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      I walked away from pro MMA career to become Conor McGregor’s photographer… now he’s helping me make Misfits Boxing debut

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      PHOTOGRAPHER Dave Fogarty was picturing a career in professional MMA – until Conor McGregor came calling. The Irishman was an amateur champion with World and European medals to his name. Photographer Dave Fogarty with Conor McGregorCredit: Instagram Fogarty training for his boxing debutCredit: Instagram And while training to be a fighter, he picked up the camera as a hobby to do while out the gym and snapped in local Irish shows. That is how he was introduced to McGregor – who later became his boss after the UFC icon offered him a job as his personal photographer. Fogarty, 34, told SunSport: “I definitely could’ve turned pro. “It was definitely on the cards and something I thought about but when my amateur career had come to an end is when I started working full time for Conor.READ MORE IN BOXING“The time commitment working with Conor wouldn’t work with the full time commitment of doing pro MMA. “So I obviously chose to continue working with Conor.”Despite walking away from a fight career, Fogarty has never left MMA. That is because he is on call 24/7 with McGregor, meaning he is always in the gym and around the world’s biggest fights. Most read in BoxingCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSFogarty is among McGregor’s most trusted confidants. The talented snapper is part of McGregor’s core team who travel around the world with him.Watch disgusting moment Conor McGregor dislocates then resets his toe in training as injury sees him pull out of UFC 303Fogarty joins nutritionist Tristan Kennedy and strength coach Julian Dalby along with a padman and masseuse wherever McGregor goes. He said: “The man doesn’t take holidays, he doesn’t take vacations. He’s always doing something, when he’s away, the team is always away with him. “Like he says, there’s a gym on the yacht. Even if he’s on his yacht, he’s still training. He trains all year round. It’s great to be surrounded by that.” Fogarty – who has continued to train since his last MMA bout in 2017 – has captured McGregor’s meteoric rise through his lens. He revealed: “It’s mad. When you step back and see what it must be like for him. “Because when all that stuff is happening, I’m just in work mode making sure I get the pictures and have it covered.  “So to step back and see that’s what he does, day in and day out. That’s his life, it’s crazy. Conor wears different hats. You can be around him sometimes and he’s Conor, your friend and you’re having a buzz. And then, when it’s time to get to work and he becomes the boss.Conor McGregor’s photographer Dave Fogarty “It becomes normal until you step back and realise that it isn’t normal.” Fogarty teased that an upcoming project he worked on with McGregor is due to be released soon. And he opened up on how his close friend can just as quickly flip to strict boss at any moment. He said: “Conor wears different hats. You can be around him sometimes and he’s Conor, your friend and you’re having a buzz. “And then, when it’s time to get to work and he becomes the boss there’s times when I’m taking pictures and it hasn’t been his vision. “And, he’s told me about it. He’s let me know, that’s when it’s Conor the boss. “But there’s times when he loves the pictures and we’re having a buzz. “There’s times where he’s Conor McGregor, head of McGregor Sports & Entertainment or Claymore Productions.’I’ve soaked it all in’“I don’t want people telling me all the time my pictures are great, they’re not always great, no one’s are. “I think it’s important to have that relationship.” Fogarty will now call on McGregor’s expertise as he prepares to make his fight return – this time in the boxing ring. He has signed to Misfits Boxing – home to celebrity-style crossover bouts – and faces their lightweight champion Deen the Great on August 31 in Dublin. Fogarty will be coached by McGregor’s first ever trainer, Irish boxing great Phil Sutcliffe. When travelling with McGregor, he will work under the same coaches and recovery team hired by the UFC legend. He will then jet back to do his sparring under the watchful eye of two-time Olympian Sutcliffe. Fogarty does not rule out McGregor coming to support on the night and will make use of everything he has learned over the years while observing his boss. He is now preparing to make his boxing debutCredit: @ginger_beard_photosHe said: “I’ve soaked it all in. I’ve structured my training camp the exact same way I’ve seen Conor structure his. That’s where I’ve got the blueprint from. “It’s a very precise, measured and calculated way of doing it and it’s the optimal way of doing it. “Obviously, being around Conor and seeing how he’s done it is the way I’ll do it. He’s one of the best minds in combat sports history. “He’s a phenomenal coach, you saw on The Ultimate Fighter how dedicated he is to it, how dedicated and enthusiastic he is. “I’ve taken in so much from him, being around and seeing how he puts his training camps together. “It’s been a huge inspiration to how I’m going to do this.”Fogarty will challenge for Deen’s lightweight belt and prepares to take on a brash-talking unbeaten American. He said: “I’ve said it from the start, He is good. I’m not going to take anything away from him or discredit him. READ MORE SUN STORIES“He is a good fighter, a bit of a mouth, bit arrogant and cocky, but look, he is a good boxer. He’s got power in both hands, moves his head well, moves his feet well. “So I think it’s a big challenge and the hardest fight in the division being the champion. But I’m here for big fights and big opportunities.” Fogarty at the famed Crumlin Boxing ClubCredit: Instagram More

