Bellator

DOUGLAS LIMA revealed his respect for Jake Paul and refuses to call him ‘s***’ but said fighting the YouTuber would be ‘too easy’. Paul, who is 4-0 as a boxer, has made a habit of feuding MMA fighters lately with his last two wins coming against ex-UFC stars.
Douglas Lima revealed his respect to Jake Paul and refuses to call him ‘s***’Credit: Getty
Jake Paul beat ex-UFC champion Tyron WoodleyCredit: Getty Images – Getty
The most recent was a points win over ex-UFC champion Tyron Woodley, 39, which followed from a knockout win against Ben Askren, 37.
His older brother Logan is officially 0-1 as a professional boxer following defeat to online rival KSI, 28, a year after they drew in an exhibition.
But Logan stunned all after he faced boxing legend Floyd Mayweather, 44, in an exhibition in June and survived all eight rounds.
Ex-Bellator champion Lima is in full admiration of the brothers, especially unbeaten Jake, but fancies his chances against both.
He told MMA Fighting: “I think I would defeat either one of them, easy.
“[Jake] is tough. Jake Paul beat Woodley and everything, the guy trains hard, I see him training with professionals.
“I wouldn’t disrespect and call him s***. He has my respect.”

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Lima, 33, returns to the cage on Saturday, in a rematch against Britain’s Michael Venom Page, 34, who he beat in 2019.
The Brazilian, who is coming off two loses, has the welterweight title well within his sights again.
But he refused to rule out a switch to the boxing ring, and reckons the Paul brothers are easy money.
Lima said: “Boxing would be good. Boxing those brothers and make some good money.
“That would be cool. But, [going to] other organisations like the UFC, I never even stopped to think about it.
“Boxing one of these guys would be too easy. I’m focused on Page, of course, but I hope that happens one day.”
UFC star Michael ‘Venom’ Page shows what he is made of in the training ring More

MICHAEL VENOM PAGE has backed Jake Paul’s movement to increase fighter pay – but would ‘definitely’ return to boxing to face him. YouTube star Paul has vocally called out Dana White and accused the UFC president of underpaying his roster.
Michael Venom Page would ‘definitely’ return to boxing to fight Jake PaulCredit: Getty
Jake Paul’s movement to increase fighter pay was backed by Michael Venom PageCredit: Getty Images – Getty
And he even claimed to have taken money out of his own purse from his last fight to contribute to increasing the money given to undercard fighters.
Bellator welterweight MVP admitted it is no wonder ex-MMA champions are crossing over to the boxing ring in search of a bigger payday.
He told Sky Sports: “Yeah, I’m a massive supporter of what he’s doing there, and I completely agree with him on that side.
“Why is it that fighters are so eager to then jump ship? It’s because we’re not being paid what we should be paid in our thing
“This is why he’s completely right. Nobody would entertain these kind of fights, if we were being treated the way we should be treated.”
Paul, 24, won his professional debut against online rival ‘AnEsonGib in January and 11 months later knocked out ex-NBA star Nate Robinson, 37.

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His last two fights have been against former UFC fighters Ben Askren, 37, which ended in another KO and a points decision over Tyron Woodley, 39.
Venom Page, 34, who is 2-0 as a boxer, tipped Woodley to beat Paul and is now ready to instead get the job done himself.
He said: “These kind of stuff is it’s annoying, I get why it’s happening. Obviously, business-wise, a lot of money that’s drawn in.
“But, I thought Tyron Woodley was going to correct this whole crazy world that we’re living in right now.
“Just to correct the world, I would definitely jump in and just knock him out, shake his hand afterwards and say, ‘Continue doing what you’re doing.’
“Yeah, I just need to prove to everyone that this is nonsense.”
I would definitely jump in and just knock him out, shake his hand afterwards and say, ‘Continue doing what you’re doing.’ Michael Venom Page on Jake Paul
Venom Page is unbeaten in his last five MMA fights, losing just once in his career, against Douglas Lima in 2019.
He now rematches Lima, 33, on Friday and has the chance to avenge the loss in front of his home crowd at Wembley Arena in London.
Venom Page said: “It’s been two years, so I’m definitely excited I think it’s amazing that it’s actually happening, I’ve got it in the hometown.
“I feel a lot of my supporters were with me on this journey, When I lost that fight, it hurt them just as much.
“And now they have the ability to come and witness the redemption.”
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ANTHONY TAYLOR said it is ‘disturbing’ that he got paid more for two months of sparring with Jake Paul than his did in his MMA career. The American is 7-5 in MMA and fought five times for Bellator, the UFC’s closest rivals.
Anthony Taylor pictured with Jake PaulCredit: Instagram / @anthony_prettyboy
But he has made a name for himself more recently for acting as the sparring partner for YouTuber-turned boxer Paul.
He helped the social media star earlier in the year before beating retired UFC welterweight Ben Askren, 37, in April.
And Taylor, 32, returned to Paul’s camp to help his friend prepare to fight ex-UFC champion Tyron Woodley, 39, on August 29.
He revealed the money earned for the rounds of sparring was surprisingly more than anything he got in MMA.
Taylor told Betway Insider: “I had the opportunity to fight in Cage Warriors but I couldn’t pass up the money Jake was offering.
 “I’m getting paid more money as Jake’s training partner in two months than I made in my whole entire MMA career in six years.

