Khabib Nurmagomedov's former manager suggests ex-UFC heavyweight champion as Jake Paul's next opponent

Jake Paul
Jake Paul's fight against Gervonta Davis is in jeopardy. [Image courtesy: Getty]

Khabib Nurmagomedov’s former manager, Ali Abdelaziz, has stirred the pot by floating the name of a former UFC heavyweight champion as a possible opponent for Jake Paul. The timing is perfect, as Paul’s Nov. 14 exhibition bout against Gervonta Davis hangs in the balance following serious legal allegations against the boxer.

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Abdelaziz named Junior Dos Santos as a potential opponent for Paul. Dos Santos has competed in 23 bouts under the promotion, winning 15 of them, with nine knockouts. Known for his sharp boxing and heavy hands, he once reigned as one of the division’s most dangerous strikers before moving to bare-knuckle competition and regional MMA circuits in recent years.

He took to X and wrote:

"Junior dos Santos vs Jake Paul. Who wants to see this fight?"
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Check out Ali Abdelaziz's X post below:

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Paul’s team, Most Valuable Promotions, and their partner Netflix are reportedly scrambling to salvage the event after a civil lawsuit was filed in Miami-Dade County, accusing Davis of multiple violent offenses. Authorities are investigating, and the promotion has stated that the fight’s future will depend on the findings.

With the main event in limbo, several names have surfaced as potential replacements. Francis Ngannou leads the list given his crossover appeal and prior boxing experience against Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury. Nate Diaz and Ryan Garcia have also been mentioned amongst other options.

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Jake Paul's promotion breaks silence as Gervonta Davis faces kidnapping allegations

Jake Paul has addressed the growing uncertainty surrounding his Nov. 14 exhibition fight with Gervonta Davis after serious allegations surfaced against the lightweight star. Davis was accused of battery, false imprisonment, and kidnapping by his former partner in a civil lawsuit filed in Miami-Dade County.

The Miami Gardens Police Department is reportedly investigating the case. Paul’s promotional company, Most Valuable Promotions, confirmed they are reviewing the situation before deciding whether the fight will proceed.

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The promotion released a statement addressing the allegations against Davis, which read:

"Most Valuable Promotions immediately initiated an investigation upon learning of the civil lawsuit filed against Gervonta Davis in Miami-Dade County on October 30, 2025. At this time, we are gathering information and reviewing the details to ensure any decision we make is thoroughly vetted.
"We unequivocally condemn any form of violence and are committed to handling this matter with diligence and respect for all involved. We will make a determination on next steps once we have completed our review and consulted with the appropriate parties. Until then, we will not be commenting further."

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Edited by Abhishek Nambiar
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