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      Logan Paul’s deal to fight legendary UFC star collapses at last-minute leaving YouTuber baffled

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      LOGAN PAUL has claimed he had a fight with Nate Diaz fall through at the eleventh hour.MMA superstar Diaz has flirted with the prospect of entering the boxing world after seeing out his contract with the UFC last September.
      YouTuber turned boxer Logan Paul is itching to get back in the ringCredit: REX
      Paul has claimed he was recently in talks to box former UFC star Nate DiazCredit: GETTY
      The Maverick has claimed Diaz pulled the plug on their proposed dust-upCredit: GETTY
      The Stockton slugger was expected to pursue a bout with YouTuber turned boxer Jake Paul, who has called him out on numerous occasions over the last 18 months.
      But he was allegedly on course to face The Problem Child’s older brother Logan – who has claimed he pulled the plug on their dust-up after promising talks.
      Logan told BT Sport: “I thought I had something locked in and apparently he called and he said the fight was off.”
      Social media superstar Paul was baffled by Diaz’s alleged axing of the fight, asking: “Why? Why?
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      “So he could fight someone else? For what purpose?
      “To get less [pay-per-view] buys and maybe an easier fight? I don’t know, I don’t get it.”
      Logan is champing at the bit to share the ring with the former UFC lightweight title challenger and hopes the deal can be salvaged.
      He said: “As far as I know, it’s not dead because we had an offer for f***ing more money.
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      “We’ve gotta like bait this guy into fighting me.”
      Logan – who is gearing up to face Seth Rollins at Wrestlemania this weekend – hasn’t set foot inside the boxing ring since his eight-round exhibition with Floyd Mayweather in June 2021.
      The Maverick has wanted to lace up his gloves again but has had a hard time finding a new opponent.
      The 27-year-old said: “It’s hard for me to get a fight.
      “Because either you aren’t worth my time and energy.
      Logan Paul hasn’t boxed since his 2021 showdown with Floyd MayweatherCredit: AP
      “Or you’re not going to sell pay-per-views. I’ll do it, but I need a dance partner.
      “And I don’t need a warm-up fight, I don’t need a tune-up.
      “Give me the real dogs. Nate Diaz is a dog. I was looking forward to that fight.
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      “And then I got a call the other day and they said they didn’t want to do it and they were maybe taking another fight.
      “It was almost done. LOI – ready to set. I don’t know, I don’t know.” More

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      I’m an ex-Premier League star who battled leukaemia and fought for my life for 13 months – now I’m bashing rivals in MMA

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      FORMER Wolves goalkeeper Carl Ikeme won the fight of his life when he battled back from leukaemia.Now, the ex-Molineux star is flooring his opponents as a Mixed Martial Arts champion – and has even enjoyed some success in Europe.
      Former Premier League star Carl Ikeme has swapped goalkeeper gloves for MMA glovesCredit: RAW Grappling Championship/Youtube
      The former stopper played over 200 games for WolvesCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      The 36-year-old was always handy with his fists when he was clearing crosses from his penalty area, clocking up more than 200 appearances as Wolves’ No1.
      But his career was cruelly cut short when he was 32 after being diagnosed with leukaemia in 2017 and the popular goalie was forced to retire from the game a year later.
      Ikeme spent 13 months undergoing gruelling treatment before docs told him he was in complete remission.
      But with his football career over, the former Wolves hero swapped his goalie gloves for fingerless MMA gloves after building up his fitness participating in the Brazilian martial art of jiu-jitsu.
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      And Ikeme soon proved he is every bit as handy in a cage or ring as he was in a penalty box by becoming British open age champion.
      The former goalie has also enjoyed success in Europe after picking up a bronze medal at the MMA European Championships.
      Ikeme told local Wolverhampton paper the Express & Star: “I was just filling up my car at a petrol station near home and saw a sign for Gracie Barra, a Brazilian jiu-jitsu academy in Sutton Coldfield.
      “I had always wanted to try that discipline, so I signed up for a taster session.
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      “I was in really good shape at the time, it was around when I had done the 100-mile Velo cycle ride for charity.
      “But I went along to the class, and I remember being absolutely gassed after a three-minute round.
      “My legs were cramping, my back was in bits, and I suddenly realised that you don’t really know anything about fighting until you actually do it!”
      Ikeme made his martial arts debut last year, beating fellow Brit Fuad Ahmed 4-0 in the first Raw Grappling World Championship at the IndigoO2 Arena in London, in a contest streamed on YouTube.
      The former shot-stopper, who won ten international caps for Nigeria, confessed: “Competition really wasn’t in my mind at the start.
      “I just wanted to learn a new art. I found it all a really humbling experience to be honest.
      “It’s about realising that nothing else matters when you are on the mat as it’s just two people concentrating on trying to get the better out of each other.”
      Ikeme was forced to retire in 2018 aged 32 following his battle with leukaemiaCredit: PA:Press Association More

