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      Geordie Shore star Aaron Chalmers in ‘violent’ career switch after announcing retirement from boxing and MMA

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      AARON CHALMERS is returning to the ring – and this time the fighting will be more violent than ever.The reality TV star left the Geordie Shore house in 2017 to become a professional MMA fighter – where he amassed a 5-2 record. Aaron Chalmers is coming out of combat retirementCredit: Instagram @aaroncgshoreThe Geordie Shore star has signed for BKFCChalmers then focussed on boxing and had five bouts mixed from pro fights and crossover-style exhibitions including a contest with legend Floyd Mayweather.But after a lack of offers, combined with a personal life stresses, the 37-year-old hung up his gloves. That was until Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship – co-owned by UFC legend Conor McGregor and David Feldman – came knocking. Chalmers told SunSport: “I just gave up and then BKFC reached out, and I knew it was going to take something big to bring us back.READ MORE IN BOXING”I spoke to David a couple of times on the phone, and I was just like, ‘Ah, this is this definitely is right up my street.'”Obviously got a multi-fight contract and yeah, I think he’s got some big plans for us. So I’m excited.”It’s another one. I’ve done MMA, I’ve done boxing, I’ve done influencer boxing now into the bare-knuckle. “So I’ve kind of ticked off most of the top combat sports I could probably tick off.”Most read in BoxingCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSChalmers shelved a £12,000 nose job to continue his combat career. But after taking a step back from TV work, he does not have to worry about protecting the money maker so much. Sickening moment fighter snaps ankle mid-fight before slipping it back into place as if nothing happenedHe said: “Is this any more brutal than getting elbowed in the face in MMA? “Is it more brutal than getting kicked in the face in MMA or kneed in the face? I don’t know.”I mean, there’s only one way to find out. It’s just pure violence, really, isn’t it?”I need to learn to hit and not get hit. So there’s gonna be a lot more movement than just standing there like I do in the boxing and trying to have a scrap.”My coach, he’s like, ‘I want you to be in and out.’ So that’s all well and good doing that for eight weeks in training but as soon as you get in there, it’s a totally different story.”Like I say, listen, I’m older now and they came in with a great offer that I couldn’t turn down. So I’m not really too bothered about the face.”I’m getting on now. It’s not like I’m on TV in front of all these people, so yeah, I’m just excited.”American TikToker Bryce Hall, 25, won his BKFC debut last year while YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul, 27, is also a target for Chalmers. He said: “Bryce Hall, that would be a great fight for me. Obviously, I want to get me feet in, I wanna get my toes wet in there, see what it’s like.”Maybe have one or two, and then we can start looking at people like that. “I mean, I still think if I make a big enough splash in BKFC, the fight with Jake Paul can be there.READ MORE SUN STORIES”We’ve got to make a big splash. Basically, we need to get back to back to the Bellator days, the Bamma days, where I was knocking people out cold.”That’s that’s what gets the interest. So that’s what we’re going back to.”Chalmers even faced boxing great Floyd MayweatherCredit: PAChalmers’ record was 5-2 in MMACredit: Getty Images – Getty More

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      My dad’s an MMA icon who KO’d nearly 30 opponents and a UFC icon – I’m making my own way at former Premier League club

