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      UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov reveals to Mike Tyson why he turned down $100m Floyd Mayweather fight

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      UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov turned down a $100million offer to face Floyd Mayweather and told Mike Tyson: ‘I never fight for money’. Nurmagomedov retired in October in the first bout after the death of his influential father and coach Abdulmanap, who passed away in July.
      Mike Tyson pictured with UFC legend Khabib
      Khabib said he turned down $100m to fight Floyd MayweatherCredit: Rex
      He has since snubbed a UFC comeback and even the massive purse to face boxing legend Mayweather in the Middle East.
      Nurmagomedov, the former unbeaten UFC lightweight champion, hinted no amount of money could prise him back.
      He said on Tyson’s podcast: “I don’t wanna make boxing community upset with me.
      “Of course money makes sense too. But I never fight for money. Money is good, but most of the time it is bad.
      “Money brings you to the situation that you have never been, and you don’t know how to act when you have so much money.
      “It is a little bit dangerous. In this business, I don’t come to make money. I come here for legacy.”
      Nurmagomedov, 32, hung up the gloves immediately after beating Justin Gaethje, also 32, and revealed the decision was made by his mother.
      The Russian star has been offered a lucrative return to face Georges St-Pierre, 40, who was his father’s dream fight.
      Money brings you to the situation that you have never been, and you don’t know how to act when you have so much money.Khabib Nurmagomedov
      But not even that could tempt Khabib into changing his mind.
      Mayweather, 44, did start talks with Nurmagomedov’s manager Ali Abdelaziz and UFC president Dana White was said to be on board.
      Abdelaziz said to Tyson: “Listen, we got offered $100million to fight Floyd Mayweather. Dana White was on board, everybody was on board.
      “But, you know, Khabib is an MMA fighter. If Floyd wanted to come to fight, get his little ass whooped, no problem.”
      Mayweather, 44, retired officially in 2017 after beating Khabib’s arch rival Conor McGregor, 33, in a fight White helped promote.
      The American great has returned twice since, both in exhibition bouts, starting against featherweight kickboxer Tenshin Nasukawa in 2018.
      But even more surprisingly, he came out of retirement for a pay-per-view spectacle against YouTuber Logan Paul, 26, who weighed TWO STONE more.
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      It ended without a winner after Paul amazingly survived all eight rounds, leaving Nurmagomedov unimpressed.
      He told Russian media in June: “What’s there to say? They came out, made money. It’s purely business.
      “There was no competitive aspect to it, old Mayweather came out, they sparred and made money – what else is there to say?”
      Khabib slams dirty UFC rival Conor McGregor to Mike Tyson for deleted tweet about his father’s death More

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      UFC chief Dana White reveals why he won’t work with ‘annoying’ Jake Paul but admits he doesn’t ‘hate the kid’

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      UFC president Dana White has refused to do business with Jake Paul, insisting he’s not in the ‘celebrity’ fight game.Paul, along with his elder brother Logan, has taken the boxing world by storm over the last 18 months, so much he’s bagged a lucrative deal with Showtime.
      Disney star turned boxer Jake Paul wants to test himself in mixed martial artsCredit: Getty
      But UFC president Dana White has refused to work with The Problem ChildCredit: Getty
      The former Disney star, who has gained immense traction, recently revealed he wants to test himself inside the octagon one day.
      White, however, has no intention of ever working with The Problem Child, telling The Nelk Boys: “I just don’t see it happening.
      “I don’t hate the kid. Is he f***ing annoying? Yeah, he’s annoying.
      “He’s out there trying to make that money, and his shelf life is very f***ing short.”
      White, 51, is adamant he wouldn’t water down the product he produces by putting the younger Paul brother inside the octagon.
      When pressed further on potentially working with the social media star, he said: “Listen, I never say never, but I highly doubt it. It’s just not what I do.
      I put the best against the bestDana White on potentially working with Jake Paul
      “There’s a market for that. He could fight a different type of celebrity every week.
      “And there’s going to be a segment of the population that wants to pay for that and see it, but that’s not what I do.
      “I put the best against the best.”
      White’s comments on potentially working with Paul echo those he made in May when he told ESPN: “First of all, I would never do business with those guys, just no.
      “No, this is not what we do. I’m not gonna f*****g loan them a guy for f*****g what? There’s no way.
      “You got plenty of f*****g goofballs out there that you can muster up to get in there and play these games that these guys are playing.
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      “Yeah, I’m not your guy.”
      Paul, 24, is undefeated in his young professional boxing career, in which he’s scored KO wins over fellow YouTuber AnEson Gib, ex-NBA star Nate Robinson and former UFC welterweight Ben Askren.
      The Ohioan is currently gearing up for a showdown with former UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley, whom he’ll face in his home state a fortnight on Sunday.
      Tommy Fury says Jake Paul’s sparring partner Anthony Taylor it going to get a smack in the mouth More

