MMA

Subterms

    More stories

    • 238 Shares99 Views

      in Boxing

      ‘I feel bad for Francis Ngannou’, says worried fans after Anthony Joshua shows off lean shape ahead of fight

      by

      ANTHONY JOSHUA has fans already feeling sorry for Francis Ngannou after giving an inside look into his training camp. Joshua returns on March 8 in Saudi Arabia against Ngannou, who only made his boxing debut in October against Tyson Fury.
      Anthony Joshua in training to fight Francis NgannouCredit: @anthonyjoshua
      AJ had fans fearing the worst for NgannouCredit: @anthonyjoshua
      And he has been preparing for the crossover bout at new trainer Ben Davison’s gym in Harlow.
      AJ uploaded a snap in all black with a menacing look on his face – leaving some fans fearing the worst for Ngannou.
      One said: “I really feel bad for that Francis guy cause you’re ready.”
      Another added: “I feel bad for Francis he will feel the heat.”
      READ MORE IN BOXING
      One agreed: “Those eyes say it all.”
      Joshua, 34, stopped Otto Wallin, 32, in five rounds in his last fight in December, his first under coach Davison.
      Meanwhile Ngannou, 35, dropped Fury, 37, on his boxing debut but lost a controversial split-decision.
      It was still enough for him to earn the bout with AJ, filling in for Deontay Wilder, 38, after the American lost to Joseph Parker, 32.
      Most read in Boxing

      ANTHONY JOSHUA VS FRANCIS NGANNOU: ALL THE DETAILS YOU NEED AHEAD OF HUGE CROSSOVER BOUT
      CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS
      Many were shocked by Ngannou’s performance and knockdown of Fury – but not Joshua.
      He said during a DAZN face to face: “I think if I box Tyson Fury a lot of similarities will happen in the fight so I am not surprised at all in terms of his style, who Fury is, it’s just a boxing match.
      “Well done to both of them, they put on an entertaining fight but that’s in the past. That’s how boxing is, and we move forward now.”
      Francis Ngannou undergoes brutal strength and condition training session for Anthony Joshua showdown More

    • 213 Shares99 Views

      in Boxing

      Strongman Eddie Hall gives update on next fight after missing out on ‘life-changing money’ for MMA debut

      by

      EDDIE HALL revealed he lost out on “life-changing money” after his MMA debut was cancelled – but he may not have to wait long to fight. The former world’s strongest man was lined up for a stunning four-man cage tournament in Qatar.
      Eddie Hall lost out on ‘life-changing money’ after his MMA debut was cancelled
      And he was due to face Mitchell Hooper or Brian Shaw – until talks suddenly broke down.
      Hall said on his YouTube channel: “I’ve been training for an MMA fight for the last, I’m going to say six months of my life.
      “And I’m sure you’ve heard the news, seen other articles, big Brian Shaw has talked about it.
      “Don’t know quite what went wrong but the fight fell through. It was big money, it was life-changing money and that’s why I took the contract.
      READ MORE ON EDDIE HALL
      “Of course, me and Brian being family men, we want to secure our futures, make everything financially secure for our children, our great grandchildren etc.
      “We took this deal, we had a contract in place and it all just fell through. It’s just one of those things.”
      Hall, 36, crossed over to boxing in 2022 but was beaten in a super-heavyweight exhibition against rival Hafthor Bjornsson, 35.
      But he began training with interim UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall, 30, for his MMA debut and revealed he got down to 25 stone.
      Most read in Boxing
      CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS
      Hall is back in talks for an MMA fight and called out strongmen duo Hooper and Shaw as well as 6ft 8in actor Martyn Ford.
      He said: “Is there a fight looming? Yes, there is.
      Strongman Eddie Hall submits UFC champion Tom Aspinall in grappling session
      “I’m talking to quite a few promoters, got quite a few different people setting things up, trying to lure fighters in.
      “Martyn Ford, of course is one of those. Brian Shaw is one of those, Mitchell Hooper is one of those.”
      Eddie Hall poses with the face of strongman rival Brian Shaw on his trunksCredit: Instagram More

