects that. Until a contract is signed and an event date is set, though, any number attached to this matchup should be treated as speculative rather than fixed.

Paul has not fought since suffering the broken jaw that forced him out of action, and his camp has not announced a return date or opponent. Whether Strickland ends up being the fighter who gets him back in the ring will likely hinge on his UFC contract situation, which remains unresolved.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Jake Paul cleared to fight again?

Yes, Jake Paul has been medically cleared to return to the boxing ring after recovering from a broken jaw.

Will Jake Paul fight Sean Strickland?

No fight is official, but Sean Strickland appears on Jake Paul's list of desired opponents, and Strickland has publicly engaged with Paul about a potential boxing match amid frustration with his UFC contract situation.

What happened with Sean Strickland and UFC 335?

Sean Strickland's planned title fight against Nassourdine Imavov at UFC 335 fell apart over a pay dispute, which led Strickland to vent online and link himself to a possible Jake Paul boxing match.