MMA

EX-UFC fighter Hector Lombard PUNCHED Lorenzo Hunt in the face during an interview after his bare-knuckle bout. The former Bellator MMA star had just beaten Joe Riggs for the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship cruiserweight title.
Hector Lombard punched Lorenzo Hunt in the face during an interview
Hector Lombard had just beaten Joe Riggs for the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship title

Afterwards, American Hunt, who is 6-1 in BKFC and 3-5 in MMA, got in the ring to confront the newly crowned champion.
But Lombard furiously reacted with a two-punch combination before security and his own opponent Riggs pulled them apart.
The Cuban, 43, is now 3-0 in bare-knuckle, having last fought in MMA in 2018.
He left the UFC after six straight losses, but was rival Bellator’s inaugural middleweight champ.
Fellow veteran Riggs, 38, also fought in the UFC and Bellator, but left the cage in 2019.
BKFC have a host of former MMA fighters on their roster, from Thiago Alves, 37, Paige VanZant, 27 and Chris Leben, 40.
Now, Diego Sanchez, the first Ultimate Fighter winner, could also make the move to BKFC after first debuting in boxing.

CASINO SIGN UP OFFER: GET £10 FREE BONUS WITH NO DEPOSIT REQUIRED

Sanchez, 39, said: “If I ever get into the BKB, yeah, it would be fun. “I never really liked the gloves in the UFC anyway.
“So, I think it’s better. You got to pick your shots. You got to be smarter. We got to probably do a boxing fight first, warm these hands up.
“We’re going to see. We’re going to keep everything open.”
Paulie Malignaggi says BKFC with Luis Palomino would be a cool thing to finish his career on More

DUSTIN POIRIER is entering the final stages of his training camp as he prepares to fight Conor McGregor once again. The American faces McGregor on July 10 in Las Vegas and has started to taper down his preparations.
Dustin Poirier is entering the final stages of his training camp as he prepares to fight Conor McGregor
Dustin Poirier working on explosive power
Dustin Poirier working on his boxing training
Poirier knocked out the Irishman in January, almost seven years after initially being beaten, setting up for a blockbuster trilogy bout.
With it all to play for next month, the ex-UFC interim champion has left no stone unturned in his Florida base at American Top Team.
He has also been putting in the work with strength and conditioning coach Phil Daru, who helps work on agility and speed.
Daru uploaded videos of Poirier working with a resistance band between his legs, footwork drills and power-based training with a medicine ball.
Poirier’s head coach is former MMA fighter Mike Brown, but ex-boxer Dyah Davis acts as boxing trainer.
Footage online showed the lightweight contender working on his punch combinations and southpaw footwork.
Poirier knocked out McGregor in round two of Fight Island but only after targeting his legs with brutal kicks.
Davis warned to expect a similar game plan in the trilogy – this time with a third-round finish.

CASINO SIGN UP OFFER: GET £10 FREE BONUS WITH NO DEPOSIT REQUIRED

He told MMA Junkie: “I take this approach as if a lumberjack, we’re in a forest.
“The idea is to chop the tree down from the bottom and that’s exactly what we did. It’s a fight.
“So we look for any weaknesses that we could take advantage of and that was one of them.
“So we capitalised and we moved on from there and ended up finishing him with strikes.”
Davis added: “I think it’ll play out similar to the second fight, maybe a little bit longer. I see us executing and getting a KO victory in the third round.”
Conor McGregor was beaten by Dustin Poirier at UFC 257Credit: Sportsfile More

