MMA

BEN ASKREN claimed Jake Paul thinks ‘too highly of his own skills’ and vowed to ‘beat up’ the YouTuber.
Askren, a former UFC welterweight who retired in 2019, will face the internet sensation on April 17 in the boxing ring.

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

Jake Paul has won his first two fights as a pro boxer Credit: AP:Associated Press

It will be Paul’s third professional bout, having already beaten social media rival ‘AnEsonGib’ and ex-NBA star Nate Robinson.
And, with the Askren not renowned for his striking skills in the cage, the vlogger has again been made favourite by pundits and fellow fighters.
But Askren, who lost just twice in his 22 MMA bouts, warns Paul, 24, won’t have it so easy now he comes face-to-face with an experienced fighter.
Asked if he was surprised by Paul being favoured by the masses, Askren told SunSport: “Nope, a lot of stupid people exist.  

“I was literally only rocked one time in 21 fights and ten-plus years of training.”
Askren won titles in Bellator and ONE Championship before finally signing for the UFC in 2018.
He beat Robbie Lawler on his debut, but suffered a historic loss against Jorge Masvidal four months later.
Masvidal’s flying knee FIVE SECONDS into the fight made it the quickest win in UFC history.

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After Askren was beaten by Damian Maia in October 2019, he retired and underwent hip surgery.
The ex-USA wrestling champion insists he ‘feels great’ having gone under the knife in September and predicts a round seven KO against Paul.
Despite the millionaire video star’s lack of fighting experience, Askren admits it will not be his easiest night’s work.
But he does feel Paul is his least qualified challenger, who has has had his ego boosted with easy knockovers against ring novices.
Askren, 36, said: “I think that the lack of skill of his opponents has made him think a little too highly of his own skills.  
“Seeing as I have had a few fights last under 90 seconds I don’t think it will be the easiest fight.  I do think Jake is the least skilled. 
“April 17 I am going to beat Jake up, what he decides to do after that is up to him.”

YouTuber Jake Paul after a sparring session Credit: Instagram / @brutalbostwick

Ben Askren retired from the UFC in 2019 Credit: AP:Associated Press
Askren is not the only one to questions Paul’s thin resume of inexperienced opponents, with fans calling for the American celebrity to face a real test.
Robinson, 36, was KO’d and became a meme after he was left out cold in round two last November.
Paul has promised the same viral treatment of Askren, but recognised he is faces a step up in competition.
After the fight announcement, he said: “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.”

Jake Paul hits the pads in training for April 17 boxing return More

AVNI YILDIRIM has called Conor McGregor ‘arrogant and ignorant’ for believing he could beat Manny Pacquiao.
McGregor revealed before his UFC return against Dustin Poirier that he was in talks to fight Pacquiao.

Avni Yildirim with Canelo AlvarezCredit: Instagram @avniyildirim

Conor McGregor after defeat to Dustin Poirier Credit: Getty Images – Getty

But after the Irishman was stopped in the octagon for the first time, his return to the boxing ring was all-but KO’d.
Turk Yildirim – who faces Canelo Alvarez on February 27 – is happy to see the two rivalling superstars left alone in their own sport.
He told SunSport: “Should basketball teams start playing football? Would you watch a baseball team playing hockey?
“It‘s two different sports. If somebody wants to turn from one sport to the other that‘s fine. But it‘s surely not easy to do.

“We are professionals at what we do. We have done it for years – training, fighting – to get to the level where we are.
“To believe that you can just enter a sport and beat somebody who has done it his whole life is arrogant and ignorant to say the least.”
McGregor, 32, made his boxing debut in 2017, losing to Floyd Mayweather, 43, in ten rounds.
But he fancied another lucrative payday and crack at boxing royalty as he pursued Filipino icon Pacquiao, 42.

Conor McGregor knocked out against Dustin Poirier Credit: Getty Images – Getty

Yildirim, 29, was not convinced, however, and urged McGregor to instead focus his efforts in the UFC, giving him no hope of upsetting PacMan.
He said: “I think McGregor has been a big star at UFC but I don‘t see him as a boxer.
“He clearly lost to Mayweather and I don‘t understand why he should have the desire to lose to Pacquiao.
“If they want to fight, let them fight. No problem. Would I watch it? I don‘t think so.”
As McGregor builds a rivalry with boxing’s legends of the past, Yildirim is going after the sport’s current kingpin.
He challenges super-middleweight and pound-for-pound superstar Canelo for the WBC, WBA and Ring Magazine belts in Florida.
Yildirim is the Mexican’s mandatory challenger and comes into the fight with a 21-2 record.
Canelo, 30, will defend his throne having beaten Callum Smith in December, but right after was given 90 days to defend his WBC title.

