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      Ben Askren surrounded himself with the ‘wrong people’ and bought into ‘hype’ ahead of brutal Jake Paul KO, says Ferguson

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      BEN ASKREN surrounded himself with the ‘wrong people’ ahead of his ill-fated clash with Jake Paul, according to UFC lightweight Tony Ferguson.The former Bellator and ONE Championship welterweight champion suffered a brutal first-round KO loss to the YouTuber in his professional boxing debut last month.
      Ben Askren threw down with social media star Jake Paul in a boxing match last monthCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      The former Bellator welterweight champion suffered a brutal first-round KO loss to PaulCredit: Getty
      Tony Ferguson respects Ben Askren for stepping out of his comfort zone and into the ringCredit: Getty
      Askren, 36, briefly trained for the bout at the Wild Card gym in Los Angeles with legendary coach Freddie Roach – who will be in Ferguson’s corner this weekend at UFC 262.
      But Ferguson believes the Olympic wrestler didn’t properly immerse himself in the sweet science.
      In an interview with The Schmo, he said of his meeting with Funky: “I’m gonna be real, it was cool.
      “I told him he’s coachable and that he’s gonna have a good shot but he’s going to have to hit the bag.
      “Boxing is no joke, man. You can go out there and learn the sport, but it’s an Olympic sport. People forget that.
      “MMA is so young it hasn’t made it to that spot yet. When I started surrounding myself around boxers, that’s what you get. You get into that mentality. That structured mentality.
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      “Ben, he went over there and I could kinda see that he was [working] really hard and he was doing his thing.
      “But he was surrounding himself with the wrong people and the vibe about too much of the hype.”
      Despite believing Askren could’ve surrounded himself with a better team, Ferguson respects the Iowa native for stepping into the ring.
      He continued: “Hats off to him to be going out there and to be able to do it because nobody else did it.
      “I’m gonna be real: he put in the work and hopefully he got paid for that s**t, man.

      “Next time, keep your hands up and your chin down.”
      Askren was bitterly disappointed with the outcome of his maiden foray into the ring but insists the fight was by no means fixed.
      He told ESPN: “That’s human nature [to question the fight] but it definitely didn’t happen, I got hit.
      “I guess the question I have for people is what do I gain from it?
      “I told you guys what I made for this fight, it was a very nice paycheque but I’m also not destitute and poor, so what do I gain by that? The answer is nothing.
      “I think in fact I would lose a lot and it’s not something that would ever cross my mind.
      “I said if they guy’s a good boxer then I’m going to lose. There was a fear he had around me and there was a feeling that maybe he wasn’t very good.
      “In the locker room I was pretty confident I was going to win but… the result afterwards is irrelevant to me, my life is going to be the same either way.”
      Ben Askren slams referee for ending Jake Paul fight and reveals he told him he was ready to continue More

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      Tyson Fury trains with Nick Diaz and calls for Dana White to ‘make the fight’ ahead of the UFC legend’s comeback

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      TYSON FURY trained with Nick Diaz and called for Dana White to ‘make the fight’ ahead of the UFC legend’s comeback. Diaz has not fought since 2013, in a loss-turned no-contest against Anderson Silva, but the American veteran is preparing for a sensational return.
      Nick Diaz pictured with heavyweight champion Tyson Fury
      Tyson Fury and Nick Diaz training in Miami
      Tyson Fury pictured with his brother Tommy and Nick Diaz
      And in Miami he bumped into unbeaten WBC heavyweight champion Fury, 32, in camp himself to face Anthony Joshua, 31, on August 14.
      UFC president White held a meeting with Diaz, 37, to discuss a comeback fight, and the Gypsy King warned the Stockton icon is in ‘tremendous shape’.
      Fury said: “I’m here with my boy Nick, the bad man Diaz. What you saying Nick?
      “We’re working hard, we’re coming for all you motherf***ers out there. You’re getting smashed to f***. You better believe it.
      “Absolutely smashing it, he’s in tremendous shape, he’s ready. Make the fight Dana, make the fight.”
      Diaz, who has a history of sparring high-level boxers including Andre Ward, announced plans to fight again last year.
      The former Strikeforce champion was hit with a FIVE-YEAR ban after he tested positive for marijuana metabolites after facing Silva.
      After appealing the decision, it was overturned to 18 months, but after the suspension was lifted, Diaz never made a return.