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      Anderson Silva’s coach claims Logan Paul is ‘hiding’ under exhibition fight rules putting bout with UFC star in doubt

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      ANDERSON SILVA’S boxing coach has urged Logan Paul to stop ‘hiding’ under exhibition fight rules ahead of a potential meeting between the pair.MMA legend Silva has been linked with a bout to face the American YouTuber in September.
      Anderson Silva beat Julio Cesar Chavez Jr in his first professional boxing bout since 2005 in JuneCredit: Getty
      Logan Paul has been linked with a fight against the Spider after his exhibition draw against Floyd MayweatherCredit: Reuters
      The 46-year-old, who was released from the UFC last year, outpointed former WBC middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr, 35, in June.
      It was his first professional fight inside the squared circle since 2005, with the Brazilian open to more boxing dust-ups in the future.
      Logan is coming off the back of an exhibition clash against Floyd Mayweather where the 26-year-old took the 15-time world champion the distance.
      But Silva’s coach Luiz Dorea has warned Paul that if he wants to face the Spider next, it has to be under official rules.
      He told Sherdog: “Logan proved to be a very brave and talented kid doing an exhibition fight against the legend Mayweather.
      “But, of course, if it were in official rules, the result would be different.
      “Let’s see if he will keep hiding under exhibition rules or if he will test himself in the real world [under professional rules].
      “In that case, I have no doubt Anderson will knock him out.”
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      Paul’s manager Jeff Levin confirmed last month that the Maverick was in talks to fight Silva later this year.
      He told ESPN: “We just haven’t got there yet.”
      Following his exhibition against Mayweather, Paul believes his next outing will be worth $100MILLION.
      Speaking to former opponent KSI on his podcast, he said: “Mayweather has this ability to kind of like, bless people with a magic wand. 
      “And I knew if I did well, like bro, I’m in this weird position where my next fight is, with the right opponent, could be a $100million fight. 
      “Like literally a $100million fight.” 
      Jake Paul claims he and brother Logan Paul will run for president when they turn 35 after YouTube and boxing careers More

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      UFC chief Dana White ‘praying’ Vitor Belfort ‘viciously’ KO’s ‘crackhead’ Oscar De La Hoya in boxing match

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      UFC president Dana White admits he wants to see Vitor Belfort ‘viciously’ knock out boxing legend Oscar De La Hoya.Former UFC light-heavyweight champion Belfort will throw down with the Olympic gold medallist in a boxing match in Los Angeles on September 11.
      Oscar De La Hoya (L) will face former UFC champion Vitor Belfort (R) next monthCredit: The Mega Agency
      And UFC chief Dana White wants to see the Golden Boy get viciously KO’dCredit: Getty
      Despite not having boxed in over 15 years, Belfort, 44, goes into his clash with the Golden Boy as the bookies’ favourite.
      And White would love nothing more than to see the Brazilian put De La Hoya to sleep.
      During an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show, White said: “I’m praying Vitor knocks this crackhead out – and viciously. Viciously knocks him out.”
      White and De La Hoya have been engaged in a war of words for several years, with the latter recently blasting the UFC chief for not allowing MMA great Georges St-Pierre to fight him.
      But the pair enjoyed a cordial relationship many moons ago.
      White said of the former six-weight world champion: “As much as I can’t stand that dirtbag, De La Hoya is legit.
      “Back in the day when me and De La Hoya were cool, I actually was up in his camp.
      “I’ll show that MMA and ex-UFC fighters can take down even the best boxer in the world.Vitor Belfort on his showdown with Oscar De La Hoya
      “Just his jab could knock people out.
      “De La Hoya in his prime was the real deal. This is a real fight between two real guys.
      “I think that Vitor obviously has the power to KO him, but De La Hoya’s no joke, either.”
      Despite White’s past friendship with De La Hoya, who has been open about his history of cocaine and alcohol abuse in recent years, the UFC chief wants to see the 48-year-old laid out on the canvas.
      He said: “Hopefully all the coke-sniffing and tequila drinking and whatever other s**t that guy has been up to has caught up with him and Vitor lays one right on the big mouth of his and knocks him unconscious.”
      UFC 12 tournament winner Belfort is relishing the opportunity to test his skills against the 1992 Olympian, saying: “Oscar De La Hoya is a true superstar in the boxing world and one of the greatest and most popular fighters of our time.
      “While we both have a great deal of respect for each other’s accomplishments, on September 11, I will make my MMA fans proud.
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      “I’ll show that MMA and ex-UFC fighters can take down even the best boxer in the world.
      “I hope I don’t end up killing him. But everything is on the table.
      “This is a no holds barred, all-out gladiator fight to the bitter end.”
      Watch as UFC legend Vitor Belfort FLOORS Bryce Hall in sparring with brutal punch leaving TikTok star in agony More