    • 225 Shares149 Views

      in Boxing

      Anthony Joshua vs Francis Ngannou TV channels confirmed with boxing fans given choice of broadcaster to watch fight

      by

      BOXING fans will have the choice of two TV channels to watch from when Anthony Joshua fights Francis Ngannou. AJ returns on March 8 against the ex-UFC champion-turned heavyweight boxing star in Saudi Arabia.
      Anthony Joshua facing off with Francis NgannouCredit: Alamy
      And it has been confirmed that BOTH Sky Sports and DAZN will air the bout on pay-per-view.
      But the price point is yet to be confirmed.
      MORE TO FOLLOW
      THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY..
      The Sun is your go to destination for the best football, boxing and MMA news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video.Like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/TheSunFootball and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSunFootball. More

    • 200 Shares179 Views

      in Boxing

      Jake Paul calls out Tommy Fury to complete epic trilogy including MMA fight in £16MILLION deal

      by

      JAKE PAUL has teased a trilogy across both boxing and MMA with Tommy Fury – offering a deal of up to £16MILLION. The YouTuber-turned boxer has angled for a rematch with Fury ever since losing their celebrity grudge match in February 2023.
      Jake Paul wants to rematch Tommy FuryCredit: Getty
      But Paul has continued to accuse his boxing rival of pricing himself out to avoid the pair sharing the ring again.
      He told ESPN: “I think he is a lot of things, one of which is not very serious about the fight and actually making it happen.
      “And too unrealistic in terms of offers and finances. He thinks he’s his brother and his dad is delusional in terms of what he’s actually worth.
      “And I can see how that happens, if they’re like, ‘Yo, Tyson Fury’s getting this, Tommy should be getting this.’
      READ MORE IN BOXING
      “It’s like, no. That’s not how it works, brother. So it’s hard to get that across these hard-headed people who aren’t very good at business and don’t understand the way and the landscape of boxing.
      “I think there’s a massive fear of, not only losing, but they’re just trying to be unrealistic about the numbers, which again, maybe, those two go hand in hand.
      “We all know everyone tries to price themselves out if they don’t really want to fight and hide behind that.
      “I think that’s where things are, but regardless, I’m on a different mission to become world champion.
      Most read in Boxing
      CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS
      “All doors for Tommy lead to me. I can do whatever I want.”
      Paul, 27, bounced back by beating ex-UFC star Nate Diaz, 38, on points following his first boxing loss.
      Jake Paul reveals HOUR long phone call with Tommy Fury for rematch but fears rival is already making ‘excuses’
      The American then knocked out 10-1-1 boxer Andre August, 35, in December and returns on March 2 against 17-2 Ryan Bourland, also 35.
      Fury, 24, meanwhile edged past Paul’s arch rival KSI, 30, in his last fight in October and has since had hand surgery.
      Paul last year signed with the Professional Fighters League, where he will make his MMA debut.
      And his business partner Nakisa Bidarian talked up a trilogy fight in the PFL cage as part of a $20m (£16m) deal for Fury.
      Bidarian said: “He’s willing to fight him in boxing and if Jake wins, he’s willing to enter the SmartCage in PFL with Tommy.
      “There’s a path there where it’s close to $20 million in guaranteed money.”
      Jake Paul is set to make his MMA debut with the PFLCredit: PFL More

    • 225 Shares139 Views

      in Boxing

      ‘I’ll f*** up Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury’, says UFC hardman in chilling threat to Brit boxing superstars

      by

      UFC LEGEND Nate Diaz has claimed he would “f*** up” Tyson Fury or Anthony Joshua in a “real fight”.Diaz, 38, threw his hat into the crossover boxing game last year, when he lost to YouTuber Jake Paul in a fifth round defeat.
      Nate Diaz has said he would ‘f*** up’ Anthony Joshua or Tyson Fury in a ‘real fight’Credit: Getty
      Fury has previously shown an interest in a crossover matchCredit: PA
      The UFC star is frustrated by boxing as a sport, and feels that MMA leads to a more realistic representation of how two people would deal with a real fight.
      He feels he would take both stars in a street fight, despite weighing a whopping thirty kilograms less than them.
      He’s also considerably smaller than both men, measuring six feet in height, with Joshua 6’6″ and Tyson Fury a whopping 6’9″.
      While many MMA stars have made the crossover into boxing, only a handful of boxers have gone the other way.
      READ MORE ON BOXING
      Francis Ngannou recently boxed Tyson Fury and gave a good account of himself, downing the WBC heavyweight champion in the third round.
      Diaz told Sneako via The Mirror: “I’ll f*** up Tyson Fury. I’ll f*** up Anthony Joshua. All these motherf****rs in a real fight, they don’t stand a chance.
      “It’s like, we’ve got, everybody’s going on boxing [Floyd] Mayweather. We’re playing a little game… I don’t like being like, labelled as an ‘MMA fighter’.
      “I’m a boxer. I’m a Jiu-Jitsu guy. I’m a kickboxer. I don’t like any of the one-dimensional things by itself anyway. I like it all.”
      Most read in Boxing
      Joshua has not shown interest in an MMA fight, but will fight MMA legend Ngannou next monthCredit: Alamy
      CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS
      Fury refused to rule out an MMA match with Ngannou during the buildup to their boxing match last October, with many assuming that Ngannou would make light work of the boxer in that form of bout.
      Joshua, meanwhile, has shown little interest in fighting in an MMA bout when asked about the prospect.
      Anthony Joshua set for mega showdown with Francis Ngannou in Saudi Arabia