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      Conor McGregor responds after Carl Froch says he would BEAT two-time UFC champ in the cage as he is ‘too small’

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      CONOR McGREGOR was left in hysterics after Carl Froch claimed he could beat him in MMA. The pair have rowed in the past but Froch took it one step further when he claimed he had the beating of the ex-UFC champion in the cage.
      Carl Froch with boxing promoter Eddie HearnCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      Conor McGregor called to fight FrochCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      He said on his YouTube channel: “I’d fight Conor McGregor in the cage.
      “I could be getting myself in trouble here or into a position I can’t wiggle out of, but I think I’d take him on in the cage. He’s too small.”
      McGregor hit back with a laughing face and tweeted promoter Eddie Hearn: “Get this signed up lad.”
      The Irishman, 34, has boxed professionally just once before, losing to American legend Floyd Mayweather, 45, in 2017.
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      Froch, 45, commentated that night and was full of criticism for McGregor.
      And the former featherweight and lightweight UFC champ fired back last year in a furious rant about Froch.
      McGregor tweeted: “I’ll grab his head and twist it clean off at a 1er with my bare hands.
      “Little wally of a thing I’ll slap you around you little toffee nose toss pot.”
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      Froch – who retired from boxing in 2014 – insisted it would be a mismatch if the two were to fight in the ring.
      He told Boxing UK: “He’s not a boxer, he doesn’t want to fight me, he’d get absolutely f***** up, but he might do the same to me in the cage and that is why we are both champion in our own right.
      “He knows, if he wants a roll around, he knows where to come, but he ain’t going to want this smoke.”
      Floyd Mayweathe beat Conor McGregor in 2017Credit: GETTY More

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      I quit professional football because of discipline issues but have shed nine stone to become full-time MMA fighter