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      Watch as UFC legend Vitor Belfort FLOORS Bryce Hall in sparring with brutal punch leaving TikTok star in agony

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      VITOR BELFORT left TikToker Bryce Hall wincing in agony during a brutal sparring session. Belfort, a former UFC champion, fights Oscar De La Hoya on September 11 in the boxing legend’s return to the ring.
      Vitor Belfort left TikToker Bryce Hall wincing in agony after taking no prisoners in sparring
      Vitor Belfort twice dropped Bryce Hall in sparring
      The bout raised eyebrows initially, with the Brazilian, 44, having boxed just once before, in 2006, while De La Hoya, 48, has been retired 13 years.
      But perhaps even more surprising was Belfort’s choice of sparring partner, social media star Hall, who recently lost to online rival Austin McBroom.
      The pair filmed a sparring session which was posted online and could only be described as one-way traffic.
      Belfort twice trapped a sheepish-looking Hall in the corner and left him feeling the affects of some brutal body shots as he was floored.
      The American celebrity was quick to defend himself on Twitter having likely been mocked for his wimpy display.
      Hall, 21, tweeted: “why do people hold me to the boxing standard of a pro when ive only trained in boxing for 2 months?
      “im learning and trying to get better! sorry im not floyd mayweather yet.”
      Hall faced McBroom, 29, in a TikTok vs YouTube boxing event in June – representing the former.
      But it ended in disaster for him, as he was dominated, punched around the ring and beaten in three rounds.
      It leaves Belfort needing better sparring partners as he draws closer to his crossover fight with De La Hoya.
      The veterans were initially set to box in an exhibition bout, but it will now be a professionally sanctioned contest at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
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      But it is subject to De La Hoya and and Belfort passing comprehensive medical testing for 40-year-old-plus fighters.
      It includes an MRA and MRI of the brain, an EKG, cardiac testing, neurocognitive testing and an ophthalmologic exam.
      The bout will be contested over eight two-minute rounds, despite regular pro boxing being fought over three-minute rounds.
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      Conor McGregor CONFIRMS charity wheelchair bout with impressionist Al Foran but UFC star says September is ‘too early’

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      CONOR McGREGOR confirmed his charity wheelchair boxing match with impressionist Al Foran – but said September is ‘too early’. McGregor was lined up to face Foran – a comedian who often mimics the UFC superstar – at the Clayton Hotel in Galway on September 11.
      Conor McGregor confirmed his charity wheelchair boxing match with impressionist Al ForanCredit: Instagram @thenotoriousmma
      Al Foran is a comedian who often mimics Conor McGregorCredit: Instagram @alforancomedy
      But the Irishman, nursing a broken tibia, admitted he will not be able to commit to the bout next month as he targeted a later date.
      McGregor tweeted: “Guys, the September date is too early for me. I am still in recovery.
      “My docs/physical therapy team out here advice me to stay. I reckon late October at earliest.
      “But maybe November/December too. It is hard to say at this time a concrete date. But I’m in! Wait for me please!”
      The event has been set up by comedian Stevo Timothy, who will face double Olympic champion Paddy Barnes in a wheelchair bout to headline.
      All the proceeds will be donated to the Irish Wheelchair Association, a leading service provider for people with physical disabilities.
      ‘GIVE ME TIME GUYS’
      With McGregor unable to feature on the initial date, he hinted at putting on a separate charity show for the IWA.
      He posted: “Give me time guys, I’m in! Just need to focus on this recovery for the next while first before I can commit to a date!
      “Have some cool things planned for event tho!”
      McGregor, 33, was due to box funny man Foran in a regular bout until he suffered a horror leg break in his trilogy bout with Dustin Poirier, 32.
      The pair headlined UFC 264 on July 10, but it ended in chaos when he broke his tibia seconds before the end of round one.
      McGregor as a result, was beaten by doctor stoppage and has since been handed a six-month medical suspension.
      He underwent surgery immediately in Los Angeles, where he has since stayed to rest and recover with his family.
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      McGregor, despite his injury setback, has already started training again and was pictured working out even with a huge cast on his leg.
      UFC president Dana White has predicted the former two-weight champion will be out for a year.
      McGregor, who beat Poirier in 2014 but was knocked out in the rematch, called for a FOURTH bout with his rival after their unprecedented ending.
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      Conor McGregor told to ‘work on his life’ by Khabib’s manager who says UFC superstar is not a high-level fighter anymore More