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      Nate Diaz vows to beat Jake Paul’s ‘f***ing ass’ in rematch and calls out UFC star Leon Edwards after Jorge Masvidal win

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      NATE DIAZ set his sights on avenging losses to Jake Paul and Leon Edwards after ticking Jorge Masvidal off the list. Diaz was beaten by current UFC welterweight champion Edwards in 2021 – a year after he walked out on the promotion. Nate Diaz called out Jake Paul for a rematchJake Paul beat Nate Diaz in 2023Credit: Most Valuable Promotions/Ester LinHe proceeded to make his boxing debut against YouTuber-turned-prizefighter Paul last August but it ended in a points defeat. Diaz decided to stick around to rematch Masvidal in the boxing ring after his stoppage loss in the octagon in 2019. And he walked away with bragging rights after winning the boxing rematch via majority-decision. Diaz roared: “I’m gonna beat Jake Paul’s f***ing ass.READ MORE IN BOXING”I’m down to fight the highest-ranked boxer that I can find.”My main objective has always been to be the best fighter in the world so I want to go back and get the UFC title. “Leon Edwards, Jake Paul and anybody the f*** else, you’re dead.”Paul, 27, cruised to a ten-round points decision over Diaz, 39, and offered him a rematch in the cage. Most read in BoxingThe American put out a $15MILLION offer alongside the Professional Fighters League.So Paul was quick to hit back after being called out by Diaz. Paul wrote: “F*** you Nate Diaz you’re a hoe who ducked my PFL $15m MMA offer.”Masvidal trash too.”Jake Paul’s business partner defends controversial Mike Tyson fightMasvidal called for a rematch in the aftermath of his boxing loss with the scored tied level in their series. Masvidal said: “I thought I won, I thought I hit the harder shots.”He did land more volume but I definitely felt I landed the way, way better shots.”Win or lose, all praise to Jesus Christ, my saviour. And we can do it again, we’re 1-1 so we can definitely run it back in boxing.”I felt I won that one, we can definitely find a place to do it again.”Jorge Masvidal was beaten by Nate Diaz in their boxing rematchCredit: GETTY More

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      Conor McGregor wins huge £1.2MILLION bet after backing UFC rival Nate Diaz to beat Jorge Masvidal in boxing rematch

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      CONOR McGREGOR made a huge £1.2MILLION after backing Nate Diaz to beat Jorge Masvidal. Masvidal beat Diaz in the UFC in 2019 after causing a cut deemed too gruesome to fight on with. Nate Diaz won Conor McGregor over £1m by beating Jorge MasvidalCredit: Getty – ContributorMasvidal was beaten by majority-decisionCredit: Fanmio But it only served to keep the bad blood brewing and the rivalry was renewed five years later in the ring. Before the bout, McGregor shared his huge wager as he tipped old UFC rival Diaz – with whom he is 1-1 with – to get revenge in the ring. He posted: “I’ve decided to put $500,000 on Diaz to win tonight’s boxing match. “Range, form, experience, solely hands being used, I can’t see Masvidal causing any problems to Nate in a boxing ring whatsoever. READ MORE IN MMA”They are both little play around dips***s in a fight, play around bollox, but I feel Nate does him in EASY here for real. $500k gets me back $1,625,000 all in.” Diaz, 39, went on to defeat Masvidal, 39, via majority-decision to bank McGregor the huge wager.McGregor, 35, was beaten by Diaz in March 2016 but won the rematch five months later. It was this time Diaz’s turn to triumph in a rematch as his volume shots prevailed over Masvidal’s power punches. Most read in BoxingCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSHe said: “It feels good to get the job done, for sure. Mission accomplished.” Masvidal, who called for a rematch, said: “I thought I won, I thought I hit the harder shots. Jake Paul’s business partner defends controversial Mike Tyson fight”He did land more volume but I definitely felt I landed the way, way better shots.”Win or lose, all praise to Jesus Christ, my saviour. And we can do it again, we’re 1-1 so we can definitely run it back in boxing.”I felt I won that one, we can definitely find a place to do it again.”Masvidal called for a rematchCredit: Fanmio More