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      MILLION MANHOEF is flying in the Championship with Stoke – but he could’ve had a completely different sports career.The winger joined the Potters from Dutch outfit Vitesse Arnhem in January, inking a three-and-half-year-long deal at the Britannia.Million Manhoef joined Stoke City from Vitesse Arnhem in JanuaryCredit: RexThe Dutchman has been in fine form for The Potters this seasonCredit: REXThe 22-year-old comes from incredible athletic stockCredit: REXMillion is the son of MMA and kickboxing legend Melvin ManhoefCredit: BELLATOManhoef initially struggled with the physicality of the Championship but has been one of Stoke’s best players this season.The 22-year-old has scored three goals and bagged a solitary assist in six appearances for Steven Schumacher’s side.The Dutchman has proved to be an explosive force for The Potters, which shouldn’t come as a surprise given the athletic stock he comes from.Manhoef is the son of kickboxing and mixed martial arts legend Melvin, who was one of the most ferocious strikers during his pomp.READ MORE IN MMAMelvin competed in the now-defunct DREAM MMA promotion during the 2000s and was a terrifying force inside the ring.And it was in DREAM where he became the first man to KO future UFC fan favourite Mark Hunt, whom he put to sleep in a mere 18 seconds.It wasn’t long after the birth of Million that Melvin pushed him into the world of combat sports with kickboxing.Million showed great promise in his junior Muay Thai fights but opted to pursue a football career instead.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSRecalling his decision to pick football over the fight game, Million said: “My father and mother separated when I was six or seven.”But before that, of course, I was pushed into kickboxing.Inside Conor McGregor’s first gym “I was two and a half years old when I put on the kickboxing gloves.”When I turned four I also started playing football and did both sports. “I fought in competitions and became Dutch kickboxing champion.”Kickboxing is certainly a great passion, but at a certain point I could no longer combine the two sports and I chose football.”It’s a good thing that many people know that he is my father. But I want to do my own thing.”He has had a great career, but to do that he had to make sacrifices with his family. Melvin Manhoef was an incredibly ferocious striker during his 28-year-long combat careerCredit: INSTAGRAM@MELVINNOMERCYMANHOEFManhoef scored a whopping 56 knockouts during his iconic careerCredit: ONE CHAMPIONSHIP”And I grew up with my mother.”I have experienced pressure at some point in my career because of my surname, but it’s not been too bad.”When I first broke into the Vitesse Arnhem first team I heard about it a lot and everyone was always asking about him.”I used to say, ‘What about my mother!'”READ MORE SUN STORIESMillion’s famous dad retired from combat sports in September 2022 after suffering a KO loss to Yoel Romero at Bellator 285 in Dublin.That loss to Romero brought the curtain down on a 28-YEAR-LONG career in which he had over 100 professional fights in kickboxing and MMA.Million Manhoef was an astute kickboxer but chose to pursue a career in football insteadCredit: REX More

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      Inside Conor McGregor’s first gym where coaches spotted talent aged 12… but knew he wasn’t destined to make it as boxer

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      CONOR McGREGOR showcased his raw talent aged just 12 – but his coaches knew his future was never destined for the boxing ring. McGregor wandered into the Crumlin Boxing club with muddy football boots as a youngster and immediately impressed head trainer Phil Sutcliffe. Conor McGregor’s first gym was Crumlin BoxingMcGregor has returned back to the club to train and boxHe poses to the crowd during a fundraising eventMcGregor has made shock appearances to box in local eventsAnd despite later choosing a career in mixed martial arts over boxing – he remains Sutcliffe’s most famous graduate from the gym. It is now over two decades since McGregor trotted into the club on his first day but Sutcliffe said: “Course I remember…”When he walked in, I told him he had to take his boots off.“He was playing football against Crumlin United. He was a little blonde kid, good looking kid, but he had his football boots on. READ MORE IN MMA“You don’t walk on the floor with your football boots full of mud, so we told him to take them off.“He started punching the bags. I said if you want to join, get your ma’ and da’ down. You have to fill in a form and apply.”The gym is located on Dublin’s south side and has been producing champions since the 1940s.Chief trainer Sutcliffe is an Irish amateur boxing great, having competed in the 1980 and 1984 Olympics.Most read in BoxingMcGregor returns to Crumlin to box in fundraisersHe uses the boxing club for his MMA trainingCoach Phil Sutcliffe with McGregorCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSSutcliffe coached McGregor through his teens and has no doubt he had the skills and making of a future boxing champion.But at 16 he chose MMA over the sweet science – sacrificing his potential as a top pugilist.I leant Conor McGregor £60 for tools when he was a young plumber… he paid it back 15 YEARS LATER with incredible gestureSutcliffe said: “In pure boxing ability he was as equal to them but he didn’t put in enough for the one talent. “It’s like if you wanted to play rugby but you play on the soccer pitch. It’s hard to master the two. “If you want to play rugby you need to be tough, you want to be fast but in soccer you want to be skillful, you want to be avoiding. “It’s the same in the boxing. If you want to box, you stay boxing. But Conor mastered the ability of reading. Reading the shot that comes at you.“He always mastered that from an early age of 12, he was able to avoid, he was able to move comfortably.”  McGregor’s choice of MMA over boxing paid off having become the UFC’s greatest star – but at the time Sutcliffe could not see the vision. He admitted: “I was never fond of mixed martial arts, I thought it was barbaric until I got involved and saw the amount of work these boys have to put into it.“I saw it and thought, This is interesting.'”  A huge mural of McGregor drapes the wallMcGregor is not the only boxing legend commemorated in the gymMcGregor also sponsors the gymCrumlin is nicknamed ‘The School of Excellence’McGregor only returned to boxing once in 2017 when he lost in ten rounds to American great Floyd Mayweather. In the aftermath of his defeat, the southpaw returned to his roots and Crumlin coaches to be part of his training and corner team. McGregor made sure to give back to the gym that first honed his skills having paid thousands to renovate the club.Pictures of the UFC legend training and boxing drape the gym walls while there is a huge mural dedicated to his success.But he is not the only legendary fighter commemorated in the gym with paintings of Mike Tyson, Ricky Hatton and Roy Jones Jr filling the walls. McGregor still visits during his training camp to sharpen his boxing and was doing so before his scheduled return on June 29.But he was forced to pull out of the comeback fight against Michael Chandler, 38, due to a toe injury with his UFC future still in the air. McGregor has been linked with a return to boxing in the past to fight the likes of Manny Pacquiao and Canelo Alvarez. READ MORE SUN STORIESAnd Sutcliffe hopes to see it having not been part of the Mayweather bout. He chuckled: “I hope he boxes for me, I’ll get another payday!” McGregor kitted out the coaches with new gearThis is the ring where McGregor sparsHe bought the club all new boxing equipmentThe gym is located in Dublin 12 More