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      A FORMER footballer is shedding nine stone in order to become a full-time MMA fighter. And now he is nearly ready to make his debut fight in the cage.
      Kevin Pannewitz is losing nine stone to be ready for his MMA debutCredit: Getty
      The former footballer piled on the pounds as he struggled with disciplineCredit: Getty
      He is determined to get himself back in shapeCredit: Getty
      Kevin Pannewitz, 31, was once on the books of Wolfsburg after earning a 2012 transfer following his impressive displays at Hansa Rostock.
      But the German journeyman midfielder struggled with weight and discipline issues, though.
      And his football career crumbled away with a series of short-term stints at various clubs around his homeland.
      However, Pannewitz is now set to go into six months of intense training to prepare for his dramatic career change.
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      And he even has an MMA fight lined up against fellow ex-footballer Martin Fenin for the autumn.
      Fenin, 35, had a more successful career on the pitch, playing for Eintracht Frankfurt and earning 16 Czech Republic caps.
      But Pannewitz is confident he can get the better of Fenin when they do battle in the octagon.
      The Berlin-born star said: “I want to prove to myself, and everyone out there, that I can achieve anything if I really want to.
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      “The athlete in me will now conquer the toughest sport in the world in MMA.”
      Pannewitz’s intense training regime and strict diet will be tracked for a film documentary.
      He needs to lose a staggering 56kgs – or 8st 12lbs – in order to make the 83kg weight limit for the bout.
      Promoters Oktagon Deutschland plan to post fortnightly updates of his progress on YouTube.
      Ex-Fulham boss Felix Magath was the manager who signed Pannewitz for Wolfsburg in 2012.
      But the midfielder was released a year later due to drink-related problems.
      Magath said at the time: “Kevin’s lifestyle got in his way.  We hoped his performances would make him forget his thirst.
      “But it soon became clear that he was not behaving in a professional way.”
      Pannewitz is set to face fellow ex-footballer Martin Fenin later in 2023Credit: Getty
      He is on a strict diet and training regimeCredit: Getty
      The former footballer needs to lose 56kgsCredit: Getty
      The progress is being tracked by a TV documentary film crewCredit: Getty
      He had a short stint at Wolfsburg but spent most of his career in the lower German leaguesCredit: Getty More

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      Swarmz shows off incredible seven-month body transformation since KSI fight as he targets Deji bout

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      SWARMZ revealed his shocking body transformation just seven months after his fight with KSI.The rapper, real name Brandon Scott, lost his debut boxing fight against the YouTuber inside four minutes.
      Swarmz revealed his stunning body transformation on social mediaCredit: @HappyPunchPromo
      Swarmz was out of shape before his boxing fight with KSICredit: Reuters
      Swarmz accepted the KSI fight at just two week’s noticeCredit: @HappyPunchPromo
      The 26-year-old looked out of shape during the weigh-in and the fight as KSI did press ups between rounds.
      But that was because Swarmz accepted the fight at just two weeks’ notice.
      KSI’s original opponent Alex Wassabi had to withdraw after suffering a concussion.
      The YouTuber was in top form at The O2 as he also beat Luis Pineda on the same night.
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      But Swarmz bounced back five months later when he beat Ryan Taylor at Wembley.
      The Londoner is now looking for more and proved it with his incredible body transformation.
      Swarmz looked flabby before his match with KSI but he is now completely shredded.
      The musician shared several clips in which he is showcasing his ripped muscles in the dressing room after training.
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      He is now targeting a boxing fight against YouTuber Deji in the near future.
      The Tank, though, would also be coming with experience after sharing the ring with the legendary Floyd Mayweather in November.
      The two had an exhibition bout in Dubai that Mayweather won in the sixth round via TKO.
      Swarmz is now targeting a boxing fight against YouTuber DejiCredit: @HappyPunchPromo
      Swarmz bounced back after his loss to KSI by beating Ryan TaylorCredit: @HappyPunchPromo More

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      Joe Rogan reveals reason Conor McGregor lost to Floyd Mayweather as UFC star accuses boxing legend of snubbing rematch

