MMA

FRANCIS NGANNOU is still dreaming of fighting Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua – but draws the line at idol Mike Tyson. The newly crowned UFC champion first set his sights on a boxing career aged 22.
UFC heavyweight champion Francis NgannouCredit: Getty
Heavyweight legend Mike Tyson is Francis Ngannou’s idolCredit: Getty
But after moving to France, he instead embarked on an MMA career as it was easier to find fights.
Fast-forward 12 years and Ngannou is the UFC heavyweight king after knocking out Stipe Miocic.
Miocic, 38, previously revealed he would never face Tyson, but was open to challenging boxing champions AJ or Fury.
And Ngannou similarly could never fight his hero Iron Mike, but still has the desire to achieve his goal of reaching the boxing summit.
He told TMZ Sports: “I’m in the same spot as Stipe as well.
“I don’t want to fight Mike Tyson but I would like to fight other heavyweights such as Tyson Fury. Absolutely, I’m open to that.
“Remember, boxing was my primary dream and I still have the fire and the dream inside me and I believe that at some point I’m going to make the step.”
Ngannou, 34, is being primed as the UFC’s version of Tyson, a fearsome puncher capable of captioning the wider public’s attention.
Tyson Fury was called out by Francis NgannouCredit: Reuters
Unified heavyweight champion Anthony JoshuaCredit: Getty
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And the Cameroonian star beams as he talks about the comparisons with boxing’s youngest heavyweight champ of all time.
Ngannou said: “Every time that they compared me to Mike Tyson, you know for me it’s just an honour that they can attach my name to somebody like Mike Tyson.
“Growing up, hearing about Mike Tyson, even though I didn’t have a chance to see him fight because I was in a small village and we didn’t have a TV and stuff.
“It was very hard for us to have access of those stuff but as soon as I had a chance I just go on YouTube and keep watching Mike Tyson tape and I was so impressed by him and was just dreaming to become like him.”
UFC heavyweight Francis Ngannou warns Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury he wants to box More

COLBY COVINGTON called Jake Paul ‘an embarrassment to society’ and hopes Ben Askren ‘shuts his mouth’. Paul faces retired UFC welterweight Askren on April 17 at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
Jake Paul fights Ben Askren on April 17Credit: Getty
Colby Covington called Jake Paul ‘an embarrassment to society’Credit: Getty
It will be the YouTuber’s third professional fight, having won the first two by knockout.
Since his debut in 2020, Paul, 24, has become one of the most polarising fighters in the world, for his brash callouts and loft ambitions.
But Covington – a UFC mouthpiece in his own right – has backed former rival Askren to silence the internet sensation in the ring.
He told Helen Yee: “Hopefully Ben goes out there and knocks out Jake Paul.
“I’m just sick of hearing him talk. He’s just running his mouth and there’s no substance behind anything he says.
“I think he will [beat Paul], I think he’s just going to put that pressure on him.
“If he uses the clinch and just ties him up and just gets him tired, there’s no doubt he has a better gas tank than Jake Paul – some little YouTuber.
“The kid’s a complete joke, he’s an embarrassment to society, he’s an embarrassment to the MMA and boxing world in general.
“I hope Ben goes out there and shuts his mouth.”

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Paul beat online rival ‘AnEsonGib’ in January last year before leaving ex-NBA star Nate Robinson, 36, out cold in November.
But Askren, 36, an ex-ONE Championship and Bellator champion, provides the social media phenomenon his biggest step up in competition.
Paul recently revealed he aims to bring other MMA fighters over boxing, having previously called out Conor McGregor, 32.
He told Triller: “I want to bring these big name MMA fighters into the boxing ring.
“With boxing the sky is the limit. I think the potential of what we can make with doing this in the next couple of years is massive.
“It can become something huge where we’re making hundreds of millions of dollars.”
Jake Paul taunts Ben Askren during press conference by FaceTiming Jorge Masvidal More

DEMETRIOUS JOHNSON has backed Jake Paul to beat Ben Askren – but the MMA legend will be rooting for the ex-UFC welterweight. Askren faces YouTuber Paul on April 17, at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atalanta.
Jake Paul faces Ben Askren on April 17Credit: Getty
Demetrious Johnson has predicted Jake Paul will beat Ben AskrenCredit: Getty – Contributor
And due to his renowned grappling style, which involved limited striking, he goes into the fight as the betting underdog.
Former UFC champion Johnson, now signed to ONE Championship, admitted he would also have to lump his money on Paul.
He said on What the Heck: “When it’s boxing, and you’re in that one element, it’s very hard to get someone out of their element.
“Yes, he’s gonna smother him and do his dirty boxing, but—yes, I know Jake Paul is a YouTube star—he’s training just as hard as a world champion is.
“He has unlimited access to the best trainers in the world.
“He has the funding, not saying Ben Askren doesn’t but anytime you fight somebody who has training, there’s always that chance.
“I’m not discounting Ben Askren out of this fight.
“But if somebody came to me and said, ‘Demetrious Johnson, here’s $1million, who are you putting the money on? You have to f***ing bet, if you don’t bet, I’m taking the $1 million with me’.
“Well, f***, I’m throwing it on Jake Paul. I think he’s gonna win the fight. If I don’t bet, I’m gonna lose it anyways so I’ll go ahead and bet on Jake Paul.”