TYRON WOODLEY has been backed by Michael Venom Page to ‘sleep Jake Paul quickly’ and ‘correct the world’. Paul faces the former UFC champion on August 28 in his fourth and toughest fight to date.
Tyron Woodley fights Jake Paul on August 28Credit: Reuters
Michael Venom Page backed Tyron Woodley to KO Jake PaulCredit: Getty Images – Getty
The YouTuber is 3-0 all by KO and most recently beat Woodley’s friend and training partner Ben Askren in one round in April.
But Askren, 36, had come out of retirement and was a renowned grappler with limited striking skills.
Woodley, 39, reigned the UFC’s welterweight division from 2016-2018 with four defences and has seven KOs to his name.
Bellator’s Venom Page is left expecting Paul, 26, to be stopped early having stepped up a class too high.
He told MMA Fighting: “Tyron Woodley—if all goes to plan—should just sleep Jake quickly.
“[Paul] will feel the difference between somebody that has been in the game a long time.
“That’s experienced in terms of striking, whereas the argument with Ben Askren before, somebody that had not just retired, he checked out a long time ago and his strength was never his stand up anyway.
“I saw it going that way.”
CASINO SIGN UP OFFER: GET £10 FREE BONUS WITH NO DEPOSIT REQUIRED
How Jake Paul and Tyron Woodley compare ahead of their boxing match

Paul beat online rival ‘AnEsonGib’ on his boxing debut in January 2020 before following it up with a brutal KO of ex-NBA star Nate Robinson, 37.
After then taking out Askren, the social media sensation has emerged as one of the most polarising figures in boxing, alongside his brother Logan 26.
He was even ranked as the third highest-paid boxer over the last 12 months with only Canelo Alvarez, 30, and Anthony Joshua, 31, ahead of him.
But Venom Page predicts Woodley will restore order and bring an end to Paul’s hot streak.
He said: “This fight is very different.
“I see Tyron Woodley going in there and correcting the world, because I feel like there’s a crazy shift right now with what’s going on.
“But Tyron Woodley is gonna be the guy to correct that.”
UFC manager Ali Abdelaziz says Conor McGregor is finished and will end up fighting Jake Paul More

TYRON WOODLEY has admitted he does not want to knockout Jake Paul ‘too bad’ – as he wants to ‘rob the bank twice’ with a rematch. Paul faces the former UFC champion on August 28 and has an immediate rematch clause in the contract if he loses.
Tyron Woodley admits he wants to ‘rob the bank twice’ with a Jake Paul rematchCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Woodley is confident of knocking out the social media star, but wants to keep hopes of a second fight alive so he doubles his money.
Speaking to UFC legend Michael Bisping, he said: “At the end of the day, he’s gonna get beat up. He’s gonna get knocked out.
“Hopefully, it’s not too bad because what’s happening is, his people are gassing him up that he can win.
“He accepted this fight, and I was very surprised he accepted this fight.
“They’re gassing him up, and they’re giving him that, ‘You’ve got the power, he’s old, he ain’t won a fight a million years, you the younger, more hungry, he’s taking you lightly, you can beat him.’
“They’re lying to this kid, and they’re gonna get him f***ed up.
“So what’s gonna happen is, I’m gonna beat him, I’m gonna knock him out, and hopefully it’s not too bad where he doesn’t want to do it again because I want to take the money again.
“I want to rob the bank twice. So that’s the plan. I really don’t have smoke with his brother Logan but s***, after he sees what I do to his brother, he might want to get the hands too.”
CASINO SIGN UP OFFER: GET £10 FREE BONUS WITH NO DEPOSIT REQUIRED
How Jake Paul and Tyron Woodley compare ahead of their boxing match

Woodley, 39, in a former UFC champion who reigned the welterweight division from 2016-2018.
But more recently, he is without a win in three years, losing his last four before departing the UFC.
Paul, 24, on the other hand is 3-0 in his boxing career, all by KO, but has so far fought only limited opposition.
He beat online rival ‘AnEsonGib’ on his pro debut, ex-NBA player Nate Robinson, 37, and then retired UFC welterweight Ben Askren, 36.
Paul – whose brother Logan took Floyd Mayweather the distance in an exhibition – has promised a second-round KO.
But Woodley is giving his opponent an extra round in his prediction, believing Paul will cover up in the opening stages.
He said: “I think three (rounds).
“First round sounds cocky, sounds dope, but I just know that if I’m fighting Tyron Woodley, everyone is going to tell him to cover up, weather the storm, clinch him, grab him, keep him away from you, stay at distance, watch out for the right hand.
“I’ve got to set a couple traps, so I may need a round or two to set some traps, see what he responds to, and I think third round I should be able to clean up the deal.”
YouTuber Jake Paul appears to be scared to look at opponent Tyron Woodley More

