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    Conor McGregor shares whiskey with Jose Mourinho as UFC star gets Roma shirt after his son gets christened at Vatican

    CONOR MCGREGOR shared whiskey with Jose Mourinho after getting a Roma shirt while in Italy for his son’s christening. The Irishman posted pictures with Mourinho, who previously managed Chelsea and McGregor’s boyhood club Manchester United.
    Jose Mourinho pictured with Conor McGregorCredit: Instagram thenotoriousmma
    Mourinho gifted McGregor a Roma shirtCredit: Instagram thenotoriousmma
    McGregor’s dad Tony pictured with Mourinho and his sonCredit: Instagram thenotoriousmma
    McGregor gave Mourinho a glass of his whiskeyCredit: Instagram thenotoriousmma
    And the managerial legend admitted he could not turn down a glass of McGregor’s Proper 12 whiskey.
    Mourinho, 58, wrote on Instagram: “Yes it’s him!
    “Yes, the great @thenotoriousmma is in Rome and yes it was a real pleasure to meet him, to share some stories and to offer him the most beautiful shirt in town @officialasroma.
    “He made a miracle, it’s impossible to say no to Conor, I had to try @properwhiskey.”
    McGregor, 33, also posted: “Respect to this man. Legend.”
    McGregr is in Italy as his son is being christened at the Vatican.

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    The former UFC champion last fought in July, losing to Dustin Poirier – the man he beat in 2014 but lost to in a rematch in January.
    But disaster struck in the trilogy bout as McGregor suffered a leg break just seconds before the end of round one, with Poirier, 32, winning by doctor stoppage.
    McGregor underwent surgery in Los Angeles and continued his rehabilitation process in America while returning to training.
    But he recently took a European holiday vacation, with his fiancee Dee Devlin, son Conor Jr, four, daughter Croia, two and newborn Rian.
    And Rian, born in May, was christened in the Vatican, and McGregor even posed with the keys.
    Meanwhile Mourinho, who returned to management after being sacked by Tottenham in April, has started with five wins in Roma’s opening seven games.
    They currently sit fourth in the Serie A, six points behind league leaders Napoli.
    Conor McGregor pictured with his fiancee Dee DevlinCredit: Instagram thenotoriousmma
    Conor McGregor and Dee Devlin pose with the keys to the VaticanCredit: Instagram thenotoriousmma
    Conor McGregor on his vacation to RomeCredit: Instagram thenotoriousmma More

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    Floyd Mayweather beat 15 WORLD CHAMPION boxers in a row before 2017 retirement fight with UFC star Conor McGregor

    FLOYD MAYWEATHER beat an incredible 15 world champion boxers in a row before his 2017 retirement fight against Conor McGregor. Mayweather officially called time on his career with a lucrative send off against McGregor, the UFC’s biggest star.
    Floyd Mayweather’s 15 world champions beaten consecutively
    It saw him retire 50-0 but also for the first time in 15 fights and 12 years, he faced a non-world champion boxer.
    The previous time he did so was in January 2005 in an eight-round stoppage win over Puerto Rican Henry Bruseles.
    After that, his next 16 fights were all against current or former world champions.
    He ended 2005 with wins over Arturo Gatti – his first time on pay-per-view – and Sharmba Mitchell, who formerly held the WBA light-welterweight title.
    The following year he beat Zab Judah and Carlos Baldomir to add welterweight titles to his name.
    In 2007, Mayweather became boxing’s new top attraction when he beat Oscar De La Hoya and then returned to knock out Ricky Hatton.

