Bellator

JAKE PAUL was warned he would be beaten in a boxing match by Conor McGregor’s training partner Dillon Danis. Danis, a 2-0 Bellator welterweight, has long rivalled the YouTuber online but the pair are yet to settle the score.
Peter Queally with sparring partner Dillon Danis
Jake Paul has had a long-running feud with Dillon Danis onlineCredit: ryan@ryanloco.com
The jujitsu champion has not lost hope of facing the 3-0 social media star-turned boxer and continues to tease a venture into the ring.
And after a recent sparring session with gym-mate Peter Queally, Danis was backed to take the bragging rights home.
Queally, 34, posted: “Hadn’t sparred @dillondanis in ages and honestly was just gassing him up about the Jake Paul fight the past few months because he is my friend.
“This is exactly what you should be doing by the way, if your friends aren’t gassing you up every chance they get then they aren’t your friends.
“But anyway, after what I witnessed from him today, I have now seen enough empirical evidence to say he beats Jake in a boxing match.
“Set it up!!”
Paul, 24, offered Danis, 27, a fight in March but the unbeaten MMA contender was ruled out with a knee injury.
The social media star instead went on to face retired UFC welterweight Ben Askren, 36, in April, winning in the first round.

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Paul has since signed for Showtime, the same network who televise Danis’ MMA promotion Bellator.
But the internet celebrity ruled out ever fighting his rival, as he insisted it would not be a challenge and unfair for the fans to pay for.
Paul told SunSport: “If I were to fight Dillon the excuses would pile in even before I destroy him.
“They’d say, ‘He’s only had two fights, he does jiujitsu and he’s not a striker’.
“I’m not challenging myself, I’m almost letting the fans down and the community as I’m literally going to go in there and knock this guy out in one or two rounds.
“I’m tired of my fans paying $50 and they only get one minute. I want a challenge. I want someone to punch me in the f***ing face.
“This is fighting and I haven’t been hit yet in my three professional fights.
“I’m a little disappointed and I know I don’t get paid extra being in there for longer rounds but, like let’s put on a show here.”
Tommy Fury says he would break Jake Paul’s jaw and knock his teeth out if he stole his cap More

JAKE PAUL said Dillon Danis ‘lives with his mum’ and ruled out fighting his rival as he would be ‘letting the fans down’. The YouTuber has been feuding with Danis, one of Conor McGregor’s training partners, for several years.
Jake Paul ruled out fighting his rival as he would be ‘letting the fans down’Credit: Rex
Dillon Danis has feuded with Jake Paul over the last few yearsCredit: The Mega Agency
It led to Paul, 24, offering the 2-0 Bellator welterweight a boxing match for March this year.
But Danis, 27, was ruled out with a knee injury, and Ben Askren, 36, who retired from the UFC in 2019, instead took the fight and was knocked out.
Despite the personal grudge between the two, Paul is adamant the jiujitsu champion has missed out on the chance to box him.
He told SunSport: “It’s a genuine beef for sure.
“But at this point he’s just a McGregor fan boy, clout-chasing, 27-year-old guy who lives with his mum and just talks s*** to me on Instagram trying to fight me.
“But when the contract was presented to his face months ago he denied it.
“And I told him, ‘Yo man, if you don’t take the fight now I’m never going to fight you because you’re going to become irrelevant after this, you’re not even a challenge to me right now, let alone after I beat Ben Askren.
“It’s just left in the dust, he missed his opportunity and he will forever be known as a 2-0 jiujitsu guy who fights in Bellator and that nobody cares about.”

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Paul made his boxing debut in January 2020, stopping online rival ‘AnEsonGib’ in one round after two knockdowns.
He later scored highlight-reel KOs against ex-NBA star Nate Robinson and Askren, both 36.
But yet to face an experienced boxer or MMA fighter with proven striking skills, Paul’s record has come under question.
Desperate for a step up in competition, he has ruled out boxing Danis and claimed it would be a waste of his fans’ time and money to watch it.
Paul said: “After I beat each one of my opponents everyone makes excuses for them.
“So before the Ben Askren fight everyone was like, ‘Oh, Jake’s going to lose. Ben Askren’s a real fighter’.
“It was sort of 50/50, people didn’t know what was going to happen.
Ben Askren was knocked out by Jake Paul in the first roundCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Dillon Danis pictured with training partner Conor McGregor
“Then I beat him and people say, ‘He’s just a wrestler, not a striker, fight someone who is legit’.
“Ben is a guy that’s gone up against some of the best strikers in the welterweight division and has won 19 times.
“If I were to fight Dillon the excuses would pile in even before I destroy him. They’d say, ‘He’s only had two fights, he does jiujitsu and he’s not a striker’.
“I’m not challenging myself, I’m almost letting the fans down and the community as I’m literally going to go in there and knock this guy out in one or two rounds.
“I’m tired of my fans paying $50 and they only get one minute. I want a challenge. I want someone to punch me in the f***ing face.
“This is fighting and I haven’t been hit yet in my three professional fights.
“I’m a little disappointed and I know I don’t get paid extra being in there for longer rounds but, like let’s put on a show here.”
Colby Covington brands Jake Paul a snake and calls YouTuber’s KO of Ben Askren a work More

UFC and backstreet brawling legend Kimbo Slice SNUBBED the one piece of advice Mike Tyson gave him at a gig.
Iron Mike knows a thing or two about fighting after his legendary career as one of the greatest heavyweight boxers of all time.

