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      UFC supremo Dana White says rapper 50 Cent kick-started negotiations for Conor McGregor to fight Mayweather

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      RAPPER 50 Cent kick-started the negotiations for Floyd Mayweather to fight UFC legend Conor McGregor.The two mavericks met in a blockbuster crossover bout in August 2017, with Money Mayweather winning by 10th round stoppage.
      50 Cent kick-started the negotiations for Floyd Mayweather to fight Conor McGregorCredit: Getty – Contributor
      UFC boss Dana White helped promote the 2017 crossover eventCredit: USA TODAY Sports
      It marked an end to months of build-up and trash-talking between the pair, with the event gripping both fighting codes.
      But UFC president Dana White revealed a chance meeting with 50 Cent – a long-time friend of Mayweather’s – was the catalyst for the super-fight taking place.
      White told ESPN: “When the demand is there. I felt the demand for McGregor vs Mayweather, felt it, I knew it would be big, so we started talking.
      “I bumped into 50 Cent in New York, and he said, ‘Floyd wants to fight your boy.’ I said, ‘My boy who?’
      “He’s like, ‘The Irish kid.’ And I’m like, ‘He’ll kill him,’ because I’m thinking MMA.
      “He said, ‘We’ll box him.’ I said, ‘You guys are crazy.’
      “He said, ‘He’s serious. I’ll call him right now.’

      “And then that’s how it all really got started. And then everywhere I went, it was all anybody asked me about.
      “Then once I started to really feel it, that’s when I started to take it serious, and I made an offer.”
      After Mayweather beat McGregor on the Irishman’s boxing debut he officially retired from the sport.
      He returned at the end of 2018 for an exhibition bout against Japanese kickboxer Tenshin Nasukawa in Tokyo.
      Last year, the 44-year-old announced he is ‘coming out of retirement in 2020’ to work on a ‘spectacular event’ with White.
      UFC boss White revealed: “We both started talking. The easiest way to explain it to you is Floyd and I both feel that we add value to each other, and we’re going to figure something out.
      “Some things have to play out, and then I’m going to start talking to [Mayweather’s advisor Al] Haymon maybe this summer and then I’ll have something for Floyd in the fall.
      “We can do some crossover stuff here or we can do something in boxing.

      “Our last experience, Floyd was actually pretty easy to deal with. Haymon is incredible to deal with.
      “Floyd and I got a handshake deal at the basketball game, and we’ll get the rest figured out.”
      Mayweather recently refused to rule out a second fight against McGregor – but he has stated the bout wouldn’t take place in the Octagon.

      Mayweather claimed he is coming out of retirement to work with WhiteCredit: Splash News
      Floyd Mayweather takes credit for Mike Tyson comeback at 54 and claims he is the ‘pioneer’ of exhibition fights More

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      Former UFC star Paige VanZant shares stunning thong bikini photo after wrestling session just weeks after AEW debut

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      PAIGE VANZANT provided fans with a thong bikini picture on Instagram after revealing a recent wrestling training session. The former UFC star this year launched her own X-rated fan site to rave success, but continues to post glam pictures on her social media.
      Paige VanZant provided fans with a thong bikini picture
      Paige VanZant has launched her own X-rated fan site
      The American is a former UFC fighter
      One recent one saw her dressed in a blue thong bikini, with the caption: “Wrestled today, didn’t take a picture.
      “Here’s some pics of me looking like a h** instead. Yolo.”
      VanZant, 27, left the UFC in 2020 and signed a shock deal with Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship.
      But in her first two brutal fights without gloves on, she was beaten, first to Britain Hart then in a rematch against old UFC rival Rachael Ostovich.
      It has left her bare-knuckle boxing future in question, with rumours circling of a switch back to MMA.
      VanZant has also featured on pro wrestling promotion AEW lately, alongside her American Top Team training partners and gym owner Dan Lambert.