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    After an extended lay-off, and cameo in WWE, the unbeaten American beat Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez in his 2009 comeback fight.
    For the next three years, Mayweather would fight just once every 12 months, beating Shane Mosley, Victor Ortiz and then Miguel Cotto.
    Right after his win over Cotto – which he said was his most gruelling ever – a three month prison sentence followed for domestic abuse.
    But when Mayweather came out, he was met with a then-record deal with US network Showtime, worth around £150million.
    In 2013, he beat Robert Guerrero and Canelo Alvarez, a light-middleweight champ at the time, who is now boxing’s pound-for-pound No1.
    Miguel Cotto was Floyd Mayweather’s most gruelling fightCredit: Getty Images – Getty
    Canelo Alvarez was beaten by Floyd Mayweather in 2015Credit: Getty Images – Getty
    Then in 2014 he twice fought Marcos Maidana, winning the first in a close encounter but easing the rematch.
    By 2015 the fight boxing fans craved most had finally been agreed, against long-time rival Manny Pacquiao.
    But Mayweather made comfortable work of Pacquiao over 12 rounds, selling a Stateside record of 4.6million PPVs.
    He then closed out the year – and supposedly his career – with a routine win over Andre Berto, which he insisted would be his final.
    But in the period after, McGregor had become a sensation over in the UFC and taken Mayweather’s crown as the planet’s biggest prizefighter.
    Floyd Mayweather twice beat Marcos MaidanaCredit: Getty Images – Getty
    Floyd Mayweather finally fought and beat Manny Pacquiao in 2015Credit: Reuters
    It led to a money-spinning crossover bout in Las Vegas, which Mayweather won in ten rounds.
    Despite surpassing the great Rocky Marciano’s winning streak, it was not the last of multimillionaire, affectionately nicknamed ‘Money’.
    Mayweather in 2018 beat Japanese featherweight kickboxer Tenshin Nasukawa in round one of their exhibition in Tokyo.
    And this year, in the most bizarre of circumstances he faced YouTuber Logan Paul in a spectacle exhibition.
    Mayweather gave away TWO STONE and after failing to score a KO, technically no winner was declared.
    The boxing icon has again maintained it was his final time between the ropes, but history has proven not to count out another mega-money return.
    Mike Tyson offers to fight Logan Paul and reckons YouTuber could be tempted by $100m offer More

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    UFC star Francis Ngannou sick of ‘borrowing money’ as he hints at boxing switch as Fury and Wilder rake in £18m each

    FRANCIS NGANNOU insists he is sick of ‘borrowing money’ and hinted at making a switch across to boxing.The UFC star referenced the mega bucks pocketed by heavyweight icons Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder last weekend.
    Francis Ngannou may turn his back on MMA to pursue a big-money career in boxingCredit: Getty
    Boxing’s superstar pair raked in at least £18million EACH for their trilogy showdown.
    It’s understood Fury and Wilder’s disclosed purses – which will be released by the Nevada Athletic Commission later this week – were £4.4million ($6m) and £2.9m ($4m) respectively.
    But the duo were already contractually guaranteed a minimum of £18m for the third showdown.
    It is a far cry for Ngannou, who complained about how much he gets paid in his sport.
    The 35-year-old – who has one fight left on his UFC contract – told MMA Hour: “MMA is more difficult than boxing.
    “I feel I should not be needing to borrow money for my training camp.

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    “At some point, I’m gonna go after the money. I’m going to boxing for sure. I’m not challenging the system, I’m just saying my right.
    “I have not signed a new deal yet, because I do not want to sign a deal on these certain terms as I do not feel protected.
    “In the past two years I have had to borrow money and nobody cares about it and I have no guarantee in that deal.
    “So based on that experience I am trying to get better terms on my contract, and what I believe that I deserve.
    “According to what they said, I am on an independent contract so I want a terminated date so after that I can be free.
    “Then after that I would like to be free, so then you have a right from there to decide where you going and what you are going to do.
    “I will also then not be forced to keep signing the contract (with a termination date), so that is not being an independent contract.
    “If you say I am challenging the system, I already am having a hard time getting out at the moment but I can assure you that I am not.”
    Ngannou star beat Stipe Miocic in March to land the UFC world heavyweight belt.
    He looks set to face interim champ Cyril Gane at UFC 270 in January 2022 in a unification bout.
    But with his ferocious punching power and the lure of extra cash, it might not be long before we see the Cameroon hero laced up in boxing gloves – and maybe even challenging for belts.
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    Ngannou is not the first UFC star to bemoan the franchise’s pay system.
    Sean O’Malley criticised chief Dana White over his salary and wants to be paid ‘what he’s worth’.
    The 26-year-old bantamweight reportedly received a base salary of $60,000, around £43,300, for his fight against Thomas Almedia in March.
    Light-heavyweight Jon Jones is currently embroiled in a pay dispute with the promotion, not fighting since February 2020.
    And Jake Paul also criticised White over the issue after the UFC chief placed a $1m bet on the YouTuber losing to Ben Askren in a boxing match.
    Paul said: “In my third fight, I made more money in total pay than any fighter in UFC history.
    “Maybe it’s time to pay your fighters their fair share? No wonder they all want to get into boxing.”
    Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder both earned at least £18m from their trilogy fightCredit: Reuters More

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    Ex-UFC star Melvin Guillard shows off horror eye injury which requires surgery after brutal Bare Knuckle fight