JAKE PAUL confirmed talks between his brother Logan and Anderson Silva but admitted he could fight the UFC legend ‘down the road’. Silva, who was released by the UFC last year, scored a shock upset as he beat ex-boxing champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr in Mexico.
Logan Paul, left, pictured with brother JakeCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Julio Cesar Chavez Jr was beaten by Anderson SilvaCredit: EPA
Afterwards, the Brazilian icon opened the door to fighting either of the Paul brothers, who are both forging prizefighting careers.
But Jake, 24, appeared to suggest Logan, 26, is the more likely of the two, but did not rule out eventually sharing the ring with Silva, 46.
He told TMZ Sports: “Look, anything is possible, I didn’t initially think of that but hey, like I said my saying is anyone, anytime, any place.
“But I think it would be more interesting to see Anderson Silva fight Roy Jones Jr on my undercard which is what I like originally tweeted out there.
“Because he beat one legendary boxer lets see if he can beat another legendary boxer and maybe there’s a fight for us down the road.
“I think there’s talks of him maybe fighting my brother, but Anderson’s a nice guy and I respect him as a legend.”
Logan is looking for his next opponent, having recently taken Floyd Mayweather, 44, the distance in their exhibition.
He avoided a knockout defeat, to the surprise of many, and later talked up the possibility of fighting heavyweight great Mike Tyson, 54.

CASINO SIGN UP OFFER: GET £10 FREE BONUS WITH NO DEPOSIT REQUIRED

For Jake, he fights ex-UFC champion Tyron Woodley, 39, in his fourth and toughest fight to date on August 28.
Woodley reigned the welterweight division from 2016-2018 with devastating power and four title defences.
But he comes into his boxing debut off the back of four defeats, without a win in three years.
Despite the form, Paul argues Silva’s points win over son of a legend Chavez Jr, 35, proves MMA fighters can belong in the boxing ring.
Tyron Woodley fights Jake Paul on August 28Credit: Reuters
Anderson Silva is in talks to fight Logan PaulCredit: EPA
He said: “Anderson’s 46-years-old and I thought he did an incredible job, man.
“He was sticking, moving, bouncing around the ring, having fun, throwing combos, he’s long and lanky.
“And to come in there and beat Julio Cesar Chavez Jr, whose what over 50 wins in the ring as a world champion.
“This just goes to show MMA strikers are also great boxers and I think a lot of people forget that.
“That is the first skill that MMA fighters learn if they’re going to learn how to fight is boxing, so I thought he looked amazing.” More

TYRON WOODLEY predicted a third-round knockout against Jake Paul and said afterwards his brother Logan ‘might want to get the hands too’. Paul faces the former UFC champion on August 28 and has an immediate rematch clause in the contract if he loses.
Tyron Woodley fights Jake Paul on August 28Credit: Reuters
Logan Paul could eye a fight with Tyron Woodley if brother Jake is beatenCredit: Getty
Woodley is confident in knocking out the social media star, but wants to keep hopes of a second fight alive so he can ‘rob the bank twice’.
Speaking to UFC legend Michael Bisping, he said: “At the end of the day, he’s gonna get beat up. He’s gonna get knocked out.
“Hopefully, it’s not too bad because what’s happening is, his people are gassing him up that he can win.
“He accepted this fight, and I was very surprised he accepted this fight.
“They’re gassing him up, and they’re giving him that, ‘You’ve got the power, he’s old, he ain’t won a fight a million years, you the younger, more hungry, he’s taking you lightly, you can beat him.’
“They’re lying to this kid, and they’re gonna get him f***ed up.
“So what’s gonna happen is, I’m gonna beat him, I’m gonna knock him out, and hopefully it’s not too bad where he doesn’t want to do it again because I want to take the money again.
“I want to rob the bank twice. So that’s the plan. I really don’t have smoke with his brother Logan but s***, after he sees what I do to his brother, he might want to get the hands too.”
How Jake Paul and Tyron Woodley compare ahead of their boxing match
CASINO SIGN UP OFFER: GET £10 FREE BONUS WITH NO DEPOSIT REQUIRED