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      Nate Diaz BEATS Jorge Masvidal to gain revenge for UFC loss with huge win in boxing rematch

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      NATE DIAZ got sweet revenge five years in the making over Jorge Masvidal after winning their boxing rematch. Masvidal was the initial winner via third-round stoppage at UFC 244 in 2019 after Diaz was pulled out with a cut. Masvidal came out in the southpaw stanceCredit: Fanmio It was back and forth actionCredit: Fanmio Diaz was the busier of the twoCredit: Fanmio Masvidal landed the bigger blowsCredit: Fanmio But it forced the bad blood to only brew and almost half a decade later the rivalry was renewed in the boxing ring. It was a back-and-forth affair over ten rounds but the judges in Diaz’s home of California gave the Stockton man the nod. Diaz said: “It feels good to get the job done, for sure. Mission accomplished.”One judge scored the bout even while the other two had it 97-93 and 98-92 in favour of Diaz as Masvidal called for a rematch. READ MORE IN BOXINGMasvidal said: “I thought I won, I thought I hit the harder shots.”He did land more volume but I definitely felt I landed the way, way better shots. “Win or lose, all praise to Jesus Christ, my saviour. And we can do it again, we’re 1-1 so we can definitely run it back in boxing. “I felt I won that one, we can definitely find a place to do it again.” Most read in BoxingMasvidal sprung up the first surprise of the bout when he came out in the southpaw stance – but it did not prevent Diaz from being the busier of the two.Diaz – known for his relentless output – rolled back the clock in the early stages to swarm Masvidal with combinations.Jake Paul’s business partner defends controversial Mike Tyson fightBut after three rounds, Masvidal began to time his overhand left only for Diaz to just walk forward and take it.Heading into the second half of the fight, Masvidal began to land some telling left hands over the top and air-sucking body shots.In round seven, it was his lead right hook that whipped off Diaz’s chin but the veteran Californian replied right back with a barrage of shots.Masvidal might have thought he landed his best shot of the fight in the eighth but Diaz wore it well and put his hands in the air to motion to the crowd.Somehow, Diaz managed to keep up the same relentless pace that he started the bout with during the final two rounds.But Masvidal, as he did throughout, continued to connect with looping hooks and energy-zapping body shots.Eventually, Diaz’s work rate and volume punching was rewarded as he walked away with the majority-decision win. He now stands 1-1 in the boxing ring having lost his debut last August to Jake Paul – a fight he now wants to revisit along with UFC champion Leon Edwards. READ MORE SUN STORIESMasvidal was beaten on pointsMasvidal landed a strong right hookCredit: GettyDiaz was quick to come backCredit: Getty”My main objective has always been to be the best fighter in the world so I want to go back and get the UFC title,” Diaz said. “Leon Edwards, Jake Paul and anybody the f*** else, you’re dead.” More

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      Jake Paul is ‘p****d’ with Mike Tyson for what boxing legend, 58, did after postponing fight amid health scare