      ANTHONY JOSHUA VS FRANCIS NGANNOU: ALL THE DETAILS YOU NEED AHEAD OF HUGE CROSSOVER BOUT
      He takes on Ngannou in March, with the winner assumed to be fighting the winner of Fury Vs Oleksandr Usyk.
      Diaz is a free-agent after being let go by the UFC in September 2022, he admitted that he wanted to be a part of UFC 300 but was not called up for the event.
      On rumours linking him with a boxing match against former UFC rival Jorge Masvidal, Diaz said: “I think I wanna do boxing, fight another fighter. I could fight anybody in the world right now, but no one can fight me.
      “Everybody’s locked down to organisations, locked down to the UFC, PFL.” More

    • 213 Shares149 Views

      in Boxing

      Watch Conor McGregor land brutal shot on sparring partner in his garden… leaving Ebanie Bridges in awe

      by

      CONOR McGREGOR looked razor sharp in a sparring session held in his GARDEN – leaving the likes of Ebanie Bridges in awe. McGregor is gearing up for his anticipated UFC return and has spent the past year ramping up training.
      Conor McGregor looked razor sharp in a sparring sessionCredit: https://www.instagram.com/thenotoriousmma/
      Ebanie Bridges was in awe of McGregor’s sparring clipCredit: @ebanie_bridges
      McGregor and Bridges have struck up a friendshipCredit: Instagram @ebaniebridges
      During the Covid-19 pandemic, with restrictions on public gyms, the Irishman built a fully-sized UFC cage on the site of his mansion.
      And McGregor still uses it to this day as he released footage from a recent sparring session.
      He captioned it: “The double goat, I have the full scale octagon in my garden with the canvas covered in billion dollar businesses.”
      In the clips, McGregor lands a series of stinging counter shots and one kick to the stomach had his sparring partner wincing in agony.
      READ MORE IN UFC
      His comment section was full of praise, with boxing legend Evander Holyfield replying: “Ok then.”
      Ex-champion Bridges followed up with three fire emojis and one lovestruck face.
      The Aussie has struck up a close friendship with McGregor and is even sponsored by his Forged Irish Stout beverage.
      McGregor’s return to the cage has continued to be delayed since his last fight in July 2021, when he broke his leg.
      Most read in Boxing
      CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS
      The former two-weight UFC champion, 35, had eyed the headline spot on the historic UFC 300 card on April 13.
      But he then brazenly announced he would return on June 29 against Michael Chandler, 37, in a middleweight bout.
      Seven sports stars who started an OnlyFans including ex-footballer and British boxing icon
      UFC president Dana White was quick to shut down McGregor’s claim and even said his comeback fight was more likely pushed back till the winter.
      And White recently spoke out to try and clarify the confusion behind McGregor’s dragged out talks to return.
      He told Kevin Iole: “Only Conor knows [when he’s ready].
      “These are questions for Conor McGregor, not me. I know he’s training. I don’t know what level of training he’s doing.”
      White added: “I don’t know what level of kicking he’s doing right now. I don’t know any of that stuff.
      “I need to know the guy’s in a full camp and he’s ready to go. Conor McGregor has a movie coming out.