      But the American still has one fight left on her BKFC deal and will return to honour it in early 2022.
      Promoter Dave Feldman told BJPenn.com: “We are in talks with Paige and we will be bringing her back in early 2022.
      “It is heartbreaking for her to lose her first two fights, but she is putting her heart back into this thing.
      “We will work out a deal in the next week or so, and you will see Paige VanZant back in the BKFC ring.”
      Paige VanZant makes first appearance with WWE’s rivals AEW on Dynamite More

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      Jake Paul calls Conor McGregor a ‘drunk motherf***er’ and says fight with UFC star will happen within four years

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      JAKE PAUL called Conor McGregor a ‘drunk motherf***er’ and reckons they will fight within four years. The YouTube sensation has long called to fight McGregor and even had a $50million offer on the table in 2020.
      Jake Paul called Conor McGregor a ‘drunk motherf***er’Credit: Getty
      Conor McGregor has been relentlessly called out by Jake PaulCredit: @thenotoriousmma
      Despite that, McGregor has appeared uninterested in the lucrative boxing bout and has barley even acknowledged Paul, who is 4-0 as a boxer.
      But the social media influencer is adamant they will one day share the ring, especially as there is potentally a huge amount of money to be made.
      Paul said: “It’s very real, I think that fight happens in the next 36/48 months for sure. It makes financial sense.
      “I don’t have a message for Conor. At this point, he needs me more than I need him.
      “He’s a f***ing loser, drunk motherf***er running around, doing all this crazy s***.
      “The guy’s a mess, so like I said – he needs me more than I need him.”

      Paul’s first two wins were against online rival ‘AnEsonGib’ and then ex-NBA star Nate Robinson, 37.
      But then he set his sights on rivalling the UFC, as he knocked out retired welterweight Ben Askren, 37, in April.
      He returned in August to beat ex-UFC champion Tyron Woodley, 39, over eight rounds.
      Attempts to prize McGregor, beaten by Floyd Mayweather, 44, on his boxing debut in 2017, have proven unsuccessful.
      Instead, Paul fights Tommy Fury, 22, the brother to heavyweight champion Tyson, on December 18 in Florida.
      Meanwhile, McGregor is still in rehabilitation after suffering a leg break against Dustin Poirier, 32, in their trilogy bout in July.
      He underwent surgery in Los Angeles and recently returned to Ireland, where he has started training once more.
      Conor McGregor back in training after surgery as he works out on pads and promises ‘greatest comeback in sports history’ More

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      Conor McGregor offers boxing spar to UFC bantamweight Petr Yan in Ireland after vowing to ‘rip him up’ in online row

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      CONOR McGREGOR has offered UFC bantamweight Petr Yan a boxing spar in Ireland after vowing to ‘rip him up’. McGregor reacted to a fans’ ranking for best boxers in the UFC, which saw Yan first, Max Holloway second, himself third, Jose Aldo fourth and Nate Diaz fifth.
      Conor McGregor offered UFC bantamweight Petr Yan a boxing spar in IrelandCredit: @thenotoriousmma
      UFC bantamweight star Petr YanCredit: @petr_yan

      The Irishman, 33, who already who has wins over Holloway, 29, Aldo, 35, and Diaz, 36, proclaimed to be the best boxer in the UFC.
      He tweeted: “I outboxed 3 guys on this list! There’s no one even remotely close to my boxing in the ufc.
      “Even Dustin (Poirier) only got shots off post the leg damage. Everyone has been pucked around by me if we are going off boxing.
      “Yan is good tho, i like his style. I’d rip him up in that shell tho.”
      Yan, who is two weights below lightweight McGregor and weighs almost TWO STONE less, responded by calling out the former two-division champion.
      He replied: “Conor, we all know that you like to talk, but let’s get straight to the point if you really want to box or to fight.
      “I don’t care about the weight or the ruleset. I bet you won’t show up.”

      McGregor, who lost his 2017 boxing debut to Floyd Mayweather, 44, then offered Yan, 28, a sparring session.
      He responded: “Lol, no prob littler. We will set up a spar or something similar in the near future.
      “Will host you and your team in Ireland for one of our shows at Crumlin boxing club. We will figure it out then, kid.
      “God bless ya. @ParimatchGlobal , get this set.”
      McGregor has twice returned home to his first ever gym and competed in exhibition spars.
      And his next fight will be a wheelchair boxing match against comedian Al Foran, known for his impressions of The Notorious.
      McGregor is back hitting pads in training again after taking another step in his recovery having suffered a horror leg break in July.
      He broke his tibia at the end of round one in his trilogy bout against Dustin Poirier, 32, the man he beat in 2014 but first lost to in January.
      Conor McGregor back in training after surgery as he works out on pads and promises ‘greatest comeback in sports history’ More

