More stories

  • in

    Boxer looks unrecognisable as he ‘illegally sneaks into UFC 306 in disguise to defy Dana White ban’

    JAKE PAUL looked unrecognisable as he claimed to have illegally sneaked into UFC 306 in defiance of Dana White’s orders.The YouTuber-turned-boxer insists he has been banned from UFC events since 2021.Jake Paul put on a disguise to sneak into UFC 306Credit: instagram @jakepaulHe claimed that what he was doing was illegalCredit: instagram @jakepaulPaul wanted to watch Sean O’Malley fightCredit: APPaul, 27, says he is forbidden from attending events organised by White after he squared up with commentator Daniel Cormier at UFC 261.But he defied his ban at the weekend by sneaking into UFC 306 in a stunning disguise.Paul pulled off the stunt as he was desperate to watch friend Sean O’Malley try to defend his bantamweight title against Merab Dvalishvili.He uploaded a video to his social media accounts where he wore a very different outfit and wig paired with a fake beard and glasses.READ MORE ON BOXINGPaul claimed during the video he was “illegally” sneaking into the event.He said: “I’m risking going to jail if I get caught, can you imagine the mugshot?”He could be seen walking past security before taking up his ringside seat.Fans reacted to the video on his Instagram account.Most read in BoxingCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSOne posted: “That was you? What the f**k.”A second commented: “Jake turned himself into Hulk Hogan’s uncle from Alabama.”Watch Jake Paul’s bizarre hand training exercise using rice ahead of Mike Tyson fightO’Malley was defending his UFC Bantamweight titleCredit: ReutersHe was beaten by Merab DvalishviliCredit: ReutersA third wrote: “Dana white having a meltdown right now.”A fourth said: “Jake is definitely growing on me, hahaha, absolute class.”Another added: “Jake just turned himself in by posting it his.”Paul’s efforts, however, were not enough to encourage O’Malley on to victory.The American was beaten by Dvalishvili after a fifth-round decision at the Sphere in Las Vegas.The event also saw fans claim that one fighter received the “worst cut” in UFC history.Former women’s bantamweight title challenger Irene Aldana suffered a horror injury to her forehead against Norma DumontREAD MORE SUN STORIESPaul is next expected to take to the ring on November 15 to fight boxing legend Mike Tyson.However, the highly anticipated fight could be CANCELLED if Tyson fails medical checks.Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson’s lifestyles comparedONE is a notorious YouTuber-turned-boxer who has taken the sport by storm.The other terrorised all in the ring in the 1980s and 1990s, famously biting the ear off an opponent in one fight.Iron Mike has rebuilt his life after squandering a £300m fortune with a cannabis empire, and is a huge advocate of the drug.And as Paul has continued to rise up the ranks, he has splashed the cash on a fleet of amazing cars.Whereas Tyson had more money than sense until a £15m debt saw him part with his cherished car collection.Paul now lives in a plush mansion worth £13m in Puerto Rico, after escaping his hectic life in LA.But these days, Tyson lounges in his Vegas property he paid £2.5m for with wife Lakiha, who he married in 2009. Paul is not yet married but is smitten with his speed skater girlfriend  Jutta Leerdam. She will be by his side when her man puts his 9-1 boxing record on the line against two-time heavyweight champ Tyson on July 20.Read more: Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson’s lifestyles compared, from The Problem Child’s £13m mansion to Iron Mike’s huge cannabis empire. More

  • in

    Francis Ngannou brutally warns Jake Paul against fighting ‘mean’ 6ft 4in UFC champ after boxing callout

    FRANCIS NGANNOU brutally warned Jake Paul off fighting mean machine Alex Pereira. Paul has made a habit of beating former UFC stars in the ring with five on his 10-1 record already. Jake Paul called out Alex PereiraCredit: GettyAlex Pereira was branded ‘mean’ by Francis NgannouCredit: GettyHis latest was against bare-knuckle boxer Mike Perry, 32, who left the UFC in 2021 and he called out Pereira afterwards. But Ngannou did not mince his words as he told Paul to his face the dangers of the 6ft 4in UFC light-heavyweight champion. He said: “He’s tough, he has some tough hands. I think you’re going to get some tough nights. I mean, he’s a big size guy, Alex. “What’s your weight right now? 215. Come on, man. This guy is big, solid and he’s mean. READ MORE IN BOXING”He walks straight to you like, ‘I’m gonna eat this guy.'” Pereira, 37, is a two-weight UFC champ while also winning titles in kickboxing before moving into MMA. But he is prohibited from making a boxing switch per his UFC contract despite being encouraged to by Anthony Joshua, 34. Paul, 27, makes his return against boxing legend Mike Tyson, 58, in a clash which has attracted controversy due to the three decade age gap. Most read in BoxingBut Ngannou, 37, who was once mentored by Tyson, delivered another blunt word of warning to Paul. He said: “Listen, I have seen Tyson move around to show me stuff and I was like, ‘Calm down.’ He has still got it…”Either way I think Mike Tyson will beat you. We’re talking about Mike bro. Mike is something else, he is a specimen.”Watch Francis Ngannou brutally tell Jake Paul what ‘specimen’ Mike Tyson will do to him after training with boxing icon More

  • in

    Meet Jenny ‘The Tennessee Gangster’ Savage – the glam bare-knuckle star named after Macho Man who fights Elle Brooke

