Paul's Pitch To Khabib For MVP Falls Flat

Jake Paul's attempt to recruit Khabib Nurmagomedov to his newly merged MVP-PFL promotion went nowhere at the New York fight card last weekend.

Paul cornered the retired lightweight champion after Khabib's cousin Usman Nurmagomedov stopped Archie Colgan in the main event, per MMA Mania. The YouTuber-turned-promoter pitched his vision for changing mixed martial arts.

Khabib's Response To Paul's MVP Offer

"With what we're doing, this merger with MVP, we're changing MMA forever where we give fighters a better place to live," Paul told Khabib, according to video captured at the event. "If you fought for us, it would monumentally change the sport forever. So it's about change."

Khabib offered a polite "I think it's good — it's good for MMA" when asked about the merger itself, but his expression when Paul suggested he fight for the organization told a different story. The former UFC champion, who walked away from the sport in 2020 with a 29-0 record after stopping Justin Gaethje, has turned down massive UFC offers to return and now works full-time as a coach.

Usman Nurmagomedov, who became a free agent after the stoppage win, is in talks to join UFC later this year. Khabib remains retired at 37.

Reported via:

• MMA Mania — Don’t send location! Watch Jake Paul’s feeble attempt to recruit Khabib for MVP MMA