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      He has since watched little brother Nate, 36, rise to fame thanks to his rivalry with Conor McGregor, 32.
      But Diaz has been training to fight for the first time in eight years, but is yet to fully convince White.
      He told ESPN: “My whole thing with Nick Diaz is I just question how bad he really wants to fight.
      “We got together, we had a great conversation, talked about a possible comeback for him, I just don’t know.
      “We’ll see how it plays out this summer and the rest of this year.
      “It’s just the amount of time that he’s taken off already.
      “When you hear him talk about fighting, when you hear him talk about the sport – and I sit down daily, or talk to daily, hungry, young savages that want to break into the top ten, become world champions, all that stuff.
      “Nick Diaz has done it all, seen it all. He’s been in big fights. I just don’t see that in him when I talk to him.”
      Nick Diaz with his little brother NateCredit: Getty More

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      Jake Paul says Dillon Danis ‘lives with his mum’ and rules out fighting rival as he would be ‘letting the fans down’

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      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

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      Jake Paul called out by Tyron Woodley for fight as ex-UFC champ slams ‘culture vulture’ YouTuber’s antics

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      FORMER UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley has once again called out Jake Paul – branding the YouTuber a ‘culture vulture’.Woodley and the younger Paul brother had a heated exchange ahead of the former Disney star’s clash with Ben Askren – a team-mate and good friend of the MMA vet.
      Jake Paul celebrates his knockout victory over Ben AskrenCredit: Getty
      Former UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley wants to get his hands on Jake PaulCredit: Getty
      Paul’s pre-fight antics irked The Chosen One, who threw his hat into the ring after seeing Askren lose via first-round KO.
      The Problem Child is still very much on the radar of free agent Woodley, who told TMZ: “He keeps calling out everybody but me.
      “I’m the one with the real smoke with you. At the end of the day, that was Ben’s fight.
      “And I never want to take away the moment from Ben. That was to be his opportunity.
      “Everybody backstage was trying to get love and get their name [out there]. Almost the same way Jake took the shine away from Logan.
      “They just culture vultures. Like he’ll vult the juice from his own damn flesh and blood. His cornerman was trying to take the juice from him.
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      “So his whole group is goofy, My dogs don’t move like that, do you know what I mean?
      “I was in the gym today in Miami training, looking around for Jake Paul, and I ain’t seen him nowhere, he ain’t asked to fight me one time.
      “He wants to fight Dillon Danis, who couldn’t bust a grape in a fruit fight, or Tyson Fury’s cousin. But he don’t want to fight a real puncher
      “But you want to walk around and vult from the culture and suck it dry, walk around and take shots at rappers and think that you’re a big shot higher.
      “Nah, come and get this smoke for real. I’m in and I can actually find him.
      “People that keep talking about fighting him, they’re not even in a position to fight him. I can actually fight him. I can fight him tomorrow if I want to.”
      Tyron Woodley wants to teach Jake Paul a lessonCredit: Getty

      Woodley, 39, believes Paul has disrespected the combat sports world and needs a good hiding.
      He added: “Some people just need to be taught a lesson.
      “Like at the end of the day, you just can’t sit here and think that real motherf*****s have put their time in this.
      “Yeah if you want get in here and get a couple fights and make some money because you’ve got so many subscribers and you did something dope in another lane, I’m all for that.
      “But when it comes down to [it], you gonna parade around and act like, ‘Oh, I’m a boxer, everybody is scared of me. I’m this, I’m that.’
      “And then, you’re talking s**t about my dog. Now we gotta go.”
      Paul, 24, is eager to return to the ring later this year but has set his sights on showdowns with UFC stars Nate Diaz and Conor McGregor.
      Tyron Woodley has altercation with Jake Paul at his fight against Ben Askren More

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      Jake Paul lists five reasons why he will beat Conor McGregor including THREE STONE weight advantage over UFC star

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      JAKE PAUL has laid out the five advantages which he believes will lead him to upset the odds like never before against Conor McGregor. The YouTuber is adamant it is only a matter of time until he not only faces, but beats McGregor.
      Jake Paul believes he will beat Conor McGregorCredit: Getty
      Conor McGregor has been repeatedly called out by Jake PaulCredit: Getty
      Paul has targeted a $100million fight with the ex-UFC champion in 2022 and predicts it will sell 3MILLION pay-per-views.
      The internet sensation has only had three professional bouts, winning them all by knockout, compared to McGregor’s 13 years of experience in the cage.
      But still Paul is confident his height, weight, power, athleticism and past record of being overlooked leaves him primed to shock the world.
      He told SunSport: “First and foremost I’m a better athlete than McGregor.
      “He never played football, he never played lacrosse, he never wrestled, he was never an All-State football player.
      “I’m taller by four inches or so and I’m about 60-pounds, 50-pounds heavier without a weight cut.
      “And that’s what a lot of people don’t understand when I’m hitting these guys I’ve got knockout power because I’m cutting down from 210lbs.
      “The other side of this is him underestimating me.