    FORMER UFC star Melvin Guillard needed surgery on a brutal eye injury sustained in a Bare Knuckle fight.The 38-year-old asked fans to pray for him ahead of the op having been KOd just 59 seconds into his Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship defeat to Joe Riggs on Saturday.
    Melvin Guillard asked fans to pray for him ahead of surgery on a horror eye injuryCredit: Instagram / @melvinfighter83
    The former UFC star sustained it during his Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship defeat to Joe RiggsCredit: FITE TV
    The 38-year-old was sent crashing through the ropes less than a minute into the fightCredit: FITE TV
    It was Guillard’s fourth straight BKFC defeat.
    The American fought Nate Diaz, Justin Gaethje and Donald Cerrone during his 10-year UFC stint.
    But since stepping away from the octagon, he has struggled to impose himself in the BKFC.
    After his latest defeat in Montana, Guillard shared snaps of his gruesome eye injury on Instagram.
    Alongside pictures of his eye which was swollen shut, he wrote: “Just found out, at 3.15am, I have five fractures in my orbital so I will be having surgery today.
    “Just wanted to get my fans, friends and family the news. I’ll be OK – just keep me in your prayers.

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    “I’ll be lying if I said I wasn’t a little scared right now. We’ll see what happens.”
    Despite the consecutive losses and horrendous injury, Guillard has no plans to stop.
    After confirming he’d been released from hospital, Guillard later added: “Appreciate the love from all my fans and supporters… just not going to slow me down, [nor] stop me from accomplishing my goal.”
    However, it appears not everyone is so keen to see Guillard fight on.
    Several worried fans took to social media to voice their concerns.
    And some even called on Guillard to be banned from fighting again.
    MMA reporter Tom Taylor tweeted: “No commission should be letting Melvin Guillard fight at this point. #BKFCMONTANA.”

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    And MMA fan Jack added: “Guilard was in terrible shape for this.
    “His punches looked slow and he went down from the first punch Riggs threw… he seriously needs to stop.
    “BKFC is an absolute joke… their whole roster is washed up MMA fighters.”
    UFC great Khabib Nurmagomedov sends Tyson Fury a congratulations message after epic win over Deontay Wilder More

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    UFC great Khabib Nurmagomedov sends Tyson Fury a congratulations message after epic win over Deontay Wilder

    TYSON FURY has received a congratulatory message from UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov following his victory over Deontay Wilder.The Gypsy King closed the book on his rivalry with the American last weekend with a sensational 11th-round KO in Las Vegas.
    Tyson Fury ended his rivalry with Deontay Wilder with a vicious 11th-round KOCredit: GETTY
    And The Gypsy King has received a congratulatory message from Deontay Wilder following his stunning KOCredit: INSTAGRAM@GYPSYKING101
    Celebs and sporting figures around the world took to social media after the fight to shower Fury with praise.
    And former UFC lightweight champ Nurmagomedov has added his name to the long list with a video message for the Brit.
    The Russian – who recorded the message while watching his training partners spar – said: “Tyson, congratulations, congratulations.
    “It was a very good fight. And my coach wants to say congratulations.”
    American Kickboxing Academy chief Javier Mendez then said: “Congratulations. It was an incredible fight, you’re an incredible fighter.
    “Incredible human being, I really like your style.”

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    ‘Inshallah [God willing] I see you soon, brother’ was emblazoned across the following Instagram story update.
    Dagestani destroyer Nurmagomedov, who wished Fury good luck before the fight, signed off by saying: “Congratulations again, brother.”
    Nurmagomedov, 33, reckons fan favourite Fury is pound-for-pound best boxer on the planet.
    When asked who he thinks is the best boxer in the world, Nurmagomedov recently told ESN News: “Right now? I truly believe Tyson Fury is the best.
    “Heavyweight and undefeated and he beat everybody.
    “Like very close, like Canelo [Alvarez], [Oleksandr] Usyk, [Terence] Crawford, like all these guys very close.
    “Like just my opinion like top like Tyson Fury right now.”
    And The Eagle would love to see Fury test himself against newly-crowned unified heavyweight champ Oleksandr Usyk.
    Khabib Nurmagomedov reckons Tyson Fury is the best boxer on the planetCredit: PA
    He said: “I really want to see Usyk vs Fury. It’s gonna be a very good fight.
    “He [Usyk] has very good skill and technique, Tyson Fury too.
    “He is not like other heavyweights, more technique, his footwork is very good, his conditioning is very good, I really wanna watch Usyk against Fury.”