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      I leant Conor McGregor £60 for tools when he was a young plumber… he paid it back 15 YEARS LATER with incredible gesture

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      CONOR McGREGOR once settled a 15 YEAR OLD debt with an incredible gesture after returning to his old stomping ground. McGregor – the highest-paid MMA fighter of all time – was an apprentice plumber in Ireland before he packed it in to pursue combat.Conor McGregor with boxing coach Bra BradyHe was still training at Crumlin Boxing at the time under the coaching of Olympian Phil Sutcliffe and Patrick “Bra” Brady. Bra was a career plumber himself and gave a teenage McGregor €70 (£60) to get himself some tools under the promise it would get paid back. But the future multimillionaire never squared his debt. Bra told SunSport from the famed Crumlin gym: “I’m a plumber all my life, retired now, but Conor wanted to be a plumber so when he started off, he’s 16, I said I’ll get him his tools. READ MORE IN MMA”I knew a fella that worked in the trade that could get the tools for cheap. “I said, I’d get him the tools and he can pay me back week by week because he used to be at the club. “I said, ‘You got them?’ He said, ‘Yeah, I’ll pay ya back.’ But, he never did.” McGregor went onto become an icon of the UFC, winning titles in two divisions at the height of his rise. Most read in BoxingCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSIn 2017, he crossed over to the boxing ring for a lucrative bout against American great Floyd Mayweather, losing in round ten. McGregor regretted not reuniting with the boxing team who first honed his skills. Watch never-before-seen footage of Conor McGregor vs Khabib with audio of exactly what was said between hated UFC rivalsSo after defeat to Mayweather, the UFC superstar returned to Crumlin to train with Sutcliffe and Bra. He became so immersed in his first ever gym that he spent thousands renovating the club in an incredible gesture.McGregor even boxed on their club show to raise money and also kitted out the club and its coaches in custom tracksuits. But there was still one more thing left to do – pay back the money he owed from a decade and a half ago. Bra said: “It was 15 years later he paid me back, that’s when he wanted to get on the show. “He gave us a few things, a new ring and things like that, tracksuits and all that. He said, ‘Are you happy with that?’ “I said, ‘Yeah, but one more thing… I want my 70 quid!'” READ MORE SUN STORIESMcGregor still comes into Crumlin Boxing while in training camp but is currently nursing a toe injury.  It forced him out of his return against American Michael Chandler, 38, which was set for June 29 but now looks to be postponed until next year.McGregor returned to box on a Crumlin show More

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      KSI braces for ‘wild case’ Conor McGregor to gatecrash Misfits Dublin event after UFC star’s BARE-KNUCKLE fight callout