Woodley, 39, in a former UFC champion who reigned the welterweight division from 2016-2018.
But more recently, he is without a win in three years, losing his last four before departing the UFC.
Paul, 24, on the other hand is 3-0 in his boxing career, all by KO, but has so far fought only limited opposition.
He beat online rival ‘AnEsonGib’ on his pro debut, ex-NBA player Nate Robinson, 37, and then retired UFC welterweight Ben Askren, 36.
Paul – whose brother Logan took Floyd Mayweather the distance in an exhibition – has promised a second-round KO.
But Woodley is giving his opponent an extra round in his prediction, believing Paul will cover up in the opening stages.
He said: “I think three (rounds).
“First round sounds cocky, sounds dope, but I just know that if I’m fighting Tyron Woodley, everyone is going to tell him to cover up, weather the storm, clinch him, grab him, keep him away from you, stay at distance, watch out for the right hand.
“I’ve got to set a couple traps, so I may need a round or two to set some traps, see what he responds to, and I think third round I should be able to clean up the deal.”
YouTuber Jake Paul appears to be scared to look at opponent Tyron Woodley More

OSCAR DE LA HOYA is targeting UFC legend Anderson Silva in his second comeback fight after returning against Vitor Belfort. The American boxing legend will fight for the first time in 13 years on September 11 against Belfort, a former UFC champion.
Oscar De La Hoya is targeting UFC legend Anderson Silva in his second comeback fightCredit: AP:Associated Press
Anderson Silva beat Julio Cesar Chavez JrCredit: Getty
And De La Hoya already has plans following the eight-round exhibition after calling out another MMA icon in Silva.
The Brazilian, who ruled the UFC’s middleweight division for seven years, just beat ex-boxing title holder Julio Cesar Chavez.
And now De La Hoya, 48, wants to prize Silva, 46, back into the boxing ring in November, before going after a rematch with Floyd Mayweather, 44.
He told Lance Pugmire: “I want to make the biggest comeback in the history of the sport.
“I want to have these two fights, I mean if I get past Belfort, which I’m a little, like not scared, but just like, ‘What did I get myself into?’
“But I’m sure, I got confidence to go in there and fight hard. And then, go again in November.
“As November 28, I believe someone said is the one-year anniversary of Triller getting into the picture with Mike Tyson, so I want to be that one-year anniversary.
“And then maybe challenge Anderson Silva, and then after that if my boxing feels good and I feel great, I’m not going to take time off, I’m going to continue training and call out Floyd Mayweather Jr.”

CASINO SIGN UP OFFER: GET £10 FREE BONUS WITH NO DEPOSIT REQUIRED

Mayweather famously beat De La Hoya in 2007, but it was the only fight he ever received a split decision in.
More recently, the 50-0 all-time great officially retired in 2017 after beating UFC superstar Conor McGregor, 32, in ten rounds.
But he did come back to the ring early in June for an exhibition spectacle against YouTuber Logan Paul, 26, who weighed TWO STONE more.
Paul claimed moral victory by going the distance and avoiding a knockout defeat and Mayweather afterwards poured cold water on another exhibition.
But De La Hoya is confident the man who goes by the name ‘Money’ can be tempted back between the ropes.
He said: “I think it’s all about money for him, so why not? I think there’s a lot of money for him to make in that fight. I think so, why not?”
De La Hoya added: “I beat him the first time, let’s put it that way. So that’s his motivation.”
Oscar De La Hoya calls out Floyd Mayweather for a shot at redemption More