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      MIKE TYSON has left Jake Paul “p****d” for his behaviour after pulling out of their fight. The boxing great was due to face YouTuber-turned-boxer Paul in a controversial clash on July 20 in Texas. Mike Tyson with Nakisa Bidarian and Jake PaulCredit: AFPBut Tyson was forced to withdraw after suffering an ulcer flare up while flying from Miami to Los Angeles. The bout – scrutinised amid the 30-year age gap – has since been rescheduled to November 15. Tyson is on the mend and due to return to training – but after living the high life recently it has left Paul less than impressed. Paul’s business partner Nakisa Bidarian said on The MMA Hour: “He’s doing great and Jake is p***d because he sees in Europe, living life, doing appearances, celebrating his birthday and he’s like, ‘I thought he was injured, what’s going on?’ READ MORE IN boxing “I talked to team Tyson yesterday and they said he’s back, not doing boxing training but doing strength and conditioning and he feels great.”Tyson, 58, retired in 2005 but did return 15 years later for an exhibition with Roy Jones Jr, 55, that ended in a draw after eight rounds.Paul is meanwhile 9-1 in the ring with his only loss coming to Tommy Fury, 25, in 2023. He will now face former UFC star-turned-bare-knuckle boxer Mike Perry, 32, on July 20. Most read in BoxingCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSBut as things stand, Paul, 27, is still slated to face Tyson as Bidarian defended the fight for the ages. He said: “Anyone can get an ulcer, or an injury. “Mike Tyson and Jake Paul make sense because of the age, from my perspective. Mike Tyson cries with laughter as Jake Paul is embarrassed during lie detector test about result of Netflix megafight”If Mike was in his early 30s, given Jake’s experience, there’s no sense to that fight. Age is the equalising factor. “When you look at Mike Tyson at age 27, he was 40-1. Jake Paul is 27, he’s 9-1.”Jake Paul’s been a professional for four years, at that point, Mike Tyson was a professional for 14 years. “What makes it exciting and real is there’s a chance that either guy can lose. “If you ask the vast majority of the public, everyone thinks that Mike Tyson is gonna knock out Jake Paul. “I think as long as he has a clean bill of health, which he did, and he 100 per cent will if we move forward with November 15, then of course that fight should happen.” More

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      Jake Paul buys custom £500,000 diamond chain as YouTuber-turned-boxer celebrates newest business venture

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      JAKE PAUL celebrated the launch of his newest business by buying a custom-made £500,000 diamond chain. The YouTuber-turned-boxer brought out a line of men’s health care products including deodorants and body washes. Jake Paul wearing his custom-made W chainCredit: https://www.instagram.com/jakepaul/Paul launched his men’s health care line called WCredit: https://www.instagram.com/jakepaul/He purchased a £500k chain to celebrate the launchCredit: https://www.instagram.com/jakepaul/The company W logo is centred in the chainCredit: https://www.instagram.com/jakepaul/Paul has named the brand W and commemorated the release by purchasing a chain from Miami-based jeweller Vobara. The chain – with has the company W logo in the centre – is fitted with VS/VVS diamonds including 20, 50 and 80 pointers.According to TMZ, the pendant and Cuban link chain were made with 1,500 grams of 14k white gold and an insane 300 carats in diamonds.It is valued at $650,000 (£500,000) and took two months to make. READ MORE IN BOXINGPaul – believed to have made over £60MILLION from his boxing career – lives an extravagant lifestyle. He sold his mansion in Los Angeles to move to Puerto Rico – where he went onto buy a stunning pad worth £13m. Paul also has a huge car collection including two yellow Ferrari’s costing nearly £1m for the both. The American made his professional boxing debut in 2020 and has since amassed a record of 9-1. Most read in BoxingHis only defeat came to Tommy Fury, 25, in February 2023 in a bout he claimed to have made $30m (£23.4m) for. And he was in line for an even bigger payday against Mike Tyson, 57, after signing to face the heavyweight legend on July 20. Jake Paul and Mike Perry Furiously Trade Insults In Wild Face-To-Face InterviewBut Tyson was forced to withdraw amid a health scare with the bout instead rescheduled to November 15. Former UFC star-turned-bare-knuckle boxer Mike Perry, 32, instead stepped in to fight Paul in Florida. More

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      I’m a UFC icon who went on a four-week bender before losing to Jake Paul, that’s why he beat me, says Nate Diaz

