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      Paige VanZant to fight ‘well-known name’ in summer as BKFC chief says ex-UFC star ‘worth everything’ of lucrative deal

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      PAIGE VANZANT will take on a ‘well-known name’ in her second Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship outing, the promotion’s president Dave Feldman has revealed.
      The former UFC strawweight made her BKFC debut earlier this month against Britain Hart, suffering a unanimous decision loss to the pro boxer.

      Paige VanZant (R) made her BKFC debut against Britain Hart earlier this month

      The former UFC strawweight suffered a unanimous decision loss in her BKFC debut

      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 percent. We are 100 percent 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 inked 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 bow, Feldman insists BKFC’s acquisition of the American Top Team standout 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.

      PVZ will be back in the BKFC ring in the summer

      “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.”
      Feldman is looking forward to seeing how PVZ bounces back from her latest setback and fully expects her to level up in her next fight.
      He said: “I can’t wait to see what she’s going to do. I think she’s going to adapt a lot more.
      “I think she’s really going to take a step up in her next fight.”

      Paige VanZant talks about joining WWE on Chris Van Vliet’s YouTube podcast More

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      Jake Paul’s coach backs YouTuber to KO Dillon Danis in ONE ROUND with MMA star ’embarrassing himself’ with boxing clips

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      JAKE PAUL’S coach said Dillon Danis would not last a round with the YouTuber – and blasted his ’embarrassing’ boxing training.
      Danis is still recovering from a knee injury and uploaded footage of himself sparring.

      BJ Flores pictured training Jake Paul

      Dillon Danis pictured during a boxing sparring session

      The 2-0 Bellator welterweight rejected the chance to face Paul in April, citing he is sidelined from fighting until the summer.
      Still, the war of words between the online rivals has continued, with trainer and ex-cruiserweight contender BJ Flores now involved.
      Flores, who has coached Paul since he turned pro in 2020, urged Danis to stop uploading clips of his boxing training to save himself from humiliation.
      He told Khabib Nurmagomedov’s trainer Javier Mendez: “Listen to me very carefully.

      “Whoever knows Dillon Danis, whoever’s friends with him, they’ve gotta tell him to stop posting videos of him punching, please. Just tell him, like please.
      “Dillon, you’re trying to say you’re going to box Jake and everything yet you post these videos punching and it just shows you’re at another universe bro, you really are.
      “You got a long, long way to go. He’s a great wrestler, I respect him as far as a wrestler, but his mouth and his punching are terrible… terrible.
      “He won’t last one round with Jake, Javier, he won’t last one round, I’m serious.

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      “He keeps posting these videos of him punching and I’m like ‘bro you’re embarrassing yourself.’
      “You don’t even know enough to know you’re embarrassing yourself. He’s terrible.”
      Paul, 24, offered Danis, 27, the chance to settle their score this April.
      But after Conor McGregor’s training partner was unable to do so, retired UFC welterweight Ben Askren, 36, instead accepted the fight.
      Still, it has not stopped Danis from privately trying to provoke Paul’s cornerman.
      Flores said: “I’d love to have Jake whoop Dillon Danis’ ass just so Dillon Danis stays out of my DMs.

      Dillon Danis is a training partner of Conor McGregor’sCredit: @dillondanis

      Jake Paul pictured after a sparring sessionCredit: Instagram / @danieltoretto
      “He’s always DMing me and stuff like that, like ‘Oh, BJ, blah, blah, blah.’
      “I’m like, dude, you’re done bro, nobody’s listening to you, like, know what I mean?
      “He’s sending me DMs and I stopped responding to the kid. I dunno, I stopped responding to him, he’s obviously not about the fight.”
      Paul turned pro last January and beat internet foe ‘AnEsonGib’ – real name Ali Al-Fakhri – in one round.
      He then made it two knockouts in as many fights in November as he brutally left ex-NBA star Nate Robinson, 36, out cold and into a meme.
      Paul then set his sights on UFC superstar Conor McGregor, 32, and even claimed he had a $50million cheque ready to go.