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      KSI is braced for Conor McGregor’s wild antics in Dublin – having been called out to a BARE-KNUCKLE fight last time they met. The last time the two were in the same room – when Anthony Joshua knocked out Robert Helenius in August 2023 – McGregor offered KSI a scrap.KSI is braced for Conor McGregor’s wild antics in DublinCredit: RexConor McGregor called KSI out to a bare-knuckle fight in 2023Credit: PAAlmost 12 months on, they could run into each other again with McGregor’s photographer Dave Fogarty in action on KSI’s Misfits Boxing card.Snapper Fogarty faces Misfits champion Deen The Great in Dublin – with KSI preparing himself for any amount of chaos. He told SunSport: “With McGregor, you don’t really know what to expect. “He’s a bit of a wild case. I don’t think he’s in any state of mind to be fighting at all. I don’t think he’s gonna be fighting anytime soon.READ MORE IN BOXING”The UFC have tried. They failed. So yeah, even if he does try to call me out, I know it’s just a bluff.“I know he’s not actually about it. So I think once my hand actually properly heals, and I’m able to be 100 per cent again, I’ll actually look at people who are willing to fight and who want to fight.”A hand injury forced KSI out of his proposed return against Anthony Taylor and Slim Albaher in a wild two-on-one handicap bout.Instead, Premier League winner Danny Simpson, 37, steps in as headline replacement against YouTuber Danny Aarons, 22. Most read in BoxingCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSFogarty makes his Misfits debut with close confidant McGregor expected to be in attendance to support. The ex-UFC champion, 36, in 2017 lost his lucrative boxing debut against Floyd Mayweather, 47, and has been a target of Jake Paul’s ever since.Jake Paul reveals ‘take it-or-leave it’ offer to fight KSIBut McGregor has refused to even entertain a fight with Paul, 27, and has instead talked up facing KSI, 31, in the past instead. And KSI added: “Conor is more interested in me because I sell pay-per-views. “I don’t know if you know much about Jake Paul’s last pay-per-view, but he’s sold less than 50,000 buys.“He had less than 50,000 buys. That’s terrible. For someone like him, he likes to claim that he’s the A-side, he’s one of the biggest in the world, less than 50,000 is terrible.“I don’t think I’ve ever done that. So for me, I know my worth. I know what I can do. And I know what makes sense.With McGregor, you don’t really know what to expect. He’s a bit of a wild case.KSI on Conor McGregor “I’m just gonna keep my cards close to my chest. And if the Conor McGregor fight makes sense, then we’ll do it.“But again, I just don’t see him being in that right state of mind to be fighting. I think he’s too busy enjoying himself and that’s perfectly fine.”McGregor has not fought in the UFC since July 2021 and has been out since after suffering a brutal leg break in his last bout. He was due to return in June against Michael Chandler, 38, but a toe injury KOd the clash with it yet to be rescheduled. KSI is nursing a hand injury that has taken him off fighting in his event – so he will instead put on a music performance for the 3Arena.He said: “I’m gonna be working more on the music just to wrap that up again because I feel like I’ve kind of neglected it a little bit.READ MORE SUN STORIES“I’ve got a few bangers just in the locker that I’d eventually like to release.“And then in terms of fighting once I’m back to punching, it’d be good to maybe do one or two fights next year and then see how I feel from there. Still do YouTube etc. Just keep it moving.” More

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      Jake Paul issues update on MMA debut fight and lists FOUR names on his radar including two boxing rivals

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      JAKE PAUL is still on the search to find his first opponent in MMA – and could turn to some familiar boxing faces. Paul is 10-1 in the ring but signed with the Professional Fighters League to make his cage debut. Jake Paul is still on the search to find his first opponent in MMAThe YouTuber-turned-prizefighter and PFL are still combing through their options having been ready to offer £10million to Nate Diaz. Paul said: “Just about finding the name. We have the money, we’re ready to go. We’re ready to make offers to people.”It’s just like they have to be able to draw sales and it has to be a fight where it’s like this is my first MMA fight.”So I think I could beat Nate Diaz in my first MMA fight. It would be tough of course, 50/50 fight. READ MORE IN BOXING”But I don’t wanna go into something where I’m gonna be outclassed, like fighting Khabib in my first MMA fight.”Paul, 27, beat ex-UFC star Diaz, 39, in their 2023 boxing bout but his calls to rematch in MMA have been snubbed. So he could instead turn to Jorge Masvidal, 39, or even former UFC champion Tyron Woodley, 42, who he twice beat in boxing. Paul said: “Nate Diaz, Masvidal, I would face in MMA and then I don’t even know like who else is out there that would that would make sense really.Most read in BoxingCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS”Tyron would be interesting for sure. I think that could be like a good plan. That would go crazy.”Paul suffered defeat for the first time last year by losing a split-decision to Tommy Fury in Saudi Arabia. Jake Paul rubs salt into ‘dumbass’ Tommy Fury’s wounds as he offers Molly-Mae a JOB after boxing rival’s shock break-upHe is desperate to avenge the result and even put up a £20m package to fight Fury, 25, in both boxing and MMA. Paul revealed: “I think that’s actually still a discussion. So that could be interesting for sure. Me versus Tommy in MMA.”The American returns to the ring on November 15 in a controversial clash against boxing icon Mike Tyson, 58. So it leaves Paul’s MMA debut delayed even further despite building a custom ring in his Puerto Rico gym. He admitted: “I haven’t started training, just the boxing takes up so much of my time and that’s what I’m focused on and until an MMA fight comes up.”That’s when I’ll focus on it and I’ll probably need like an eight-month camp if I do an MMA fight just the eight months to do jiu-jitsu, kicking all that stuff.”The YouTuber-turned-boxer is signed to the PFLCredit: Professional Fighters LeagueJake Paul wants to rematch Tommy FuryCredit: GettyTyron Woodley twice lost to Jake PaulCredit: SHOWTIMEJorge Masvidal and Nate Diaz have also been called out by Jake PaulCredit: Getty More