Kimbo Slice was handed one bit of advice from Mike Tyson at a gig in Miami – but chose to ignore the legendCredit: Splash News

He met Slice – real name Kevin Ferguson – at a gig in Miami and shared a crucial tip, as revealed by a close friend as part of the UFC ‘Fightlore’ series.
Speaking of Slice’s rise from cult internet hero to mainstream stardom and the fame that came with it, the friend said: “But the first time that I realised that I went way beyond the internet was when we went to a concert at the Miami Arena.
“And we were back there, and we look over, and Tyson was there and he called us over.
“He’s like, ‘Hey man, I am a big fan of your work.’

“I’m just blown away that this was even happening, Fergs even managed to shake his hand.
“I’ll never forget this, Tyson says, ‘Can I give you one piece of advice?’ He goes, ‘Don’t ever go pro’.”
Ferguson attracted huge attention after a videos of his backstreet brawls in Miami went viral on YouTube.
He instantly became an internet sensation – Rolling Stone even labelled him the King of the Web Brawlers.

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That led to time with Elite XC before he joined the Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweight series – part of the UFC – ignoring Tyson’s advice.
He beat Houston Alexander in his UFC debut in December 2009 before losing to Matt Mitrione by TKO five months later at UFC 113.
After that, Slice won all seven of his pro boxing bouts then switched back to MMA by signing with Bellator.
He had a win at Bellator 136 and a no contest at Bellator 149 before he was due to headline the 158th event at London’s O2 Arena.
However, the Bahamas-born star tragically died of heart failure on June 6, 2016 aged just 42.

Tyson suggested Slice should not got pro but he ignored the heavyweight hero and tried his hand in boxing and MMACredit: Getty Images – Getty

Mike Tyson wants to ‘go all out’ in next fight after holding back against Jones Jr and reveals gruelling fitness workout More

UFC and backstreet brawling legend Kimbo Slice SNUBBED the one piece of advice Mike Tyson gave him.
Iron Mike knows a thing or two about fighting after his legendary career as one of the greatest heavyweight boxers of all time.

Kimbo Slice was handed one bit of advice from Mike Tyson at a gig in Miami – but chose to ignore the legendCredit: Splash News

He met Slice – real name Kevin Ferguson – at a gig in Miami and shared a crucial tip, as revealed by a close friend as part of the UFC ‘Fightlore’ series.
Speaking of Slice’s rise from cult internet hero to mainstream stardom and the fame that came with it, the friend said: “But the first time that I realised that I went way beyond the internet was when we went to a concert at the Miami Arena.
“And we were back there, and we look over, and Tyson was there and he called us over.
“He’s like, ‘Hey man, I am a big fan of your work.’

“I’m just blown away that this was even happening, Fergs even managed to shake his hand.
“I’ll never forget this, Tyson says, ‘Can I give you one piece of advice?’ He goes, ‘Don’t ever go pro’.”
Ferguson attracted huge attention after a videos of his backstreet brawls in Miami went viral on YouTube.
He instantly became an internet sensation – Rolling Stone even labelled him the King of the Web Brawlers.

CHELTENHAM FREE BETS: GET £140 IN FREE BETS

That led to time with Elite XC before he joined the Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweight series – part of the UFC – ignoring Tyson’s advice.
He beat Houston Alexander in his UFC debut in December 2009 before losing to Matt Mitrione by TKO five months later at UFC 113.
After that, Slice won all seven of his pro boxing bouts then switched back to MMA by signing with Bellator.
He had a win at Bellator 136 and a no contest at Bellator 149 before he was due to headline the 158th event at London’s O2 Arena.
However, the Bahamas-born star tragically died of heart failure on June 6, 2016 aged just 42.

Tyson suggested Slice should not got pro but he ignored the heavyweight hero and tried his hand in boxing and MMACredit: Getty Images – Getty

Mike Tyson wants to ‘go all out’ in next fight after holding back against Jones Jr and reveals gruelling fitness workout More

JAKE PAUL’S assistant trainer wants the YouTuber to fight Dillon Danis next – but he warned: ‘It won’t go past the second round’.
Paul has emerged as one of the most in-demand prizefighters following two stoppage wins in 2020, including a viral knockout against ex-NBA star Nate Robinson.