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      “He’s going to come into this, be chilling on his yachts, be babysitting his three little kids, be going out to dinners with his wife, playing in the beach in the sand thinking Jake Paul’s a walk in the park.
      “When I’m going to be hustling every single day to beat this guy.”
      Paul, 24, made his debut in January 2020, stopping online rival ‘AnEsonGib’ in one round.
      He then followed that up with highlight-reel finishes against ex-NBA star Nate Robinson and retired UFC welterweight Ben Askren, both 36.
      Yet to face an experienced boxer, or MMA fighter with proven striking skills, Paul’s unwavering confidence is still met with scepticism.
      But the American, a multimillionaire way before he began boxing, has dedicated himself behind closed doors with a gruelling training regime.
      And away from the careful but understanding matchmaking, Paul has warned not to underestimate him, even against McGregor.
      He said: “I’m not just fighting Conor McGregor for the payday, I’m fighting Conor McGregor to beat him and level up after that.
      Jake Paul has warned not to underestimate him
      Conor McGregor lost his boxing debut in 2017 against Floyd MayweatherCredit: Getty
      “Who knows, maybe after I beat McGregor, I fight Khabib. This isn’t a gimmick.
      “I don’t get how or why people haven’t registered it yet, but like this isn’t a game.
      “I train my ass off, I have knockout power and I haven’t even got to show off my boxing ability because I’ve only been in the ring like seven minutes total in my pro career.”
      McGregor, 32, crossed over to boxing for the first time in 2017, losing to Floyd Mayweather, 44, in ten rounds.
      He was in talks to return to the ring to face Manny Pacquiao, 42, but that was shelved after he was KO’d by Dustin Poirier, 32, in January.
      McGregor, who initially stopped the American in 2014, is now set for a trilogy bout at UFC 264 on July 10.
      It leaves Paul hoping to lure the Irishman back to the ring next year, but admitted it depends on avenging defeat to Poirier.
      He explained: “Potentially, it’s very, very realistic for sure. I think it depends on how he does against Dustin on July 10.”
      Jake Paul issued a chilling warning by Kamaru Usman after YouTuber tweeted picture of UFC star and his daughter More

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      Dana White refuses to do business with Jake Paul after UFC champ Kamaru Usman issues chilling threat to YouTuber

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      UFC supremo Dana White has refused to ever do business with Jake Paul and his brother Logan.The social media stars have taken the boxing world by storm, so much so they’ve recently landed big-money fights with Ben Askren and Floyd Mayweather respectively,
      Jake Paul and brother Logan have taken the boxing world by stormCredit: INSTAGRAM
      But UFC chief Dana White has no intention of ever getting involved in the Paul businessCredit: Reuters
      Jake, 24, taunted several UFC fighters in the aftermath of his first-round knockout of Askren last month – including dominant welterweight king Kamaru Usman.
      But White has no intention of getting involved in the lucrative Paul business.
      During an interview with ESPN, the veteran promoter said: “First of all, I would never do business with those guys, just no.
      “No, this is not what we do. I’m not gonna f*****g loan them a guy for f*****g what? There’s no way.
      “You got plenty of f******g goofballs out there that you can muster up to get in there and play these games that these guys are playing. Yeah, I’m not your guy.”
      White is by no means a fan of YouTubers fighting but admits Jake has done well to become a talking point in the combat sports world.
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      He added: “Listen, you cannot deny the fact that this kid has inserted himself into the conversation with real guys.
      “‘This guy has got three fights, and I gotta tell you that I don’t know if I truly believe the Ben Askren thing. I have a hard time wrapping by brain around that.”
      Former Disney star Jake has gone 3-0 as a professional boxer, with all three of his victories coming inside the distance.
      White, however, has yet to be impressed by The Problem Child and believes it’s only a matter of time before he finds himself in trouble.
      He said: “Let’s see how long it takes before this kid’s 15 minutes are up, but they are being smart.
      Dana White reckons it’s only a matter of time before Jake Paul’s 15 minutes of fame are upCredit: Getty

      “They are keeping him away from anybody that could actually really do damage.
      “I don’t know. The Ben Askren thing still blows my mind.”
      White’s comments on Jake came a few days after UFC welterweight champ Usman issued a chilling warning to the younger Paul brother after seeing he’d tweeted a picture of his daughter Samirah.
      The Nigerian Nightmare wrote “I understand you think this is a game which is probably why you don’t realize that this is how people truly get hurt.
      “I don’t play fighting and I can change your life in the worst way.”
      Jake Paul issued a chilling warning by Kamaru Usman after YouTuber tweeted picture of UFC star and his daughter More

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      UFC boss Dana White says he will work with Floyd Mayweather ‘eventually’ – but only after Logan Paul ‘silliness’ is over