    JENNY SAVAGE is the bare-knuckle star named after a WWE legend who is challenging for Elle Brooke’s Misfits Boxing throne.Savage – real name Jennifer Clausius – faces Brooke at Misfits 18 in Newcastle on Saturday night.Jenny Savage is the bare-knuckle star named after a WWE legendCredit: https://www.instagram.com/thetennesseegangster/Her nickname is based on WWE star Macho Man Randy SavageCredit: https://www.instagram.com/thetennesseegangster/Savage crossed over from MMA and bare-knuckle to boxingCredit: https://www.instagram.com/thetennesseegangster/Elle Brooke fights Savage in NewcastleCredit: @ellebrookeukThe American has also earned the nickname “The Tennessee Gangster” throughout her bare-knuckle and MMA career.But she now crosses over to boxing in a move which has been a long time coming.Savage, 31, told Fred Talks Fighting: “I’ve always wanted to be a boxer, with gloves on, not without.”This is actually a dream come true to have what I would consider my first boxing match.READ MORE IN BOXING”I’ve had two exhibitions prior. But I’ve had to find them myself at the last minute in weird circumstances and I feel like this will be my first boxing test.”I haven’t worn 8oz gloves at all. I mean, I’ve had 6oz gloves, MMA gloves but this will be my biggest fight to date and my first time wearing these kind of gloves.”It’s not like bare-knuckle boxing, I believe it’s more comparable to a collision where bare-knuckle is more superficial with the cuts and things of such, you can break your hand like I did.”But I feel like I’m battle-tested because of bare-knuckle, I’m battle-tested because of my mixed martial arts background and overall I’ve just been submerged in boxing.Most read in BoxingCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS”Overall, I just feel like it’s going to be my night and I have no doubts.”The boxing newcomer took inspiration from WWE icon “Macho Man” Randy Savage.Elle Brooke’s 10 most liked Instagram postsBut she earned her nickname the hard way having debuted in MMA professionally in 2018. That night, she featured on UFC boss Dana White’s “Lookin’ for a Fight” series but she suffered defeat to Jamie Milanowski.After seven MMA fights and three losses, she crossed over to bare-knuckle boxing where she had six fights, winning three.Now it is time to put on the boxing gloves to fight Brooke – in what is a literal dream come true.Savage said: “I predict that I’m going to knock her out in the second round or I’m going to TKO her. I’m going to stop her.”I just have dreams about it. I have actually had dreams about getting this opportunity before.”I want to say, I was really down wondering what I was going to do next. “My first boxing fight in Nashville almost didn’t happen due to confusion in information.”I was like, ‘Dude, I really want this fight.’ I asked myself why and I went within.”And then I took a nap and had a dream that I was fighting Elle.”I’m pretty prophetic and when I commit, when I get away from fear and doubt, magical things happen.”Savage has a teenage son Cayden – whose father tragically committed suicide during the coronavirus pandemic.And she uses his sad passing as a form of inspiration to better her and son Cayden’s life.Savage opened up: “He lit a fire underneath me for my son – not spitefully because I was upset with him – but just to be the strong person that my son needs.”Because my son is just like his father; he’s bright, intelligent, misunderstood, a very beautiful human and I believe we all have our own beauty that we should embrace for ourselves.”We always anticipate the love for others but at the end of the day we’re the ones in that ring, in that cage, on that mat in the gym a lot of the times alone.READ MORE SUN STORIES”We’ve got to have that inner strength and be reminded that life is within us and we’ve got to pull it out sometimes ourselves.”It’s not easy but I believe it’s worth living and life is beautiful.”Savage says she even dreamed of fighting Elle Brooke one dayThe American has had boxing exhibitions beforeCredit: https://www.instagram.com/thetennesseegangster/ More

  • in

    MMA star reveals talks with Eddie Hall despite 13 STONE difference after missing out on Floyd Mayweather and KSI fight

    TYRON WOODLEY revealed wild talks to fight Eddie Hall despite their huge 13 STONE weight difference. Woodley once held the UFC welterweight title before then making a move into boxing where he was twice beaten by Jake Paul. Eddie Hall has crossed over to MMACredit: Rex FeaturesTyron Woodley says he was in talks to fight Eddie HallCredit: Getty Images – GettyFormer world’s strongest man Hall, 36, lost his boxing debut against strongman rival Hafthor Bjornsson, 35, in 2022.But he crossed over to MMA this year to defeat TikTok stars Jamil and Jamel Neffat in a crazy two-on-one bout. And despite weighing 26 stone – compared to the 13 stone of Woodley – the two were linked with a bout. Woodley, 42, told Overdogs Podcast: “I’m not down for these three-week notice fights to build somebody else’s name up.READ MORE IN MMA“You see the heavyweight dude that fought two motherf***ers at one time, 365[lbs]? “Motherf***er asked me to fight this dude on three weeks’ notice in Ireland in MMA.” Woodley’s last fight in the cage was a 2021 defeat Vicente Luque, 32, which was his fourth loss in a row. He then lost on points to YouTuber-turned-boxer Paul, 27, before getting knocked out in the rematch. Most read in BoxingCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSWoodley has not fought since despite talks with KSI, 31, and boxing great Floyd Mayweather, 47. He said: “I had some guy’s b**** out. I was supposed to fight Floyd in June. It was never supposed to be [John] Gotti [III]. That fight was me originally.“I was supposed to fight KSI in January last year. He flaked out and took Dillon Danis.”Watch The Neffati Brothers’ arrogant walk on just moments before sickening KO by Eddie Hall More

  • in

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

    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

  • in

    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

    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

  • in

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

    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

  • in

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

    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