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    Tyson Fury says he feels sorry for his opponents and roars ‘I’m the best fighter of my generation’ after Wilder win More

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    Conor McGregor takes swipe at Dustin Poirier as UFC star congratulates Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder on epic trilogy

    UFC star Conor McGregor couldn’t help but take a dig at Dustin Poirier in his praise of Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder.Like combat sports fans around the world, the MMA mogul was left in awe of the back-and-forth war that was Fury vs Wilder III.
    UFC star Conor McGregor was in awe of Tyson Fury’s trilogy fight with Deontay WilderCredit: POLARIS
    The MMA mogul took to Twitter to praise the heavyweights for their heroic effortsCredit: TWITTER
    But his praise also included a pot shot at rival Dustin PoirierCredit: REUTERS
    McGregor took to social media to congratulate both men for their heroic efforts on Sunday evening, although he made sure to include a shot at rival Poirier.
    The Notorious tweeted: “Great fight that.
    “Both warriors, both winners. Hard to not be impressed with Deontay there.
    “Against the much larger man and almost got it done. Great fight.
    “40lb’s in weight difference is A LOT. Fair play both men there, very enjoyable fights they have had together. Respect.
    “Their skill levels are unique but very close. A great heavyweight trilogy that was.

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    “I love when it gets set for certain and both have an honourable showing.
    “Not the fam in the ring fake celebrating after a freak injury etc etc you know the gig, God bless the real in this world.
    “Congrats Tyson and Paris. Me and Dee are so happy for you and the kids. Congrats Deontay and Telli also.
    “Was great meeting you guys recently. A real proud showing that was, and could have went either way.
    “Amazing! Happy Sunday now today with the cheddar and the memory’s God bless.”
    The ‘freak accident’ McGregor referred to was the broken leg he suffered in his UFC 264 trilogy fight with Poirier in July.
    The former two-division champion shattered his left tibia and fibula in the final seconds of the first round of the Sin City showdown.
    McGregor, 33, is making a faster than expected recovery and already feels capable of throwing one of his wide array of kicks.
    Last month, the Irishman told YouTuber Adam’s Apple: “I feel like I could kick right now.
    The Notorious shattered his left leg in his UFC 264 trilogy fight with PoirierCredit: REUTERS
    “I honestly feel like I could kick right now, but I’ve just got to listen to the doctors, listen to the people that are guiding me.
    “That’s what I’ve done so far, I’ve committed myself to the work and I’m back on the feet.
    “It’s so good to be back on the feet.”

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    Tyson Fury reveals his next five fights More

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    UFC star Nate Diaz wants to switch from MMA to boxing after being inspired by Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder trilogy

    UFC superstar Nate Diaz admits he’s eager to box before he retires from fighting.Fan favourite Diaz, as well as his older brother Nick, are long-time training partners of boxing great Andre Ward and are considered by many to have some of the best hands in MMA.

    Nate Diaz was left in awe of Tyson Fury’s trilogy fight with Deontay WilderCredit: POLARIS
    And testing himself inside the ring is something the Ultimate Fighter season five winner wants to tick off his bucket list before his story is all said and done.
    The Stockton slugger told BT Sport: “I’ve always been wanting to box. I’ve just been stuck in a cage.”
    Diaz, 36, was ringside for Tyson Fury’s epic trilogy fight with Deontay Wilder last weekend – which the Gypsy King won via a stunning 11th-round knockout.
    The future UFC Hall-of-Famer said of the bout: “I thought it was a good fight, an entertaining fight. I’m glad I came, it was cool to watch.”
    The former lightweight title challenger was left impressed by the immense heart Fury showed to get up from two brutal knockdowns.
    He said: “It was good. I saw it slowly coming, but it was good because they had a little back-and-forth in the beginning. So it’s cool.”

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    Diaz is an admirer of the undefeated WBC heavyweight champ, admitting: “I’m a fan of Fury.
    “I’m a fan of the Fury-Wilder trilogy – all that. It’s cool that I got to participate in being here.”
    Diaz hasn’t set foot inside the octagon since his unanimous decision defeat to Brit Leon Edwards in June.
    The welterweight standout has one fight left on his contract with the UFC and recently revealed he’s open to boxing YouTubers Jake and Logan Paul.
    When asked about potentially facing the Paul brothers after his loss at UFC 263, he said: “Those are all options.
    Nate Diaz has ambitions of setting foot inside the boxing ringCredit: GETTY
    “And it’s great to hear Andre Ward talk about [us].
    “That’s one of the greatest of all time in boxing, I believe. Pound-for-pound, that’s the man.
    “That’s cool that I’m getting recognition from him at all.”