      “He’s got businesses that he’s built. It’s a completely different dynamic when you’re dealing with a guy that has this kind of money.”
      McGregor is in training for his UFC returnCredit: https://www.instagram.com/thenotoriousmma/
      The UFC star has not fought since July 2021Credit: https://www.instagram.com/thenotoriousmma/ More

    • 200 Shares99 Views

      in Boxing

      ‘We’re in limbo’, says boxing legend about Anthony Joshua vs Francis Ngannou after Tyson Fury fight

      by

      RICKY HATTON believes Tyson Fury’s fight with Francis Ngannou leaves boxing fans “in limbo” over Anthony Joshua’s upcoming bout. Ngannou last year put his MMA career on hold to make a switch to boxing, where he faced Fury in October.
      Anthony Joshua faces off with Francis NgannouCredit: Alamy
      The ex-UFC champion scored a shock knockdown and was beaten only via controversial split-decision.
      Ngannou now fights Joshua on March 8 in Saudi Arabia and British boxing legend Hatton admits there a still several questions left to be answered.
      He told Instant Casino: “We’re in limbo aren’t we – was Ngannou better than we gave him credit for, or did Tyson take Ngannou lightly?
      “Did Tyson not train as hard as he could and that’s why Ngannou looked as good as he did?
      READ MORE IN BOXING
      “There’s a big question mark around Ngannou, we all know he can hit, but was it because Tyson took him lightly?
      “All these questions no one is sure about yet. Tyson didn’t physically look as good as he normally does.
      “And he’s also had those three fights with Wilder that may have taken something out of him.”
      Fury, 35, was due to face Oleksandr Usyk, 37, for the undisputed title on February 17 but a cut sustained in sparring has moved it to May 18.
      Most read in Boxing

      ANTHONY JOSHUA VS FRANCIS NGANNOU: ALL THE DETAILS YOU NEED AHEAD OF HUGE CROSSOVER BOUT
      CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS
      So Ngannou, 37, looked elsewhere after being denied a rematch and instead struck a deal to fight Joshua, 34.
      Despite the MMA star’s impressive performance over Fury, still Hatton is tipping AJ to get the job done.
      Anthony Joshua could hit Francis Ngannou with a BASEBALL BAT and he’d keep coming, warns Tyson Fury’s trainer
      He said: “If you’re asking where my money would go, it would go on AJ because he’s an exceptional boxer, you don’t become an Olympic gold medalist and a two time world champion for nothing.
      “He doesn’t have the lateral movement of Tyson Fury, so he’s going to be standing in front of Francis Ngannou, which worries me a little bit because if AJ does cop one, that could be that.
      “But I’m going to go with AJ based on his confidence and his new team. I think he’ll have enough firepower to shine against Ngannou.”
      Ricky Hatton backs Joshua to beat NgannouCredit: The Times More

    • 213 Shares99 Views

      in Boxing

      Paige VanZant reveals ‘really cool’ boxing crossover as ex-UFC star set for first fight in three years

      by

      PAIGE VANZANT revealed she is set to make her boxing debut after three years out of action. The ex-UFC star has accepted a fight but it is not in MMA or bare-knuckle boxing.
      Paige VanZant revealed she is set to make her boxing debut
      The ex-UFC star revealed she has accepted a fightCredit: Instagram / @paigevanzant
      But it will be her boxing debutCredit: Instagram @paigevanzant
      VanZant has not fought since 2021
      She said: “I got called by my manager day before yesterday, and I got offered a fight.
      “A boxing match, and I took it. I don’t know if I can give all the details, I haven’t signed a contract yet. I accepted the fight.”
      VanZant left the UFC in 2020 and made a shock switch to the brutal world of bare-knuckle boxing.
      She had two bouts but lost both, to Britain Hart and Rachael Ostovich and was set for a third.
      READ MORE ON PVZ
      But the fight never happened and VanZant has instead raked it in through her OnlyFans account.
      It left her fight career up in the air but now it appears the American is preparing for a long overdue boxing move.
      She said: “It was initially, the date they offered me was March 23, which was perfect.
      “Hell yeah, I’ll get one more fight in before I turn 30, because I turn 30 [on] March 26. So I told my manager f*** yeah, I’ll take it.
      Most read in Boxing
      CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS
      “I’ll get back into boxing. I was just really excited. The opportunity was really cool.
      “So it was perfect, eight-week camp, I don’t that long to stress or overthink, or anything like that, so that’s perfect. It turns out it’s not going to be March 23.
      Paige VanZant reveals she was ‘catfished’ by her porn star ‘twin’ with ex-UFC beauty left ‘heartbroken’
      “After I accepted it, they’re like, you know what, we’re going to move it to [May or June].
      “I heard both dates, so once I have the full information, we’ll be able to release it on the podcast.
      “Accepted a boxing match, that will be my next fight. It’s really, really exciting.”
      VanZant has been raking it in on OnlyFansCredit: https://www.instagram.com/p/CjMu_IEMbwP/
      VanZant looks to have left the UFCCredit: Getty More