      Jake Paul knocked out Nate Robinson in his second fightCredit: USA TODAY Sports
      But after McGregor was KOd on his UFC return in January by Dustin Poirier, 32, the offer was instead retracted to just $10,000.
      Paul is now hoping to face McGregor’s famous nemesis Nate Diaz, 35, who is open to the boxing match when his UFC contract – which he has two fights left on – expires.
      And Flores admitted despite the bad blood with Danis, he would rather his man box Diaz or his brother Nick, 37.
      He explained: “We’re going to make a statement out of Ben and then after that we’ll see what happens.
      “But, Nate and Nick are great names, Dillon Danis is definitely not a great name but Nate and Nick would be an honour.
      “I’d rather Jake go straight to one of those guys instead of give Dillon an opportunity because he really doesn’t deserve it.”

      Nick Diaz, left, next to brother Nate More

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      Watch ex-UFC star Ben Askren training to fight Jake Paul as TJ Dillashaw admits MMA world is ‘very nervous right now’

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      RARE footage of Ben Askren training for his upcoming boxing match with Jake Paul has been released.
      Ex-UFC welterweight Askren is coming out of retirement on April 17 to face the YouTube sensation.

      Ben Askren training for his upcoming boxing match against Jake Paul

      Jake Paul pictured with his boxing trainer Cornelius Bundrage

      Jake Paul pictured after a training session

      Paul, 24, is 2-0 in his career, both by knockout, and also has a white collar win in 2018 to his name.
      While Askren, 36, despite having vast more amount of fighting experience in MMA, was renowned for his wrestling and grappling style.
      He has recently been captured preparing for his boxing debut by hitting the pads, landing combinations.
      Askren only had six knockouts in his 19 MMA wins, where he won titles in Bellator and ONE Championship.

      Former UFC champion TJ Dillashaw is rooting for the American but admitted those in the MMA business are ‘very nervous right now’.
      Dillashaw, 35, told Mike Swick: “Askren should win right, but I’m nervous about it.
      “You watch him strike and it’s like the MMA world is very nervous right now that he’s gonna be.
      “He should win the fight. He should be smart enough.

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      “I mean Jake Paul is gonna get tired, he should be able to wear him out and make him lose his explosiveness and dance around and get the win.
      “But I wouldn’t say Askren’s the better striker I think he’s just the better competitor and that’s what’s gonna win him the fight.
      “At least I really hope so, my fingers are crossed because man, crazy.” More

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      Inside Jake Paul’s brutal pre-fight diet as YouTube star cuts out fatty foods ahead of Ben Askren bout

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      YOUTUBE star Jake Paul is cutting no corners as he plots what would be the most impressive win of his fledgling boxing career.
      Having already beaten AnEsonGib and former NBA star Nate Robinson, Paul is targeting a victory over former Bellator and One Championship welterweight king Ben Askren on April 17.

      Jake Paul is cutting no corners with his diet

      Jake Paul is cutting no corner in trying to get his boxing career off the groundCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Askren, 36, was known in MMA as more of a grappler than a striker, leaving him heading into the ring against Paul without his best tools.
      But according to Jacked Gorilla, Paul is taking nothing for granted against the seasoned combat competitor, with his disciplined diet reflecting his seriousness.
      The 24-year-old begins his day with a breakfast of oatmeal and fruit.
      Snacks are limited for the ripped American, with only protein shakes or even ice cubes allowed when he is in training.

      For lunch, he tucks into tasty salmon and veg.
      And dinner consists of chicken and salad.
      True to form, Paul was spotted by Page Six insiders out for a healthy meal at The Gramercy in Florida on Sunday.
      He kept his order ‘clean and light’, by opting for his trusty combo of grilled chicken and water.