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      UFC commentator Joe Rogan reckons Conor McGregor came up short against Floyd Mayweather because he lacked ‘composure’.The MMA superstar entered the boxing world in the summer of 2017 to lock horns with the former five-weight world champion in a multi-million-pound bout aptly dubbed ‘The Money Fight’.
      Conor McGregor turned in a valiant display in his showdown with Floyd Mayweather in 2017Credit: GETTY
      But the MMA superstar ended up suffering a tenth-round TKO defeat to MoneyCredit: GETTY
      UFC commentator Joe Rogan reckons McGregor’s lack of ‘composure’ was his undoingCredit: GETTY
      McGregor started the contest well and landed some good shots on Money but ultimately succumbed to fatigue and was stopped in the tenth round of the Sin City showdown.
      And veteran UFC broadcaster Rogan reckons the Irishman would’ve had more success if he’d remained calm under the bright lights.
      During the latest episode of his Joe Rogan Experience podcast, he said: “He just wasn’t composed enough to go ten rounds with one of the greatest of all time.”
      Rogan was, however, impressed by McGregor’s display against the undefeated Mayweather, who is considered by many to be the greatest
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      He said: “Conor could’ve been a great boxer.
      “He could’ve been a great boxer. He’s got a tremendous uppercut, too.
      “The uppercut he caught Floyd with and he snapped Floyd’s head with.
      “Floyd was like, ‘Okay.’ That was legit. He just wasn’t composed enough to go ten rounds with one of the greatest of all time.
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      The greatest of all time.”
      McGregor, 34, has campaigned for a rematch with Mayweather in the years since their desert dust-up but the fight has yet to materialise.
      And The Notorious recently accused the boxing legend of going back on his word for a second bout.
      During an appearance on Fox Sports, he said: “That was the original [plan].
      “It was a verbal agreement, I box him, and he fights me.
      “But you know, he didn’t honour it. He didn’t honour it yet. Who knows?
      “I would go against him in another boxing bout, I’d like another crack at it.
      “I can always say it is another boxing fight and then just bend the rules a little bit when we’re in there maybe.”
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      MMA icon McGregor is set to return to the octagon later this year for a mouthwatering showdown with Michael Chandler, although a date for their clash has not yet been announced.
      The Dubliner hasn’t set foot inside the cage since breaking his leg in his trilogy fight with Dustin Poirier in July 2021. More

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      Watch Mike Tyson fight Hasbulla, pick him up, cradle him like a baby and bite his ear in ‘crazy’ video

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      MIKE TYSON picked up Hasbulla Magomedov and cradled him like a baby before nibbling his ear in a “crazy” video. TikToker Hasbulla – who has growth hormone deficiency – is a fight fan and has befriended the likes of UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov.
      Hasbulla picked up Hasbulla and cradled him like a baby before nibbling his ear
      But he may have got off on the wrong foot with heavyweight legend Tyson after a play around with the pair.
      Iron Mike let Hasbulla unload some punches on him as he showed off his trademark bobbing and weaving.
      But then Tyson grabbed hold of the social media star, took off his hat and give him a little bite.
      The hilarious clips had fans in disbelief as one reacted: “Mike Tyson picking up Hasbulla like he a two year old is crazy.”
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      Another said: “Mike, you do know Hasbulla is 20 years old, right?”
      One asked: “Hasbulla is like 20 why is he holding him like a baby.”
      Another joked: “Mike still going for the ear.”
      Hasbulla recently signed with the UFC in what is believed to be a brand ambassador role.
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      UFC president Dana White confirmed the deal to Barstool Sports but did not comment on his role within the promotion.
      He said: “Yes, we did sign Hasbulla. What he’s going to end up doing remains to be seen.”
      Due to Hasbulla’s friendship with Nurmagomedov, 34, he has by default feuded with Conor McGregor, 34.
      But White jokingly warned: “[McGregor] shouldn’t f*** around because he will get his ass whooped if he runs into him on the streets.”
      UFC president Dana White poses for a photo with Hasbulla MagomedovCredit: Getty More

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      Katie Taylor’s camp welcome homecoming bout sponsorship by Conor McGregor – but warn they don’t need him to sell it out

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      KATIE TAYLOR’S team said “cheers” to Conor McGregor — as his drinks brand will sponsor the boxing superstar’s homecoming bout — but warned: “It’s not the McGregor show.”Taylor will finally box in Ireland for the first time ever as a pro when she takes to the ring at Dublin’s 3Arena on May 20.
      Katie Taylor’s team said “cheers” to Conor McGregor — as his drinks brand will sponsor the boxing superstar’s homecoming boutCredit: Sportsfile – Subscription
      Katie Taylor will challenge Chantelle Cameron for the undisputed light-welterweight titles on May 20Credit: PA:Press Association
      The Bray bomber will attempt to become a two-weight undisputed champ when she challenges light-welterweight queen Chantelle Cameron from Britain.
      But promoter Eddie Hearn said it is very much “The Katie Taylor Show” despite McGregor’s cash injection.
      Hearn explained: “Like I said, it’s not the Conor McGregor show.
      “He reached out to help in any way and if he is to support the event commercially, fantastic but it’s obviously the Katie Taylor show.”