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      Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury brutally warned off career switch by man who has fought BOTH with boxing fight predicted

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      FRANCIS NGANNOU warned rivals Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury against making an MMA switch – while predicting their boxing fight.Ngannou put his cage career on hold to cross over to boxing for a pair of bouts against AJ and Fury. Tyson Fury controversially beat Francis NgannouCredit: ReutersNgannou was knocked out by Anthony JoshuaCredit: GettyHe was firstly beaten via controversial decision to Fury, 36, despite dropping the former WBC champion last October. Ngannou, 37, was then brutally knocked out by Joshua, 34, in March and now returns to MMA after two boxing bouts. AJ and Fury are still yet to resolve their blockbuster British feud in the ring as they head towards separate bouts. Joshua faces Daniel Dubois on September 21 for the IBF title while Oleksandr Usyk rematches Fury on December 21 after his May victory.READ MORE IN BOXINGThere is hope after that the long-awaited Battle of Britain between AJ and the Gypsy King can finally be made and Ngannou – having shared the ring with both men – cannot split them.He said: “Two different styles. Everybody tries to win, I’d give it 50-50 just for that fight.” What Ngannou is certain about, though, is that neither boxing star should ever trade the ring for the cage. He said: “They don’t want that smoke. Nobody wants that. I mean, I wouldn’t want it either, I don’t blame them.Most read in BoxingCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS”There is a lot of elements in MMA that’s way complicated for a boxer to cross over than for an MMA fighter to cross over to boxing.”I’d need to see them do some practise.Jake Paul left ‘s—ing himself’ after being forced to separate giants Francis Ngannou and Renan Ferreira ahead of MMA clash”Maybe some of them have a wrestling skill that you don’t know or a grappling skill that you don’t know. You’d need to see.”Ngannou makes his MMA return after two years out the cage on October 19 in Saudi Arabia against 6ft 8in Renan Ferreira in his Professional Fighters League debut. More

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      How Jake Paul could be part of never-before-seen mixed-rules MMA fight against the likes of boxing star Deontay Wilder

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      JAKE PAUL could feature in a never-before-seen mixed-rules MMA fight – against the likes of Deontay Wilder. Paul is signed to the Professional Fighters League where he is set to make his cage debut in 2025. Jake Paul could feature in a never-before-seen mixed-rules MMA fightCredit: RexDeontay Wilder was linked with an MMA switchCredit: GettyThe PFL have talked up staging hybrid-rules fights in the cage in a bid to bridge the gap between boxing and MMA. And with 10-1 boxer Paul closing in on a first fight in the cage – it could come under the all-new umbrella of bouts. PFL CEO Peter Murray told SunSport: “It could be modified rules. We really haven’t talked about nailing down the specifics of a tweaked ruleset. “We’re first focused on the opponent and more to come on those details when Jake is ready.READ MORE IN MMA”Listen, I love hybrid rules. It just makes it interesting and fighters want to use all their weapons. “But, given skill sets and we can have some fun with it.” Wilder, 38, was touted as a potential boxing star to cross over to the cage with talks to fight Francis Ngannou, 37, under hybrid rules. Instead, Ngannou went onto fight Tyson Fury, 36, losing a controversial decision before being KOd by Anthony Joshua, 34. Most read in BoxingCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSMeanwhile Wilder also took two fights in Saudi Arabia, losing to Jospeh Parker, 32, and being knocked out by Zhilei Zhang, 41. But the PFL are not ruling out making a move for former the WBC boxing champ or doing so with customised rules.Meanwhile Paul’s list of potential MMA opponents continue to grow as he prepares to fight boxing icon Mike Tyson, 58, on November 15. PFL’s Murray added: “I’d like to see Deontay in the cage and that’ll be exciting. “But, there’s a list and more to come. You’ll be hearing from Jake in the PFL soon.” More