      Ben Askren is aiming to teach Jake Paul a lessonCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      But he did promise the restaurant’s management that he’d be back, victorious, to try their deviled eggs and banana split.
      Askren will have something to say about that, however, having belittled Paul as a boxing ‘pretender’.
      He told ESPN: “I know Jake Paul is enjoying pretending he is a fighter.
      “I think on April 17 he is going to have a rude awakening to what being a fighter is really like. Jake has led a privileged life… I’m going to put his dreams to an end.”
      Former UFC bantamweight champion TJ Dillashaw, however, has admitted that the MMA community are ‘very nervous right now’.
      He told Mike Swick: “Askren should win right, but I’m nervous about it.
      “You watch him strike and it’s like the MMA world is very nervous right now that he’s gonna be.

      I wouldn’t say Askren’s the better striker I think he’s just the better competitor and that’s what’s gonna win him the fight
      TJ Dillashaw

      “He should win the fight. He should be smart enough.
      “I mean Jake Paul is gonna get tired, he should be able to wear him out and make him lose his explosiveness and dance around and get the win.
      “But I wouldn’t say Askren’s the better striker I think he’s just the better competitor and that’s what’s gonna win him the fight.
      “At least I really hope so, my fingers are crossed because man, crazy.”

      Watch YouTuber Jake Paul training to fight ex-UFC star Ben Askren More

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      Jake Paul vs Ben Askren will do 2m PPVs making it boxing’s fifth most-viewed fight ever, says Triller’s Hollywood backer

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      JAKE PAUL and Ben Askren are on course to become boxing’s fifth most-viewed fight ever with 2million pay-per-views, Triller’s Hollywood backer said.
      YouTube phenomenon Paul and retired UFC welterweight Askren are set to box on April 17, on social media app Triller’s ‘Fight Club’ PPV platform.

      Jake Paul is set to fight ex-UFC star Ben AskrenCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Ben Askren and Jake Paul are projected to sell 2m PPVsCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      The brains behind the operation is Ryan Kavanaugh, CEO of billion dollar film company Relativity Media, who have produced over 250 movies.
      Kavanaugh entered the boxing business with a boom last November, bringing heavyweight icon Mike Tyson, 54, out of retirement.
      And on the undercard, Paul, 24, became a viral sensation after knocking out ex-NBA point guard Nate Robinson, 36.
      The nostalgia of Tyson’s first fight in 15 years and Paul’s army of fans helped the spectacle event sell 1.6m PPVs.

      But Kavanaugh claimed he has the numbers to prove that Askren’s shot at the internet star will surpass those figures and smash at least 2m box office buys.
      He told SunSport: “We run some analytics and statistics on our fights in terms of what we project it will do.
      “I actually project this fight will be in the top five all-time pay-per-views, more than Tyson.
      “A lot of variables go into our AI that’s running but what we look at is the social activity and the type of audience.

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      “In Jake’s case, you’ve got a guy that when you analyse the amount of interactivity that he’s getting socially on the content he posts, you basically know that he and that fight is already good for about 1.5m buys.
      “Then, you take the fact that Askren brings an MMA audience with him that others don’t, meaning it’s a steeper audience.
      “We haven’t announced our undercard yet but we have some pretty awesome fights on that card that will excite even the highest of boxing purists.
      “Then you add on all the music talent like we had last time and we’re shooting it a whole different way.
      “When you add each of those components we don’t see how we do under 2m buys.”
      Paul made his professional boxing debut in 2020, having won an exhibition bout in England in 2018.
      He quickly recorded two KOs in as many fights, firstly against online rival ‘AnEsonGib’ and then Robinson.
      Paul has since emerged as one of the most polarising characters in boxing after just 12 months in the sport.