Jake Paul assistant trainer wants him to fight Dillon Danis next Credit: Getty Images – Getty

Danis and Paul have been going back-and-forth online

The brash 23-year-old is full of potential opponents all keen to get their hands on the boxing upstart.
But he already has a ready made rivalry with jiu jitsu expert Danis – a close friend and training partner of former two-weight UFC champion McGregor.
And Paul’s No2 coach J’Leon Love wants his man to fight the 2-0 Bellator star next – but does not see the grudge match lasting long.
Love told SunSport: “I think Dillon Danis, why not? He’s an MMA fighter, Conor McGregor’s training partner and friend, I think that would be a good win.

“But I don’t see Dillon Danis lasting. First of all, Jake can punch. When I say that, it’s not joke, he’s a strong kid and can punch with either hand.
“He can put you down with the left hook, he can hit you with the right hand, jabs – his fundamentals are a lot better than MMA guys.
“If we can get Dillon Danis, it won’t go past the second round. Maybe three rounds, not even joking.
“If Jake lands the right shot it’s over and he knows he can hit.”

Paul knocking out ex-NBA star Nate RobinsonCredit: � 2020 by ZUMA Wire

Paul has invested heavily in trying persuade McGregor, 32, into a fight – claiming he has already sent the Irishman a $50milllion offer.
But his callouts have so far fell on death-ears with The Notorious more interested in his UFC return on January 23, against Dustin Poirier.
Paul has, however, enjoyed lots of interaction with Danis, 27, who was brought in to help McGregor’s jiu jitsu in 2016 and has been a part of his camp ever since.
The YouTuber recently pulled up on his internet rival on the streets of Los Angeles before pelting him with water balloons.
Paul also FaceTimed Danis’ girlfriend Savannah Montano – who was left unimpressed and called the social media phenomenon a ‘f***ing loser’.

Danis has been a part of Conor McGregor’s camp since 2016

Paul pictured with his assintant trainer J’Leon Love
But Love – a current 24-3-1 super-middleweight – spent several years under the guidance of pay-per-view king Floyd Mayweather and is educated in the importance of pre-fight hype.
And he knows the viral goading between Paul and Danis is a sure way to make dollar bills at the expense of the new age of antics-loving boxing fans.
Love, 33, said: “Remember back in the day, when Mike Tyson and Lennox Lewis, or Hasim Rahman, they just duked it out? See, that’s the old stuff.
“Now, you have to go with the new way and it’s entertainment. Jake’s marketing strategy is pretty damn solid.
“It’s exciting, I don’t know the history too much but I’ve been watching the antics with the girlfriends and pulling up with the water balloons – it’s fun and entertaining.”

Love pictured with his mentor Floyd Mayweather More

KATIE TAYLOR has been given the green light to face former UFC star Cris Cyborg in a world title boxing bout.
But the Irish star, 34, may have to agree to step into the octagon in return for the deal to take place.

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Katie Taylor holds the WBO, WBA, WBC, IBF and Ring Magazine lightweight world titlesCredit: Sportsfile – Subscription
After undisputed lightweight champion Taylor secured a repeat rematch win over Delphine Persoon, the Olympic hero is already seeking a different challenge.
And it is thought an opponent from outside of boxing may be the answer for the WBO, WBC, WBA, IBF and Ring Magazine lightweight world champion.
Now Bellator president Scott Coker confirmed Cyborg could switch across from MMA to challenge the 16-0 Taylor.
Coker told The Telegraph: “I would be thrilled. This is a goal that is important to Cyborg.
“She told me a year ago when I signed her that she wanted to box and become a world champion in boxing.
“We have been approached by three or four females to fight, but while having a boxing title under her belt is something she wants to do, my request is – win, lose, or draw – when the boxing match is done, they reciprocate and come and have an MMA fight in the next six months.
“Then, in my view, it’s fair. If this is something she [Cyborg] wants to do, we are going to support her.”  
Taylor’s promoter Eddie Hearn could get a deal over the line relatively easily due to both his and Bellator’s strong relationship with DAZN.

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Taylor boats a perfect professional record inside the ring, winning all 16 of her fights including six by knockout.
The two-weight world champ retained all her lightweight titles with the win by unanimous decision against Belgian Persoon in Hearn’s Brentwood back garden.
Cyborg, meanwhile, has 22 wins – 18 by knockout – from her 25 MMA fights with two defeats and one no contest.
The Brazilian, 35, lost her very first fight to Erica Paes in her homeland way back in 2005.
Her second defeat came against Amanda Nunes in December 2018 where Cyborg was forced to give up her UFC women’s featherweight championship.
She did, however, win the Bellator equivalent in her latest fight at Bellator 238, beating Julia Budd with a TKO.

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Cyborg could be willing to make the switch across from MMA to boxing – should Taylor go the other way for a rematchCredit: Getty – Contributor

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