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Askren, 36, in 2018 traded with ex-UFC champion Johnson, 34, who instead moved to ONE Championship in Asia.
And DJ will be supporting the former Olympic wrestler against Paul, 24, but is not confident the result goes his way.
Johnson said: “I want Ben Askren to win. I hope he wins because he comes from my line of sport. He’s a wrestler taking on a YouTube star.
“But when I look at it, I’m like, dude, Jake Paul actually has knockout power. Ben Askren’s been knocked out before so it’s not like it can’t happen again.”
Watch Ben Askren train with legendary boxing trainer Freddie Roach as ex-UFC star prepares for Jake Paul fight More

EDDIE HALL says he took ‘no offence’ after Joe Rogan slammed his ‘terrible’ boxing technique ahead of the Hafthor Bjornsson fight. The British former strongman faces rival Bjornsson in September, billed as the ‘heaviest boxing match in history’.
Eddie Hall takes ‘no offence’ after Joe Rogan slammed his ‘terrible’ boxing techniqueCredit: Instagram / @eddiehallwsm
Legendary UFC commentator Joe RoganCredit: Getty
In preparation, Hall uploaded videos of his training, but was hit with criticism by UFC commentator Rogan.
But he responded on his YouTube channel: “I love Joe Rogan, I absolutely do love Joe Rogan
“Look man, people can speculate, they can make assumptions, they can guess, they can do whatever they want, but I’m knocking Thor out.
“There’s no doubt in my mind. So, people can say whatever they want.
“I take no offence to Joe Rogan’s comments. He’s an experienced guy, he knows what he’s talking about, but he doesn’t know the full picture.
“You look at a few clips, you can’t make assumptions from that.
“It doesn’t bother me in the slightest, it doesn’t put me off. I hope it gives Thor more confidence, because he needs it.
“He’s in deep trouble. And I’d still love to go on The Joe Rogan Show and tell him a story for everyone to hear.”

The response comes after Rogan and and guest, CrossFit legend Mat Fraser, watched some footage of Hall’s recent training.
He said: “That’s not good. Right away we’re seeing that we have a real problem. Yeah, this is terrible.
“He’s very rudimentary, but also you see that his body is very stiff. Looking at him sparring there, he’s just not moving so good
“This is super stiff. He’s throwing these punches with his arms. These are arm punches, almost like he shouldn’t be hitting things.”
Eddie Hall decks YouTuber Nile Wilson after he volunteered to take punch from former World’s Strongest Man More

BEN ASKREN has been leant the help of legendary boxing trainer Freddie Roach as he prepares to fight Jake Paul. Askren faces the YouTuber on April 17, at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atalanta.
Ben Askren has been leant the help of legendary boxing trainer Freddie Roach
Freddie Roach has trained Ben Askren to fight Jake Paul
And while on a trip to Los Angeles, the retired UFC welterweight visited Roach’s iconic Wild Card gym.
The sessions were actually set up by UFC president Dana White, who is willing to wager $1million that Paul loses.
Footage has emerged of Askren training on the pads with Roach, drilling combination and defences.
The veteran coach, most famed for his work with Manny Pacquiao, also helped train UFC legend Georges St-Pierre.
He even cornered GSP, 39, for his last ever fight, a 2017 win against Brit Michael Bisping, 42, where he won the middleweight belt.
And Roach has also recently linked up with lightweight contender Tony Ferguson, 37.
It is not yet known whether he will be in Askren’s corner, but training partner and UFC welterweight Tyron Woodley, 38, will be.
Paul, 24, himself has received some backing from Askren’s old rival Jorge Masvidal, 36, as the pair trained together in Miami.

Masvidal famously knocked Askren out in five seconds with a flying knee in July 2019, the UFC’s fastest ever finish.
Paul has made sure to remind his opponent of the historic loss, and at their press conference he FaceTimed Masvidal on stage.
The internet sensation is 2-0 in his career, both by knockout, but only against online rival ‘AnEsonGib’ and ex-NBA player Nate Robinson.
Askren, an ex-ONE Championship and Bellator champion, retired from the UFC in 2019, and was renowned for his grappling skills.
Jake Paul FaceTimed Ben Askren’s former opponent Jorge MasvidalCredit: Getty
Jake Paul and Ben Askren face off ahead of their fightCredit: Getty More