      Ryan Kavanaugh with actor Channing TatumCredit: Getty Images
      Despite not yet beating an opponent with fighting experience, he called out UFC pair Conor McGregor, 32, and Nate Diaz, 35.
      With 20MILLION YouTube subscribers behind him, and PPV interest to back it up, the ex-vlogger has promised to become ‘the future of boxing’.
      And Kavanaugh reckons if Paul can convince his masses of fans and followers to support his boxing career, he can be good to his word.
      He said: “Boxing was not an under 30s sport it was an over 30s sport.
      “So what I would say is that he might become the face of boxing, not because everyone in boxing says he’s the face of boxing, but he brings a whole other audience to boxing.
      “When I say the ‘face’, if he brings a million people with him to the buys, a lot of them were not buyers of boxing before.”
      Despite Paul’s promise as a PPV attraction, he is yet to test himself against a challenger with a background in fighting.
      That will change in just under two months, when he faces Askren, who won titles in Bellator and ONE Championship before joining the UFC in 2019.

      Jake Paul knocked out ex-NBA star Nate RobinsonCredit: AP:Associated Press

      Ben Askren submitted Robbie Lawler at UFC 235 in 2019Credit: Getty Images – Getty
      The American, who retired after three UFC fights, is not recognised for his striking skills and instead relied on wrestling and grappling.
      But Askren, 36, is an experienced veteran and Kavanaugh argues Paul should be credited for his drastic step up in competition.
      He explained: “There’s definitely a big question on whether he’s going to win.
      “He’s going up against somebody considered to be one of the best fighters in the world.
      “In boxing, I get you’re only as big as your last fight and so on and so forth, just like in Hollywood you’re only as good as your last movie, but I think it’s a bit different with Jake.
      “Because here’s a guy that isn’t a traditionally trained fighter, it’s not his first career and he’s getting in the ring with a guy who is a traditionally trained fighter whose spent his life between wrestling and mixed martial arts.
      “I think win or lose people will give Jake the credit for getting in the ring with someone who is that ferocious.”

      Jake Paul is now 2-0 as a boxerCredit: Instagram @jakepaul

      Jake Paul pictured after a training session More

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      Watch ex-UFC star Ben Askren in training to fight Jake Paul as TJ Dillashaw admits MMA world ‘very nervous right now’

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      RARE footage of Ben Askren training for his upcoming boxing match against Jake Paul has been released.
      Ex-UFC welterweight Askren is coming out of retirement on April 17 to face the YouTube sensation.

      Ben Askren training for his upcoming boxing match against Jake Paul

      Jake Paul pictured with his boxing trainer Cornelius Bundrage

      Jake Paul pictured after a training session

      Paul, 24, is 2-0 in his career, both by knockout, and also has a white collar win in 2018 to his name.
      While Askren, 36, despite having vast more amount of fighting experience in MMA, was renowned for his wrestling and grappling style.
      He has recently been captured preparing for his boxing debut by hitting the pads, landing combinations.
      Askren only had six knockouts in his 19 MMA wins, where he won titles in Bellator and ONE Championship.

      Former UFC champion TJ Dillashaw is rooting for the American but admitted those in the MMA business are ‘very nervous right now’.
      Dillashaw, 35, told Mike Swick: “Askren should win right, but I’m nervous about it.
      “You watch him strike and it’s like the MMA world is very nervous right now that he’s gonna be.
      “He should win the fight. He should be smart enough.

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      “I mean Jake Paul is gonna get tired, he should be able to wear him out and make him lose his explosiveness and dance around and get the win.
      “But I wouldn’t say Askren’s the better striker I think he’s just the better competitor and that’s what’s gonna win him the fight.
      “At least I really hope so, my fingers are crossed because man, crazy.” More

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      Conor McGregor urged to quit MMA for boxing as legend George Foreman backs UFC star to beat Manny Pacquiao

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      CONOR McGREGOR has been urged by George Foreman to quit the UFC for boxing – with the Irishman backed to beat Manny Pacquiao.
      McGregor, who lost his ring debut to Floyd Mayweather in 2017, was in talks to face Pacquiao this year.