“I swear to god, I made more money with Jake in two months than my whole MMA career.
“That’s disturbing when you think about it, because I fought for Bellator. I’ve fought two top five contenders in Bellator and I had a good run.
“It’s time to take it up a notch and fight for the UFC.”
Paul, 24, has further afforded Tayor opportunities with a fight on his undercard.
The Bellator lightweight will face Britain’s Tommy Fury, 22, who is looking to earn a fight against Paul himself.
“I swear to god, I made more money with Jake in two months than my whole MMA career. That’s disturbing when you think about itAnthony Taylor
Taylor said: “I’m about to bloody him up. He’s going to be in a dog fight. He’s underestimating me, he’s looking over me.
“He thinks he is flying into Cleveland to win and then face off with Jake, but he ain’t even going to see Jake that night.
“When you compare Tommy’s fights to Jake’s fights, Tommy’s fights are embarrassing.
“Tommy fought a guy with 10 wins and 126 losses – Jake would never fight a guy like that.
“He’s not that skilled. I want what he has; the money, the status, everything.”
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TOMMY FURY could be just one fight away from facing Jake Paul – but first has to beat the YouTuber’s sparring partner. Fury features on his online rival’s undercard on August 29, which will help build towards a pay-per-view clash between the celebrity pair.

But standing in the Love Island star’s way is MMA fighter Taylor, a sparring partner of Paul’s.
It will mark Fury’s US debut and gives him the perfect chance to send out a message to Paul, who headlines the night against Tyron Woodley.
Here, SunSport runs down how he compares to Taylor.
Tommy Fury
Fury was born into boxing having grown up watching brother Tyson and cousin Hughie, while being trained by his dad John and uncle Peter.
He quietly learnt his trade in the gym but had a limited amateur career of only ten bouts.
After being a relatively unknown but ever-present part of Tyson’s team, in 2018 Fury turned professional with much fanfare.
But that sky rocketed in the summer of 2019, when he entered ITV’s hit reality TV show Love Island, while 2-0.
After coming runner-up with now-girlfriend Molly-Mae Hague, Fury became a star of his own, well out of Tyson’s shadow.
In the period since, he has improved to 6-0 with signs of promise, but still remains untested having faced only journeymen opponents.
Fury, 22, was taken the distance in his return to the ring in June, but showed glimpses of a smart jab and eye-catching right uppercut.
He will take in not only an experience advantage over Taylor, he is also naturally a STONE heavier, and has a bigger reach.
Tommy Fury is 6-0 in his careerCredit: PA

Anthony Taylor
Taylor, 32, turned pro in MMA six years ago but got off to a rocky start, losing four of his first seven.
That included a submission defeat to Conor McGregor’s protege James Gallagher in 2016.
But recently, Taylor has won his last four on the spin, not losing in three years, and recently beat Nate Diaz’s training partner Chris Avila.
The part-time actor, who even had a career as a STRIPPER before fighting, has boxed just once before, losing by split-decision to Donte Stubbs.
But he made a name for himself earlier in the year after calling out Paul to a sparring session, which was later set up.
And despite bad blood between the two initially, they formed a friendship and continue to train together now.
Taylor has been helping Paul in preparation for his fourth fight, against ex-UFC champion Woodley, 39.
He usually fights at 155lb, but will have to step up all the way to 180lb for his boxing match with Fury.
Jake Paul pictured with sparring partner Anthony TaylorCredit: Instagram @anthony_prettyboy More

TOMMY FURY could be one fight away from facing Jake Paul – but first has to beat the YouTuber’s sparring partner. Fury features on his online rival’s undercard on August 29, which will help build towards a pay-per-view clash between the celebrity pair.

But standing in the Love Island star’s way is MMA fighter Taylor, a sparring partner of Paul’s.
It will mark Fury’s US debut and gives him the perfect chance to send out a message to Paul, who headlines the night against Tyron Woodley.
Here, SunSport runs down how he compares to Taylor.
Tommy Fury
Fury was born into boxing having grown up watching brother Tyson and cousin Hughie, while being trained by his dad John and uncle Peter.
He quietly learnt his trade in the gym but had a limited amateur career of only ten bouts.
After being a relatively unknown but ever-present part of Tyson’s team, in 2018 Fury turned professional with much fanfare.
But that sky rocketed in the summer of 2019, when he entered ITV’s hit reality TV show Love Island, while 2-0.
After coming runner-up with now-girlfriend Molly-Mae Hague, Fury became a star of his own, well out of Tyson’s shadow.
In the period since, he has improved to 6-0 with signs of promise, but still remains untested having faced only journeymen opponents.
Fury, 22, was taken the distance in his return to the ring in June, but showed glimpses of a smart jab and eye-catching right uppercut.
He will take in not only an experience advantage over Taylor, he is also naturally a STONE heavier, and has a bigger reach.
Tommy Fury is 6-0 in his careerCredit: PA
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Anthony Taylor
Taylor, 32, turned pro in MMA six years ago but got off to a rocky start, losing four of his first seven.
That included a submission defeat to Conor McGregor’s protege James Gallagher in 2016.
But recently, Taylor has won his last four on the spin, not losing in three years, and recently beat Nate Diaz’s training partner Chris Avila.
The part-time actor, who even had a career as a STRIPPER before fighting, has boxed just once before, losing by split-decision to Donte Stubbs.
But he made a name for himself earlier in the year after calling out Paul to a sparring session, which was later set up.
And despite bad blood between the two initially, they formed a friendship and continue to train together now.
Taylor has been helping Paul in preparation for his fourth fight, against ex-UFC champion Woodley, 39.
He usually fights at 155lb, but will have to step up all the way to 180lb for his boxing match with Fury.
Jake Paul pictured with sparring partner Anthony TaylorCredit: Instagram @anthony_prettyboy More