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    Nate Diaz says Jake Paul fight is ‘an option’ after being told boxing great Andre Ward praises his skills More

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    Michael Bisping wanted to join the army and become a boxer like Nigel Benn after prison… but became UFC legend instead

    MICHAEL BISPING was staring at prison ceiling walls when he mapped out a plan to follow in Nigel Benn’s footsteps by joining the army as a boxer. British legend Benn served four years in the forces after signing up aged 18 to avoid a life of crime.
    Nigel Benn served four years in the forcesCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
    Michael Bisping with his UFC titleCredit: Getty
    He then turned professional after a successful amateur career in the army and became of of the nation’s most celebrated fighters.
    So when Bisping found himself in a maximum security prison in his early 20s for a bar fight, he looked to Benn for inspiration.
    He told SunSport: “I started thinking, ‘What am I going to do?’
    “I kept coming back to fighting, I tired to join the army to become a professional boxer, to go down the same path as Nigel Benn.
    “But that never happened. Then, slowly and surely I came up with this crazy plan to be a mixed martial artist.”
    Bisping, who competed in kickboxing and jujitsu, was no criminal growing up in Clitheroe, Lancashire, but admitted to getting into one too many scraps on the street.

    One such brawl saw him jailed for a month, all while his wife Rebecca was seven months pregnant.
    It was at that moment, Bisping ‘hit rock bottom’ and realised his life had to change there and then.
    Speaking while on his evening with tour in the UK, he said: “I left school at 16 and I thought I had it all figured out.
    “And then you soon come to find out there’s not much call for uneducated, unqualified 16-year-olds.
    “I soon figured out life wasn’t going anywhere, money was tight, I was broke all the time and I was sick of that.
    “Of course, I was young and I was an idiot, going out and getting into fights and things like that and I’m not proud of that phase in my life.
    Michael Bisping competed in kickboxing and jujitsu growing up
    The future UFC legend, left, aged 21 with his brother Konrad
    “I ended up going to prison, and that was when I hit rock bottom. I was sat in prison and looked around and I was surrounded by the dregs of society.
    “I said to myself, ‘Wow, is this it? Is this what my life has come to? I need to make a change’.”
    Bisping made his MMA debut in 2004 in Newcastle, at a time when the UFC were considering selling with the sport failing to hit the mainstream.
    That was Stateside, meaning the landscape was even worse in Britain.
    Bisping, now 42, remembers: “Those days were the Wild West, it’s certainly come on a long way now.
    “The scene looked a lot different then, now it’s a lot more professional.
    “Sometimes you’d show up at shows in the early days and there would be no doctors, or no ambulance crew or anything like that.
    Michael Bisping made his MMA debut in 2004
    He admits the early days of MMA in the UK were ‘Wild West’
    “The health and safety rules were not exactly adhered too, shall we say. Opponents getting switched out on the day.
    “I’ll be honest, that was part of the appeal, as well, it was fun, it was gritty, it was raw.
    “And we all felt like we were a part of something that was going to explode and be big.”
    Bisping was right, and the sport did explode, thanks in large to the debut of the UFC’s reality TV series The Ultimate Fighter, which first aired in 2005.
    A year later, Bisping was invited to compete in third season and eventually won it, booking his way into the UFC, where he stayed until retirement.
    The middleweight then capped off a rollercoster career in 2016, knocking out rival Luke Rockhold to finally win the UFC title.
    Luke Rockhold was knocked out by Michael Bisping in their rematchCredit: 2016 Zuffa LLC
    Michael Bisping lifts the UFC belt aloftCredit: Zuffa LLC – Getty
    Bisping, who only fought Rockhold on two weeks notice, then made one homecoming defence against Dan Henderson.
    He lost the title to UFC legend Georges St-Pierre in 2017 and retired after his next fight, a loss to Kelvin Gastelum.
    Bisping remains the only British UFC champion and a huge player in catipulting the sport to new heights in the UK.
    It is a far cry from his early underground days, which helped pave the way for the most iconic UFC career in British history.
    Bisping said: “Now, to see where it’s gone since I was involved in the early days, it’s amazing to see and to think I was a little part of that, to help it grow, I am proud of that.
    “I didn’t even know the sport existed, but I was 100 per cent in, there was no back up plan. I stayed the course and it all panned out.” 

    Catch An Evening with Michael Bisping: Tales from the Octagon this October in the UK, tickets from myticket.co.Uk

    Michael Bisping is the greatest British UFC fighter in historyCredit: 2016 Zuffa LLC More