Canelo faces Avni Yildirim on February 27 Credit: Instagram / @avniyildrim

Canelo and Avni Yildirim are former sparring partners
Having agreed terms with Yildirim, Alvarez does so with future unification bouts already on his mind.
So much so that he penned a two-fight deal with promoter Eddie Hearn, with the view of facing WBO champ Billy Joe Saunders later this year.
Despite the four-weight champion planning ahead, Yildirim refuses to feel overlooked – but warned that Canelo is in the dark about what he is getting himself into.
He said: “I don‘t care what Canelo says, thinks or plans. I focus on myself and what I need to do to show my best possible performance.
“I can only speak for myself and tell you that I am not thinking past Canelo. First things first.
“Yes, it was a long journey. But I am not looking back, I am focusing on what‘s ahead of me.
“I am looking forward to the fight and I will make sure that I will be in the best possible shape.
“I don‘t want to compare myself to anybody else. But as far as I know Canelo has never faced a true Turkish warrior.”

Canelo Alvarez looks sharp on heavy bag as he prepares for ring return against Avni Yıldırım More

MANNY PACQUIAO’S representative confirmed their interest in fighting Conor McGregor is ‘not there presently’.
It comes after McGregor was knocked out and stunned by Dustin Poirier at UFC 257, losing in round two.

Sean Gibbons pictured with Manny Pacquiao Credit: MP Promotions

Dustin Poirier beat Conor McGregor at UFC 257 Credit: Getty Images – Getty

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The Irishman had revealed several times in the build up to his UFC return that talks were intensifying between himself and Pacquiao.
But McGregor’s proposed return to the ring – having lost his boxing debut to Floyd Mayweather in 2017 – is all-but KO’d as he was upset in Abu Dhabi.
Now, he has been told to focus his efforts on redeeming himself in the octagon with Pacquiao no longer pursuing the former two-division UFC champion.

Sean Gibbons, president of Manny Pacquiao promotions, told SunSport: “Very unfortunate, it looked like Conor looked past Dustin and got knocked out.
“Maybe he had the Senator on his mind. I think the demand for the fight is not there presently.
“Conor has some business to clean up and handle in the UFC. 
“It’s a bummer, it could have been fun for as long as it lasted and know leg kicks would have made a world of difference.”

As quickly as McGregor picked himself up from the canvas and addressed defeat, Pacquiao appeared to move on in another direction.

Conor McGregor knocked out by Dustin Poirier Credit: Getty Images – Getty

Lightweight sensation Ryan Garcia, 22, announced on Instagram that he would be fighting Pacquaio, 42.
It is understood the two are in talks to potentially box in an exhibition bout.
McGregor revealed after the loss on Fight Island that a deal with eight-division champion PacMan was almost signed.
But now the southpaw, who was left unable to walk after Poirier battered his calves with kicks, has been left second guessing his next move.
McGregor, 32, said: “I always did want to focus on my MMA career but I’m also open. I’ll just see what happens. I don’t know what will happen.
“That Manny fight was happening. It was as good as done.
“I just want to get in and get back into a bounce, especially against that style of fighter, and not take those kicks.
“Not play with those kicks. It’s just a motherfucker to take. That’s my mind going.”

Ex-UFC star Chael Sonnen claims Conor McGregor looked scrawny and weak against Poirier More

CONOR McGREGOR has been urged to put on a demolition job against Jake Paul in a ‘tune-up’ fight – to help build back his confidence.
McGregor’s eagerly anticipated UFC return went up in smoke after he was knocked out by Dustin Porier.

Conor McGregor has been urged to fight Jake Paul Credit: Getty Images – Getty

Jake Paul has been chasing a fight with Conor McGregor Credit: Getty Images – Getty

Beforehand, YouTuber Paul pestered the UFC superstar for a fight, claiming he had a $50million purse waiting for him.
But the social media sensation was just as quick to bask in McGregor’s defeat, goading him with a retracted $10,000 offer.
Joe Duffy, the first man to beat McGregor in 2010, argues Paul is the closest thing the Irishman will get to an easy knock over.
The retired UFC lightweight reckons his former opponent should try and silence the millionaire vlogger before making some noise in the octagon.

Duffy told SunSport: “Going away from MMA, even Jake Paul is ring time.
“He could go in, destroy this guy, a complete and utter clown, go in and make a millions.
“He could come back, have ring time and go and tee off on someone in the UFC.

