‘Anthony slept you’… Jake Paul mocks Francis Ngannou to his face in awkward backstage encounter

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‘Anthony slept you’… Jake Paul mocks Francis Ngannou to his face in awkward backstage encounter

Originally posted on Bloody Elbow | By Donagh Corby | Last updated May 16, 2026 1:29 AM ET

Jake Paul and Francis Ngannou compared knockout defeats to Anthony Joshua in a bizarre verbal altercation at Intuit Dome tonight.

Legendary heavyweight MMA champion Ngannou was viciously knocked out by Joshua in 2024, before Paul took him on in December of last year. They were both stopped, although the American managed to survive almost three times as long with a much more negative fight style before having his jaw broken.

Ngannou was reportedly offered the chance to replace Gervonta Davis in the slot that ended up being Joshua, but turned it down. Now as he prepares for his first MMA fight in almost two years against Philipe Lins, he is already eyeing a potential showdown with the event’s promoter.

Jake Paul and Francis Ngannou face-off backstage in LA

Before he took to the stage for his final face-off with Philipe Lins, Francis Ngannou ran into Jake Paul backstage at Intuit Dome. The pair are known to have a tetchy relationship, and it was no different this time as they teased a fight.

“What did you dream of when Anthony slept you?” Paul asked Ngannou, who simply replied that he dreamt “of fighting, not of sprinting.” There has been widespread mockery of the YouTuber for his tactics in the Joshua fight, which included shooting for the legs and staying at a comical distance.

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When Ngannou asked if he was dreaming now, Paul replied that “you were dreaming when Joshua knocked you out”. The MMA champion then questioned if his rival ever even had a fight with the Brit, or if he was just running away.

“I know you’re not a boxer, but the first rule of boxing is hit and don’t get hit,” Paul continued. “Use your footwork. I’m not a big clunky guy like you stuck in sand.” Ngannou then asked if Paul’s jaw was okay, and the pair appeared to suggest that a fight was imminent.

When it came to Ngannou and Lins’ actual face-off, Paul opted to step away from his promoter’s role of standing between the fighters to give them their moment. Instead, UFC legend Cain Velasquez was tasked with the role.

This article first appeared on Bloody Elbow and was syndicated with permission.

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