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      DANA WHITE said he will work with Floyd Mayweather ‘eventually’ but only after the Logan Paul ‘silliness’ is over. White co-promoted the boxing legend’s 2017 win against Conor McGregor, in an unprecedented crossover event.
      Floyd Mayweather and Dana White at an NBA game in 2019Credit: Splash News
      Floyd Mayweather and Logan Paul fight on June 6Credit: Rex
      Mayweather was then pictured with the UFC president at an NBA game in 2019, and he later announced he was ‘coming out of retirement’.
      But amid the coronavirus pandemic, White and the American great were unable to accelerate plans for another event.
      Mayweather, 44, is instead lined up for an exhibition bout with Paul, 26, in Miami on June 6.
      All hell broke loose in their pre-fight press conference, as they were involved in a brawl after brother Jake stole Mayweather’s hat.
      White is open to working alongside the 50-0 icon once more, but will wait until his pay-per-view spectacle with the YouTuber is over.
      He told ESPN: “He and I are going to end up doing something, eventually.
      “I don’t know what, but I didn’t see this whole silliness going on right now. I didn’t see that coming. When he gets through this thing.”
      White has been vocal about the Paul brothers venturing into professional boxing, most notably with Jake, 24.

      🥊 MAYWEATHER VS LOGAN PAUL: Where will the fight take place, what TV channel and live stream will it be on?

      The younger sibling is 3-0 in his career and recently knocked out retired UFC welterweight Ben Askren, 36.
      It added to his previous KO wins over online rival ‘AnEsonGib’ and ex-NBA star Nate Robinson, 36.
      Jake has called to keep the rivalry with the UFC going, and has been challenged by former champions Tyron Woodley, 39, and Daniel Cormier, 42.
      White admitted the internet sensation has unquestionably made a name for himself in the fight game, but doubts how long it will last.
      He said: “Listen, you cannot deny the fact that this kid has inserted himself into the conversation with real guys.
      “This guy has got three fights, and I gotta tell you that I don’t know if I truly believe the Ben Askren thing. I have a hard time wrapping by brain around that.
      “Let’s see how long it takes before this kid’s 15 minutes are up, but they are being smart.
      “They are keeping him away from anybody that could actually really do damage. I don’t know. The Ben Askren thing still blows my mind.”
      Chuck Liddell reacts to Jake Paul’s knock out of Ben Askren More

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      UFC boss Dana White says he will work with Floyd Mayweather ‘eventually’ but only after Logan Paul ‘silliness’ is over

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      DANA WHITE said he will work with Floyd Mayweather ‘eventually’ but only after the Logan Paul ‘silliness’ is over. White co-promoted the boxing legend’s 2017 win against Conor McGregor, in an unprecedented crossover event.
      Floyd Mayweather and Dana White at an NBA game in 2019Credit: Splash News
      Floyd Mayweather and Logan Paul fight on June 6Credit: Rex
      Mayweather was then pictured with the UFC president at an NBA game in 2019, and he later announced he was ‘coming out of retirement’.
      But amid the coronavirus pandemic, White and the American great were unable to accelerate plans for another event.
      Mayweather, 44, is instead lined up for an exhibition bout with Paul, 26, in Miami on June 6.
      All hell broke loose in their pre-fight press conference, as they were involved in a brawl after brother Jake stole Mayweather’s hat.
      White is open to working alongside the 50-0 icon once more, but will wait until his pay-per-view spectacle with the YouTuber is over.
      He told ESPN: “He and I are going to end up doing something, eventually.
      “I don’t know what, but I didn’t see this whole silliness going on right now. I didn’t see that coming. When he gets through this thing.”
      White has been vocal about the Paul brothers venturing into professional boxing, most notably with Jake, 24.

      🥊 MAYWEATHER VS LOGAN PAUL: Where will the fight take place, what TV channel and live stream will it be on?

      The younger sibling is 3-0 in his career and recently knocked out retired UFC welterweight Ben Askren, 36.
      It added to his previous KO wins over online rival ‘AnEsonGib’ and ex-NBA star Nate Robinson, 36.
      Jake has called to keep the rivalry with the UFC going, and has been challenged by former champions Tyron Woodley, 39, and Daniel Cormier, 42.
      White admitted the internet sensation has unquestionably made a name for himself in the fight game, but doubts how long it will last.
      He said: “Listen, you cannot deny the fact that this kid has inserted himself into the conversation with real guys.
      “This guy has got three fights, and I gotta tell you that I don’t know if I truly believe the Ben Askren thing. I have a hard time wrapping by brain around that.
      “Let’s see how long it takes before this kid’s 15 minutes are up, but they are being smart.
      “They are keeping him away from anybody that could actually really do damage. I don’t know. The Ben Askren thing still blows my mind.”
      Chuck Liddell reacts to Jake Paul’s knock out of Ben Askren More