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      Dana White slammed by Badou Jack after claims UFC prelim fighter earns TEN TIMES more than him for fighting

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      BOXER Badou Jack hit back at Dana White after the UFC boss claimed one of his prelim fighters earned TEN TIMES more than him for a fight. White said the former world champion, who returns on Friday, November 26 in Dubai against Johnny Muller, would only make $75,000 (£55,000).
      Badou Jack hit back at Dana White after the UFC boss claimed he was being paid $75,000Credit: Getty
      Dana White claimed a UFC prelim fighter was being paid $750,000Credit: Getty Images – Getty
      But Jack, 38, hit back on Twitter: “I would never fight for that type of money ever in my life. Not sure who told you these lies.
      “That won’t even cover my training camp. But thanks for the free promotion.”
      Jack is believed to have been paid as much as $750,000 (£560,000) for his 2017 fights against James DeGale and Nathan Cleverly.
      And that is the sum UFC president White revealed one of his unnamed prelim fighters made.
      He said on the Pardon My Take podcast: “You know this kid Badou Jack? The boxer, right? Former world champion.
      “He’s fighting this weekend, I guess, in the Middle East, and he’s making $75,000.
      “A guy who isn’t even, he’s on the prelims never been a world champion — and I won’t mention his name — is making $750,000.”

      White has long been criticised over fighter pay, despite UFC champions being entitled to pay-per-view bonuses.
      Jack, who won titles at super-middleweight and light-heavyweight, is reported to have made $500,000 (£372,000) for his last win, in November 2020.
      He beat Blake McKernan, 34, on the same night Mike Tyson, 55, made his boxing comeback in an exhibition bout with Roy Jones Jr, 52.
      Jack has recently linked up with new boxing promotion Probellum for his return against cruiserweight Muller.
      Dana White reveals Conor McGregor will return to UFC as a ‘headliner’ More

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      ‘Mike Tyson owes me $50k!’ – Junior dos Santos reveals how boxing legend persuaded UFC to strip him of ‘best KO’ bonus

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      FORMER UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos has claimed boxing legend Mike Tyson owes him $50,000 after depriving him of a post-fight bonus in 2013.Iron Mike was in attendance at UFC 160 to see JDS register a sensational spinning wheel kick KO victory over MMA legend Mark Hunt in May 2013.
      Junior dos Santos scored a stunning third-round KO of Mark Hunt at UFC 160Credit: GETTY
      The Brazilian’s sensational spinning wheel kick originally earned him two bonusesCredit: GETTY
      But UFC chief Dana White took one away after Mike Tyson questioned why JDS should get twoCredit: GETTY
      Dos Santos’ stunning stoppage of the PRIDE legend saw him handed ‘Fight of the Night’ and ‘Knockout of the Night’ bonuses by UFC president Dana White.
      But the Brazilian ended up being stiffed of $50,000 when Tyson questioned why he was being given two bonuses.
      He told SunSport: “Back in the day, Mike Tyson took from me $50,000 because of Dana White!
      “When I fought Mark Hunt I had two Bonuses of the Night – Best Fight of the Night, and Best Knockout of the Night.
      “And Mike Tyson was there watching the fight and at the press conference after the fights, Dana White said, ‘Junior Dos Santos has won two bonuses of the night. Best Fight of the Night, and Best Knockout of the Night.’
      “But I was asking Mike Tyson and he told me to give the Knockout of the Night to somebody else!

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      “He said, ‘Why give two bonuses to just one guy?’ So he took away from me $50,000. So he owes me $50,000!
      “He deprived me of that.
      “But it was normal back then to have two bonuses on the night and sometimes some guys got three!”
      Dos Santos – who was released by the UFC in March – is still somewhat irked by bonus-gate.
      He added: “The fight was really good I went three rounds with Mark Hunt and in the end I knocked him out with a spinning back kick.
      “They should have given me the two bonuses. For me it was a lot, but for the UFC maybe not.
      Former UFC heavyweight champ Junior dos Santos admits he’d love to box Mike TysonCredit: GETTY
      “It showed a lot the personality of Dana White because the UFC is so big and if Mike Tyson says someone else should get the Knock Out of the Night, then the UFC should have given an extra bonus to someone else but still should have given me mine. They just took it away from me.”
      Former undisputed heavyweight champion Tyson is gearing up to return to the ring in February.
      An opponent hasn’t been finalised for the Baddest Man on the Planet, although YouTuber Logan Paul has been rumoured to be the legend’s next assignment.
      But heavy-hitter dos Santos has thrown his hat into the ring, saying of Tyson’s training with his countryman Rafael Cordeiro: “They had been posting some good training videos.
      “It looked like the power of Mike Tyson is still there. He looks good.
      “Yes, I really believe a fight against Mike Tyson would be a very interesting fight.”
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      Logan Paul says he could easily beat Mike Tyson More