      Conor McGregor was KO’d by Dustin Poirier in his last UFC boutCredit: Handout – Getty

      Manny Pacquiao during his 2019 win against Adrien BronerCredit: USA TODAY Sports

      But after he was knocked out by Dustin Poirier on his return to the UFC in January, plans of a mega-money boxing match with PacMan were shelved.
      McGregor, 32, is now instead focusing on revenge against Poirier, 32, who he previously beat in 2014, with the two lined up for a trilogy bout in the summer.
      But boxing legend Foreman – the oldest heavyweight champion in history aged 45 – thinks McGregor is better off pursuing Pacquiao.
      He told The Star: “It’s hard for McGregor to accept it but he’s a better puncher than he is in MMA.

      “I’d rather see him in boxing matches now.
      “I think if he has a fight with Pacquiao he can actually beat him – good rules, over ten rounds, McGregor can beat him.
      “He’s already adjusted to boxing, he’s not going to do good in MMA anymore.
      “Pacquiao is very good as a matter of fact, but McGregor can beat him in a boxing match.”

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      George Foreman told Conor McGregor to quit the UFC to box Manny PacquiaoCredit: Getty – Contributor

      McGregor and Pacquiao are both managed by Paradigm Sports and as a result came close to striking a deal.
      But PacMan, 42, is now training towards a comeback fight in April or May, having not fought since beating Keith Thurman, 32, in July 2019.
      UFC president Dana White also revealed McGregor and Poirier are likely to fight each other next, with their rematch selling 1.6million pay-per-views.

      Dana White confirms Conor McGregor trilogy with Dustin Poirier More

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      Conor McGregor is ‘OWNED’ by UFC boss Dana White, taunts Jake Paul as he eyes Nate Diaz fight in 2022

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      JAKE PAUL reckons a fight with Conor McGregor will likely never happen because the Irishman ‘owned’ by UFC president Dana White.
      The YouTuber aggressively pursued a boxing match with the MMA superstar after his viral KO of Nate Robinson last November.

      Jake Paul aggressively pursued a boxing match with Conor McGregor after KO’ing Nate Robinson last NovemberCredit: AP

      But the YouTuber doesn’t believe UFC president Dana White will allow The Notorious to fight himCredit: Getty

      But the former Disney star has now turned his attention to facing McGregor’s rival Nate Diaz following the Irishman’s defeat to Dustin Poirier last month at UFC 257.
      The 23-year-old reckons a showdown with Diaz is more likely, telling MMA Junkie: “I think Nate will probably happen first Conor is owned by Dana White.
      “Nate only has two more fights in the UFC, so he can do them and then go for free.”Then, Nate Diaz vs Jake Paul will happen in 2022.”
      Paul, the brother of fellow YouTuber Logan, is currently gearing up for a boxing match with former UFC welterweight Ben Askren.

      The younger Paul brother is eager to face some big names after taking on Funky, saying: “We’ll see what happens after the fight.
      “Floyd Mayweather caught my eye last week.
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      “I still think there’s the McGregor fight, and Nate Diaz said he’s wiling to fight me. We’ll see what happens.”

      Paul is brimming with confidence ahead of his showdown with Askren – which will be his third professional fight – and reckons the former ONE Championship and Bellator welterweight champion won’t lay a glove on him.
      He told ESPN: “Go Google Ben Askren’s striking. Hahaha.
      “It’s not going to go that long, it’s not going to go that long.

      Jake Paul is gearing up to face former UFC welterweight Ben AskrenCredit: Getty – Contributor

      “I don’t even think he’ll hit me. I haven’t been hit one time in the face in my past two fights.
      “So I haven’t even been punched as pro boxer one time. Nate Robinson landed one body shot in a clinch.
      “I don’t think Ben Askren will even hit me. That’s my prediction.”
      Paul is 2-0 as a professional boxer having registered stoppage wins over fellow YouTuber AnEsonGib and ex-NBA star Robinson, who he brutally knocked out on the undercard of Mike Tyson’s exhibition with Roy Jones Jr.

      Jake Paul says Conor McGregor ‘doesn’t have that hunger anymore’ and says UFC star is ‘way easier’ than Floyd Mayweather More