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      NATE DIAZ has claimed he was on the razz for a full MONTH before he threw down with Jake Paul.The former UFC superstar entered the professional boxing world last August to take on the YouTube and social media sensation.Nate entered the boxing world last August to take on Jake PaulCredit: REUTERSThe former UFC star was dropped by the YouTuber in the fifth round of their Texas tussleCredit: REUTERSDiaz claims to have gone on a “four-week bender” before the fightCredit: GETTYAnd like fellow MMA fighters, Ben Askren, Tyron Woodley and Anderson Silva before him, Diaz fell at the hands of The Problem Child.Diaz, 39, was dropped in the fifth round on his way to suffering a lacklustre decision defeat, which he claims was the result of him living his best life a month before fight night.He recently told ESPN: “I went on a four-week bender before the fight.“We trained hard for months on months and we were over it, me and my whole team.READ MORE ON NATE DIAZ”So I sat back and started kicking it. I was over training.”He added: “If it was a scary opponent, you wouldn’t allow yourself to do that.”But it was just easy to go to sleep at night fighting that guy.”But it was good that it happened like that because now it’s necessary to work out, get disciplined, and go back and whip his a**.Most read in BoxingBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSNate Diaz rematches former UFC rival Jorge Masvidal this weekendCredit: GETTY“I’m the weakest puncher, and you’re the one that wanted to fight 30lb over my original weight division?”You think I was just trying to sit there and just knock you out? Like throw as hard of punches as I can?Leaving my kids for training camp is tearing me apart but Nate Diaz will pay for it, says Jorge Masvidal ahead of fight”I was just getting through that fight because I was halfway to my potential that day.”Diaz also claims his performance was hindered by a niggling injury, saying: “I couldn’t even really throw a punch.”I was f***ed up. And for two, he was the easiest fight I ever had.”That was the longest fight at the heaviest weight class I ever had. Never got tired. Never got hurt. Nothing.“Even when I got knocked down, I think it was timing because it didn’t hurt, I got up like ‘You good?’ ‘Oh, I’m fine.’ I thought he was pretty weak himself.”Fan favourite Diaz returns to the ring early on Sunday morning for a rematch with rival Jorge Masvidal.Diaz suffered a third-round TKO defeat to ‘Gamebred’ in the inaugural BMF title fight at UFC 244 in November 2019.READ MORE SUN STORIESAnd preparations for the rematch have gone swimmingly in comparison to his last fight.When asked how his training camp has been, Diaz said: “A lot better than the last fight, that’s for damn sure!” More

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      Conor McGregor is a diva and a coward – he knows fighting me would be playing with his life, claims Jorge Masvidal

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      JORGE Masvidal claimed “diva” and “coward” Conor McGregor would be “playing with his life” by accepting a fight against him. The two were once linked with what had the potential to be a blockbuster UFC pay-per-view grudge match.Jorge Masvidal fired a dig at Conor McGregorCredit: FanmioMcGregor pictured at Bellator DublinCredit: BellatorBut Masvidal, 39, insists McGregor, 35, would not take the fight back then and will not do so now. He told SunSport: “This fight has the potential to break all types of pay-per-view records and be massive. “But Conor wouldn’t accept this fight before he got extra bitch mode and extra diva mode.” McGregor was due to return in a 170-pound welterweight bout against Michael Chandler, 38, at UFC 303.It would have been his first bout for three years, last fighting in 2021 against Masvidal’s training partner Dustin Poirier, 35. But McGregor – for the first time in his UFC career – was forced to withdraw after suffering a toe injury.”He’s pulled out how many times out of his fight?” Masvidal asked. “How many times has this fight been rescheduled for one reason or another?Most read in BoxingCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS“This is not the first time that this fight falls apart, I think it’s the second or third time.”So that’s the guy that he’s convinced that he could beat. You can’t get him the ring.Jorge Masvidal eyeing ‘insane’ fight which will ‘break all PPV records’ as UFC star draws up huge six-man boxing hitlist-“For a guy like me that he actually has legitimate fear deep down inside for, for my style, for the way that I fight, what I’ve done to Nate (Diaz), what I’ve done to opponents that he has fought as well but it didn’t go exactly his way.“He knows that I’ve got something special and that’s that f**king power and he knows that I’m gonna beat the f**k out of him standing up.“It’s gonna destroy his brand. I’m not gonna take him down and hold him down and he’s gonna be able to be like, ‘Oh if it would have been a stand up match….’“No, no, no, I’m gonna come right, get right in your face, put the pressure on you and break you and make you quit, similar how DP did your ass and he doesn’t need that for his ass again and his brand.“That’s why you’ll see he never mentions my name or anything like that though. “We’re the biggest fight they could possibly made because he knows it’s just a bad day for him in the office.”Masvidal now returns on Saturday to rematch Diaz, 39, in the boxing ring, five years on from his stoppage win in the UFC.Meanwhile, McGregor looks to reschedule his anticipated return as Masvidal fired one more brutal dig.He said: “Would I want that fight? Yeah, I wouldn’t mind, I just wouldn’t hold my breath on it.READ MORE SUN STORIES“Because this coward, if they can’t even get him to fight Chandler with a f**king fractured pinky nail you think he’s gonna f**king fight me? Not a chance.“And he’s convinced he could beat Chandler, he knows, he knows if he gets in there with me, man, he’s playing with his fucking life, you know.”Nate Diaz and Masvidal ahead of their boxing rematchCredit: Ed Diller/Fanmio More