Joe Duffy was the first man to beat Conor McGregor in 2010Credit: Getty – Contributor

“It’s not a bad shout, it’s the easiest money and the closest to a tune-up fight that he’s going to get so that makes the most sense in terms of his career.

“He can get comfortable in just competing, I know it’s not the octagon but he can come back to that, it makes a bit more sense in my head.”
Paul’s pursuit of McGregor – who lost his boxing debut against Floyd Mayweather in 2017 – has so far been greeted with contempt.
The 2-0 internet sensation was barely acknowledged by the former two-weight UFC champion, but was described as ‘a confused little kid’.
Paul, 24, has instead moved on and announced he will fight ex-UFC welterweight Ben Askren, 36, on April 17.
Meanwhile McGregor, 32, is left with a rebuilding job having lost for the third time in the octagon.
The questions posed now are the same as when he was beaten for the first time in the UFC by Nate Diaz in March 2016.
McGregor responded emphatically, avenging defeat five months later to redeem himself, even closing out the year by winning the lightweight title.
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Conor McGregor was beaten by Dustin Poirier Credit: Getty Images – Getty

Dustin Poirier after knocking out Conor McGregor Credit: Getty Images – Getty
It salvaged his reputation and his ability to come back from adversity even enhanced his marketability.
But, a loss to Poirier in an immediate rematch, which would be the decider in their trilogy, would be catastrophic for McGregor’s road back to supremacy.
Duffy, 32, said: “I think that’s the reality, as harsh as it is.
“I do feel like he needs a good fight and he needs a win if he wants to carry on his career at the top in MMA.
“I think to a degree it kind of is like that, Dustin’s had so many fights and came back, same with the likes of Michael Bisping.
“But it all depends on how Conor bounces back now, because his stock is so high it changes the game.”

Jake Paul hits the pads in training for April 17 boxing return More

CONOR McGREGOR is ‘already harassing everybody’ for an immediate rematch with Dustin Poirier, his head coach John Kavanagh has revealed.
But, if the UFC superstar is denied a trilogy fight with Poirier, it could see McGregor drift into boxing as an alternative.

Conor McGregor is ‘already harassing everybody’ for an immediate rematch with Dustin PoirierCredit: Getty Images – Getty

John Kavanagh said Conor McGregor is training again already Credit: Sportsfile – Subscription

Kavanagh told ESPN: “He’s already harassing everybody to get the rematch.
“We would love the rematch. I don’t think Dustin is against that. If we could get the rematch before the summer, that’d be amazing.
“If it’s not to be, I guess I don’t really know. Maybe he drifts off into the boxing.”
Before McGregor’s devastating second round knockout defeat, he revealed talks were intensifying between himself and Manny Pacquiao.

But after losing by knockout for the first time in his UFC career, the Irishman is facing doubts over where his next move lies.
Those same questions were posed when he was beaten for the first time in the UFC by Nate Diaz in March 2016.
McGregor responded emphatically, avenging defeat five months later to redeem himself, even closing out the year by winning the lightweight title.
Coach Kavanagh revealed there has been a similar response from the southpaw star, who first KO’d Poirier in 2014.

The head trainer believes it sets the 32-year-old pair up perfectly for a trilogy decider, with the title on the line following Khabib Nurmagomedov’s retirement.
Kavanagh said: “Dustin v Conor 3 for the belt, in May or something like that; wouldn’t that be amazing?
“We’re 1-1. We gave him the rematch after the first win, and I hope he returns the sentiment.”
McGregor’s last loss came in 2018, a bitter submission against arch rival Nurmagomedov, 32.
After that, the former two-weight champion had just 40 seconds in the cage before returning at UFC 257 on Fight Island.
McGregor pointed to the inactivity as a sticking point in his performance as well as the brutal calf kicks Poirier dished out.

Conor McGregor was beaten in round two by Dustin Poirier Credit: Getty Images – Getty

Conor McGregor was knocked out for the first time in the UFC Credit: Getty Images – Getty
It left him unable to walk properly and even needing a crutch immediately after the fight.
But, Kavanagh reassured fans McGregor is recovering well and has even began training again.
He revealed: “The leg is OK.
“There’s no serious damage. The peroneal nerve that runs down on that side of the leg, which was kicked a number of times, was completely dead.
“And then the leg started filling up with blood as well, so he couldn’t move on it all.
“But as of today, he’s in good form. He did a very tough workout this morning.”

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