MMA

JAKE PAUL’S fight against Ben Askren will be available in the UK for £17 with rapper Snoop Dogg returning as commentator.
The YouTuber faces Askren on April 17, at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, which can hold up to 75,000 fans.

Snoop Dogg will return as commentator for TrillerCredit: Getty Images – Getty

It will be broadcast on FITE TV in the UK, costing £17 – while in America the price is $49.99.
Sky Sports televised the PPV rematch between Paul’s older brother Logan and online rival KSI, who won by split-decision.
Due to their inexperience and skill, the price was slashed to just £10, but fans are split on how well the box office numbers will fare next month.

Smart move they Jake Paul has a big YT fan base and they will make money on this
— Jams (@SirJams_) March 8, 2021

That’ll get a few buys off of kids stealing their mums card but other than that a massive flop inbound
— jack vando (@jack_vando) March 8, 2021

It’ll do massive numbers.. 🤦🏻‍♂️ sadly
— Dano (@roberts_dano) March 8, 2021

One said: “The sad thing is that many people will buy this ppv.”

Another said: “Oh no. This is gonna flop hard.”
One added: “Smart move they Jake Paul has a big YT fan base and they will make money on this.”
Another added: “No one at all is paying for that.”
Triller, backed by Ryan Kavanaugh, who owns billion dollar film company Relativity Media, will stage the PPV.

They burst onto the boxing scene last November, bringing heavyweight legend Mike Tyson, 54, out of retirement, as he drew in an exhibition with Roy Jones Jr, 52.

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On the undercard, YouTuber Paul, 24, improved to two knockouts in as many fights as he left ex-NBA star Nate Robinson, 36, out cold.
It proved a financial success, with 1.6million PPVs sold, due to the nostalgia of Tyson and intrigue of Paul.
But Kavanaugh claimed to SunSport that the social media star’s third and toughest fight to date will surpass 2MILLION PPV buys.
Triller are looking to shake boxing up by offering viewers at home unique TV angles, as well as featuring celebrities and champions of the past and present.
They also had rap artist Snoop Dogg commentating on fights and performing live on stage.
The American recording artist has partnered with Kavanaugh to launch ‘Fight Club’ on Triller.
And Snoop Dogg will be another fixture in the commentary box when Paul fights 36-year-old retired UFC welterweight Askren.

UFC star Leon Edwards predicts Jake Paul will ‘chin’ Ben Askren More

JAKE PAUL will fight ex-UFC welterweight Ben Askren at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
The venue – home to NFL side Atlanta Falcons and MLS outfit Atlanta United – can hold up to 75,000 fans.

Jake Paul will fight ex-UFC welterweight Ben Askren at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in AtlantaCredit: Getty Images – Getty

Ben Askren will fight Jake Paul on April 17Credit: Getty – Contributor

The stadium is home to NFL side Atlanta Falcons and MLS’ Atlanta United and can hold up to 75,000 fans.Credit: Getty Images – Getty

Social media app Triller, backed by Ryan Kavanaugh, who owns billion dollar film company Relativity Media, will host the pay-per-view event on April 17.
Kavanaugh said: “Our vision of big fights, big entertainment and world class events can only fit into a world class venue, and Mercedes-Benz Stadium fits that vision.
“April 17th will have an element of surprise and action for everyone, from music fans to the casual and diehard fight fan.”
The fight will be on pay-per-view, costing $49.99 in America and £17 in the UK on FITE TV.

Triller brought heavyweight legend Mike Tyson, 54, out of retirement in November, as he drew in an exhibition with Roy Jones Jr, 52.
On the undercard, YouTuber Paul, 24, improved to two knockouts in as many fights as he left ex-NBA star Nate Robinso, 36, out cold.
But for his third professional bout, he will face his hardest test to date, against former ONE Championship and Bellator champion Askren.
Askren, 36, despite being vastly more experienced as a fighter, was renowned for his limited striking style but high-level grappling accolades.

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As a result, he emerges as the betting underdog, with Paul promising to add the biggest name to his record and another highlight-reel to his collection.
He said upon the fight announcement: “The world complained because I knocked out a basketball player and not a real fighter.
“So now I’m giving the people what they want by taking on a ‘real fighter.’
“After Ben Askren is added to my knockout meme collection, what can anybody say?
“Thank you to Triller Fight Club for giving me the platform to once again put a man to sleep. April 17, it’s lights out for Askren.”

UFC star Leon Edwards predicts Jake Paul will ‘chin’ Ben Askren More

EX-UFC star Paige VanZant left little to the imagination on Instagram before showing off her boxing skills.
VanZant uploaded a video where she started in lingerie and knee-high boots before cutting to herself in shorts and gloves.

Paige VanZant left little to the imagination on Instagram

The post comes off the back of her Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship debut

Paige VanZant uploaded a video where she started in lingerie and knee-high boots before cutting to herself in shorts and gloves

The post comes off the back of her Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship debut, which she lost against Britain Hart.
It was VanZant’s first fight since leaving the UFC, which led to her shock bare-knuckle boxing switch.
But the 26-year-old is set to perform a quick turnaround and get back in the ring early in the summer.
Feldman told MMA Fighting: “I can confidently say Paige VanZant absolutely will be back with us here in early to mid-summer.

“100 per cent. We are 100 per cent in the Paige VanZant business.
“We like being in that business. She delivered for us on every aspect we needed and finished the fight strong so that was very important for us.”
VanZant signed a multi-million-pound deal with BKFC last summer after being released by the UFC following her submission loss to Amanda Ribas.
Despite VanZant coming up short in her promotional debut, Feldman insists BKFC’s acquisition has so far been a success.

