“You Ran Like a Duck” – Jake Paul Disses Francis Ngannou to His Face During Netflix Presser

Jake Paul and former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou go back an forth at the inaugural MVP MMA press conference.

“You Ran Like a Duck” – Jake Paul Disses Francis Ngannou to His Face During Netflix Presser

Jake Paul calls out Francis Ngannou (via MMA Mania, Bleacher Report)

In Short
  • Jake Paul criticized Francis Ngannou during a press conference, claiming he "ran like a duck" when offered a fight.
  • Ngannou, who recently left PFL after limited activity, responded by calling Paul's comments disrespectful.
  • The inaugural MVP MMA card is set for May 16, 2026, featuring Ngannou against Philipe Lins and Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano.

Jake Paul has established himself in the boxing world through several high-profile professional bouts. While recovering from a knockout loss to Anthony Joshua, he has also begun shifting focus toward a new MMA venture under Most Valuable Promotions. The promotion signed Francis Ngannou for its inaugural card. During the first press conference, Paul and Ngannou took shots at each other as they discussed the event.

After leaving the UFC, Ngannou signed a deal with PFL, which was expected to mark a new phase of his MMA career. The agreement spanned three years, but Ngannou remained largely inactive during that stretch. He competed only once in the promotion, facing Renan Ferreira in his lone appearance in 2024. Following limited activity during the deal, the Cameroon native was recently released from the promotion.

The inaugural card for MVP MMA is scheduled for May 16, 2026, featuring a main event between Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano. The co-main event will see Ngannou face Brazilian heavyweight Philipe Lins. The inaugural press conference and fighter face-offs took place at Intuit Dome Plaza. During the event, Paul was seated in the audience and responded after Ngannou vowed to beat him if they eventually fight.

Yeah, I mean, I’m down, I’ve always been down. You were the option before Anthony Joshua and you ran like a duck and I bet that you didn’t think I’d last longer than you did with Anthony either so you just know that you’d get worked in boxing and I would love to see it someday.

Jake Paul via MVP MMA press conference

The fight Paul referenced dates back to his December 2025 knockout loss against Anthony Joshua, which came together after a late opponent change. Paul was originally scheduled to face Gervonta Davis before the bout collapsed due to legal issues that forced Davis to withdraw. After the cancellation, Paul searched for a replacement opponent, with Ngannou among the main options, before Joshua was finalized.

However, Ngannou did not take the callout lightly and viewed the comments as disrespectful. The former heavyweight champion pushed back at Paul for bringing his name into a potential matchup that had not been agreed upon. The Cameroonian heavyweight indicated that the discussion about a fight was not money-driven and suggested the matchup made little sense given the significant skill gap between them.

Despite the current tension, Jake Paul and Francis Ngannou did not always share such a strained relationship. Both athletes were previously vocal advocates for better pay for fighters in combat sports. They had also expressed mutual respect for each other on multiple occasions. However, the recent exchange suggests their relationship has shifted as tensions continue to build around a potential future matchup.

Dana White showers Jake Paul with unexpected praise

Dana White and Jake Paul have shared a long-running rivalry that has played out publicly for several years. The tension largely began when Paul started openly criticizing fighter pay in the UFC. He repeatedly called on White to increase compensation for athletes competing under the promotion. Those comments and repeated callouts toward the UFC boss helped fuel a heated back-and-forth between the two figures.

Dana White wants to see Jake Paul knocked out
Dana White wants to see Jake Paul (via MMA Fighting, MMA Mania)

White was increasingly critical of Paul following his bout against Anthony Joshua in December 2025. The UFC CEO argued that crossover fights involving Paul risk hurting the credibility of professional boxing. He continued analyzing Paul’s performance against the former heavyweight champion. The discussion ultimately led to his comparison with Joshua’s earlier knockout win over Francis Ngannou.

Once he got hit with that shot and he went down, broke his jaw, AJ didn’t knock him out. He definitely didn’t knock him out the way he knocked Francis out. So, if I give Jake Paul any credit, I’ll give him that and that he’s built himself a business and he’s made a lot of money.

Dana White via Piers Morgan

In that context, White’s comment on Jake Paul earning money carries added weight given the scale of Paul’s recent payday. Reports indicated Paul earned roughly $92 million from his bout against Joshua in December 2025. Soon after the event, ‘The Problem Child’ purchased a ranch worth around $40 million. Outside the ring, he has also expanded business ventures through promotions and media projects.

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