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      ‘Stop this s***’ – Dana White dismisses UFC star Kamaru Usman’s chances against Canelo Alvarez after he calls out boxer

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      UFC chief Dana White dismissed Kamaru Usman’s desire to fight Canelo Alvarez after the boxer beat Caleb Plant.Alvarez, 31, dominated Plant before knocking him out in the 11th round, becoming the first ever undisputed super-middleweight champion by doing so.
      Kamaru Usman called out Canelo Alvarez earlier this week before defending his UFC welterweight crownCredit: Getty
      Alvarez responded to Usman’s callout by suggesting he is after a paydayCredit: Getty
      Dana White dismissed Usman’s intention to fight AlvarezCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      He is undefeated since 2013 and now holds five belts, and although Usman maintained his flawless UFC record on the same night, White believes he would have no chance against Alvarez.
      When asked what he thought of Usman calling out Alvarez for a fight earlier this week, White responded: “I watched the Canelo fight tonight.
      “He doesn’t want to fight Canelo, he doesn’t want to fight Canelo.
      “C’mon man let’s stop this s***.”
      Alvarez is ranked as the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world by Ring magazine.
      And although Usman, 34, has a height advantage over the world champion, and knock-out power, it would be a big step to swap the Octagon for the ring.

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      But after dominating the Welterweight division with 14 straight wins the Nigerian is keen to face a different challenge.
      Alvarez, however, believes Usman is merely looking for a “payday” and shrugged off his suggestion of a fight.
      Usman defeated Colby Covington for a second time in UFC 268 on Saturday – his fifth defence of the 170lb belt. More

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      Dana White pictured watching Canelo Alvarez’s fight with Caleb Plant on TV while sitting in front row at UFC 268

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      DANA WHITE was pictured cageside at UFC 268 watching Canelo Alvarez’s fight against Caleb Plant on his TV monitor. The night Canelo completed super-middleweight supremacy at in Las Vegas, over 2,500 miles away in New York the UFC had a competing pay-per-view.
      Dana White watching Canelo’s fight with Caleb Plant
      Alvarez’s fight fortunately did not clash with UFC 268’s headliner between welterweight champion Kamaru Usman and Colby Covington.
      But it did start while Rose Namajunas, 29 was fighting Weili Zhang, 32.
      And it appears UFC boss White – who started off in the boxing business – and his colleagues fancied checking in with Canelo.
      The Mexican star, 31, later went on to knock out Plant, 29, in 11 rounds to add the IBF title to his collection which already boasted the WBC, WBA and WBO.
      Later on, Usman, 34, beat Covington, 33, again in a rematch of their December 2019 classic, this time on points.
      Welterweight king Usman has recently spoken of his desire to fight Canelo, pitting together boxing and MMA’s most dominant champions.

      But White, who viewed Alvarez’s brutal win over Plant, was quick to shut down the idea, but did welcome him into the octagon.
      He said: “I watched the Canelo fight tonight. He don’t want to fight Canelo. He don’t want to fight Canelo.
      “Come on, man. Let’s stop this s***. If Canelo wants to come over here, let’s do it. He don’t wanna box Canelo.”
      White in 2017 allowed Conor McGregor, 33, to cross over to the ring to face Floyd Mayweather, 44, but the Irishman lost in round ten.
      More recently, ex-UFC fighters Ben Askren, 37 and Tyron Woodley, 39, both lost to YouTuber Jake Paul, 24.
      Kamaru Usman beat Colby Covington in their rematchCredit: Getty
      Canelo beat Caleb Plant in round 11Credit: Getty More