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He said: “Some people looked at me crazy ‘you’re paying her too much, you’re doing this, you’re doing that.’
“I said, ‘Look I don’t know everything but I know what I’m doing on this stuff and she delivered.’
“She delivered on every aspect that we needed her to deliver on.
“She was worth everything that we gave her and it’s a great partnership.
“She did everything we wanted her to do and we did everything she wanted us to do. We definitely have a win-win relationship.
“I said in all my interviews and I said to you, I really take my hat off to her because she didn’t have to do this.
“Now I take my hat off to her even more because she definitely doesn’t have to do this again.
“She’s doing it and she really wants to prove herself and that’s the kind of person that I wanted to be in business with, the kind of person I have a lot of respect for.”

Paige VanZant wants to return to the ring in the summerCredit: Instagram

Paige VanZant was beaten on her BKFC debutCredit: @bareknucklefc More

LEON EDWARDS predicted Ben Askren is ‘going to get chinned’ against Jake Paul – with the result ‘bad for MMA’.
YouTuber Paul faces the retired ex-UFC welterweight on April 17, and heads into the pay-per-view headliner as a betting favourite.

Jake Paul fights ex-UFC welterweight Ben Askren on April 17

Ben Askren is coming out of retirement to fight Jake PaulCredit: Getty Images – Getty

And according to current 170lb contender Edwards, the social media sensation does so for a reason.
Paul has been backed to KO Askren, leaving a humorous stain on MMA in doing so.
Edwards, 29, told talkSPORT: “He’s going to get knocked out, I’m serious.
“It’s going to be bad for MMA, man! I don’t know who agreed to this. I don’t think it’s going to be good for MMA and he’s going to get chinned.

“But, it’s going to be funny to see.”
Askren, 36, comes into the fight having won titles with Bellator and ONE Championship before signing for the UFC in 2019.
But after three bouts, and two losses, he hung up his gloves and underwent hip surgery last year.
Paul, 24, turned pro in 2020, boxing only once before in an exhibition bout in 2018.

Leon Edwards has tipped Jake Paul to knockout Ben AskrenCredit: Getty Images – Getty
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But he already has two knockouts in as many fights, although he only beat online rival ‘AnEsonGib’ and ex-NBA player Nate Robinson, 36.
Despite Askren’s lifetime of experience in MMA, his lack of proven striking skills leaves him the underdog.
But it has not affected his confidence in any way, as he predicted Paul will be beaten into an ugly submission.
Askren said on Twitter: “I feel great, just tremendous. Boxing stuff is really starting to come together.
“I can’t promise you it’s going to be the prettiest thing you ever saw – although my face is pretty – my combat skills are not, they are unique, they are different.
“But here’s what I can tell you; you will witness the humiliation of Jake Paul. You will witness one man breaking another man’s will.
“And that man Jake Paul, will give up and be humiliated in front of millions of people, live on Triller on April 17th.”

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CANELO ALVAREZ’S coach has offered to help train Conor McGregor following the UFC star’s ‘surprising’ display against Floyd Mayweather.
McGregor lost his ring debut in 2017 against Mayweather in ten rounds, but raised eyebrows after a fast start.

Canelo Alvarez pictured with trainer Eddy ReynosoCredit: Instagram @caneloteam

Floyd Mayweather beat Conor McGregor in 2017Credit: AFP or licensors

He is yet to make a return to boxing after talks to face Manny Pacquiao collapsed following his loss to Dustin Poirier in January.
Mexican trainer Eddy Reynoso has backed McGregor in his summer trilogy against Poirier and offered the Irishman a masterclass in boxing.
Reynoso told Little Giant Boxing, translated from Spanish: “I think they should do a trilogy fight. It’s 1-1 so the third fight should be good.
“Here we can support him. We can help to better his boxing and defence.

“Honestly, when he fought Mayweather he surprised me. He has a good counter. He has good footwork, waist movement, and agility.
“Therefore, I think he would do good in boxing.
“Give it your best, keep working hard, don’t quit. You have a lot to give, and get the third fight with Dustin Poirier.”
McGregor, 32, has been linked with a rematch against Mayweather, 44, ever since their blockbuster in Las Vegas.

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But another crack at boxing royalty in Pacquiao, 42, was lined up this year up until he was beaten by Poirier, 32, at UFC 257.
Even boxing pound-for-pound king and four-division champion Canelo, 30, opened the door last April to fighting McGregor.
But Alvarez – also subject to a callout from UFC favourite Jorge Masvidal – could instead end up helping The Notorious brush up on his skills.
Reynoso said: “There’s bad nights sometimes. Conor has a lot to give, I don’t know what happened, but his career is untouchable.
“He’s a tremendous athlete that’s going to be in the history books.

NINTCHDBPICT000632223673Credit: Getty Images – Getty

Andy Ruiz Jr, Canelo Alvarez, Eddy Reynoso, Frank Sanchez, Ryan Garcia and Oscar Valdez
“Anytime, this is your home Conor whenever you wanna come practice and learn. We welcome you with open arms.”
Reynoso has a star-studded stable in his adopted home of San Diego, with Ryan Garica, 22, Andy Ruiz Jr, 31 and Oscar Valdez, 30, alongside Canelo.
McGregor in 2019 returned to his first ever boxing coaches at the Crumlin amateur club.
They have since been in his camp and corner for his last two fights, a win against Donald Cerrone, 37, and loss to Poirier.
But McGregor has admitted since defeat this year than he focussed too much on boxing, as he eyed a mega-money match against PacMan.

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