The combat sports world is buzzing after Shakur Stevenson’s surprising release from his Zuffa Boxing contract. The undefeated four-division champion announced on his YouTube channel on October 19 that his request to part ways with the promotion had been granted over the weekend, making him an official free agent.
The move comes as a shock, especially since Stevenson hasn’t fought a single time since signing a multi-fight deal with Zuffa Boxing in July 2026. He had previously voiced his frustration over being kept on the sidelines, revealing that he spent eight weeks in training camp preparing for potential fights against Devin Haney, Manny Pacquiao, and Antuanne Russell, only for none of them to materialize.
Along with announcing his free agency, Stevenson revealed plans to take control of his career by launching his own promotional company. Losing one of boxing’s biggest talents is undoubtedly a blow for Zuffa Boxing.
However, Jake Paul wasted no time taking a shot at the UFC over the situation, calling attention to how the promotion has kept Jon Jones around despite the former two-division champion announcing his retirement last year and having no fights scheduled since.
Jake Paul Urges UFC to Release Jon Jones to Set Up Superfight With Francis Ngannou
Ever since Jones vacated the heavyweight title and refused to face Tom Aspinall in a unification bout in June 2025, he has remained on the sidelines while the UFC brass has shown little interest in bringing him back. His calls to compete at UFC Freedom 250 and pursue a superfight with Alex Pereira were both publicly dismissed by Dana White on multiple occasions.
With Jones now coaching Gable Steveson and his last fight coming at UFC 309 in November 2024, it seems increasingly likely that fans have seen the last of him inside the Octagon. However, despite his apparent fallout with the promotion, Jones has yet to secure his release from the UFC.
That is where Jake Paul has stepped in. The MVP promoter publicly called on the UFC to release Jones so he could finally arrange a superfight against Francis Ngannou. Taking to X, Paul wrote, “Can Jon Jones request a release like Shakur Stevenson so we can go ahead and do this Francis Ngannou vs Jon Jones fight?”
He followed it up with another message, adding, “They already said they are never working with Francis. So let Jon fly, and we can give the fans what they want. Please and thank you.”
Can Jon Jones request a release like Shakur Stevenson so we can go ahead and do this Francis Ngannou vs Jon Jones fight?
They already said they are never working with Francis. So let Jon fly and we can give the fans what they want. Please and thank you.
@JonnyBones @francis_ngannou
— Jake Paul (@jakepaul) October 19, 2026
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Jones has already made his desire to leave the UFC public and has reportedly been exploring ways to get out of his contract to fight Ngannou under the MVP MMA banner. Paul’s post was quickly reposted by Jones and also caught the attention of Ngannou himself.
“The Predator” responded with a message that reflected his own experience fighting for his UFC release. He wrote, “Freedom isn’t free. It’s not given, but it’s taken.”
Freedom isn’t free; it’s not given, but it’s taken.
— Francis Ngannou (@francis_ngannou) October 19, 2026
The comment was a nod to Ngannou’s own departure from the UFC. After his last appearance at UFC 270 in January 2022, the former heavyweight champion sat out for a year before finally securing his release in January 2023.
Since leaving the promotion, Ngannou has stepped into the boxing ring against Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua while also returning to MMA for two bouts. Those included a PFL showdown with Renan Ferreira and, most recently, a fight against Philipe Lins in May 2026.
Jones may now be hoping to follow a similar path, but getting out of his UFC contract won’t be as simple as posting about it on social media. And while Paul’s tweet has put the potential superfight back in the spotlight, there is still a long way to go before fans can expect to see Jones and Ngannou finally share a cage.
Kshitiz Kumar Singh is a UFC Writer at NY Fights with over three years of experience in sports journalism and content creation. Known for his sharp storytelling and passion for combat sports, he has written in-depth features on stars like Brock Lesnar, Randy Couture, and Ilia Topuria. Before joining NY Fights, Kshitiz worked as a UFC Editor at EssentiallySports while currently serving as a WWE Editor at FirstSportz. His admiration for legends like Georges St-Pierre continues to inspire his detailed and engaging MMA coverage. Whether he’s covering the Octagon or the squared circle, Kshitiz is committed to delivering accurate, high-quality content. Outside the world of sports, he’s a dedicated cinephile, often found practicing monologues from his favorite Al Pacino films, combining his love for cinema with storytelling.