      UFC star McGregor’s Proper 12 brand sponsored the Tyson Fury v Deontay Wilder II clash in Las Vegas in 2020 — plastering its logo in the centre of the ring — and Hearn could cut a similar deal.
      But the Essex fight boss is adamant he does not need a hand bringing eyeballs to the event.
      Hearn insisted: “No, when we say ‘adding his name to fight’ we mean one of his companies, one of his brands, may sponsor the fight. That’s as far as it goes.
      “We don’t need him to sell the fight out. We don’t need him to be part of the promotion.
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      “I just take people as I find them and I see a genuine character that really is excited by the event and wants to support Katie so you are not going to see him at press conferences and walking out Katie Taylor.
      “It’s not that kind of association. It’s, ‘if I can help’.”
      Asked if she was happy for dad-of-three McGregor to be involved in her homecoming, Taylor looked to her promoter before smiling and shrugging: “Yeah.”
      MMA superstar McGregor publicly offered a cash injection in a bid to get the GAA HQ bout over the line but while that plan failed to materialise, for now, his immediate involvement appears to have been copper-fastened.
      ‘The Notorious’ heads up the Proper 12 whiskey brand and has recently launched Forged Irish Stout.
      Matchroom Sport boss Hearn — who flew to Dublin for talks with McGregor last month at his Black Forge Inn — says they are ready to do business.
      Eddie Hearn met with Conor McGregor to discuss sponsoring Katie Taylor’s homecoming fight
      Hearn explained: “We’re talking still and genuinely, forgetting the PR and promotion of it, he has a couple of brands that are Irish-based that would fit very well with the show.
      “Behind the madness, he is also a massive fan of Katie. He genuinely wants the best for her. And he genuinely wanted to help with the Croke Park stuff. He’s just excited.
      “Like every fight fan, he can’t believe it’s on. He was like, ‘Oh they’re going to fight at The Point?’ and I was like, ‘No it’s not, it’s the 3Arena’ — and he was like, ‘No it’s not — it’s The Point’.
      “And he was talking about the atmosphere there and stuff, so yeah, we expect him to be involved.
      PLAN B
      It had originally been hoped that Taylor’s Irish bow would take place at Croke Park in a rematch with Puerto Rican Amanda Serrano. But while the venue and opponent have changed, the date has not.
      Hearn continued: “Even through the whole Serrano stuff, he was messaging me non-stop, following it on social media, ‘so what’s happening now?’
      “Then it was like, ‘wow, I can’t believe it’s still on — so what’s the plan?’
      “He genuinely –— away from the publicity and stuff like that — cares that she’s coming home to fight. He’s been to her fights before and he’s a big help and supporter.”
      Meanwhile Taylor laughed off the idea of asking Roy Keane to walk her to the ring on the night.
      The Manchester United and Ireland legend is one of her heroes — and he is a huge admirer of the champion boxer. But, asked if he might be willing to accompany her on the lonely walk to meet Cameron, she grinned: “I’m not sure he’s the type of guy that would want to do something like that!
      “Every now and then he sends me a message after a fight so that’s really, really cool.
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      “Roy Keane’s my favourite athlete of all time. His mentality is second to none, he’s someone I really admired and looked up to growing up.”
      Taylor added: “This is a fight I’ve wanted for a long time. This is one of the best fights in boxing, two undisputed champions going head to head. It is going to be an amazing night and amazing celebration. Pro boxing is coming home.” More