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      Watch Jake Paul throw combinations on pads and in sparring for Tyron Woodley fight with YouTuber hailed by Stipe Miocic

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      JAKE PAUL offered fans a glimpse into his training camp with footage of the YouTuber sparring and hitting the pads. The social media star faces ex-UFC champion Tyron Woodley on Sunday, August 29 in his home of Cleveland.
      Jake Paul training on the pads with coach BJ Flores
      Jake Paul in sparring for his fight with Tyron Woodley
      After a press tour in Los Angeles and then Ohio, Paul returned to Puerto Rico to continue preparations for what will be his fourth professional fight.
      And in a video uploaded online, 24-year-old landed some eye-catching combinations on his sparring partner.
      In particular, a uppercut and left hook combination won praise from his trainer, former cruiserweight contender BJ Flores.
      A separate clip of Paul on the pads with Flores in Miami saw the American celebrity firing off quick combinations.
      Paul comes into the fight 3-0, all by knockout, but has so far faced only limited opposition.
      He has beaten internet rival ‘AnEsonGib’, ex-NBA player Nate Robinson, 37, and most recently retired UFC welterweight Ben Askren, 37.
      Paul knocked out Askren – a training partner of Woodley’s – in the first round in April.
      And it left former UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic , 38, impressed, as he hailed his fellow Cleveland native.
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      How Jake Paul and Tyron Woodley compare ahead of their boxing match

      Miocic told Paul: “Someone asked me about you in an interview and I said, ‘He’s getting better’ and that was scary.
      “He’s new to this sport and he’s getting that good that fast, and when you fought Ben I thought Ben was tough, he’s fought the best and never really got knocked out.
      “But it’s a fight and you were getting better, and look what happened.”
      Jake Paul on stage with Stipe Miocic, middle, with Tyron Woodley, far rightCredit: Esther LinDream Team 2021/22PLAY DREAM TEAM FOR THE 2021/22 SEASON!

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      Jake Paul branded ‘a little Disney star’ by Colby Covington as UFC star says his training partners ‘exposed’ YouTuber

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      COLBY COVINGTON branded Jake Paul ‘a little Disney star’ and said his training partners ‘exposed’ the YouTuber. Covington claimed members of his team at MMA Masters trained with unbeaten Paul in Miami, Florida.
      Jake Paul was branded ‘a little Disney star’ by Colby CovingtonCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Tyron Woodley was beaten by Colby Covington in SeptemberCredit: Getty
      And he blasted the former Disney Channel actor for picking sparring partners he can ‘beat up and knock out’ in order to ‘boost his ego’.
      Covington, 33, told MMA News: “I’ve had some guys at the gym, Colby Covington Incorporated and MMA Masters, that have went (sic) to train with Jake Paul in Miami.
      “They’ve all kind of said the same information, that they went there, they exposed him, they made him look bad.
      “Of course, they turned the cameras off and they’re not taking pictures that day and they never invite these guys back because Jake ‘The Snake’ Paul only wants kids that he can beat up and knock out and boost his ego and his confidence.“
      “He doesn’t actually want guys that are going to push him in the gym and make him better, because, like we’ve said before, he’s not a real fighter.
      “He’s a little Disney star.”
      ‘I THINK WOODLEY COULD DO IT’
      Paul faces faces ex-UFC champion Tyron Woodley – who Covington beat in September – on Sunday, August 29 in his home of Cleveland.
      It will be his fourth and most challenging fight to date, having so far faced only limited opposition.
      Paul, 3-0 all by KO, has beaten internet rival ‘AnEsonGib’, ex-NBA player Nate Robinson, 37, and recently retired UFC welterweight Ben Askren, 37.
      Woodley reigned as UFC welterweight champion from 2016-2018 and made four defences of his belt.
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      How Jake Paul and Tyron Woodley compare ahead of their boxing match

      But after losing it to Kamaru Usman, 34, he has since lost his last four on the spin, without a win in three years.
      Still, he has the backing off former rival Covington, who predicted Paul will be knocked out.
      He said: “I think Woodley could do it. I think he could land a knockout punch and get it done.”
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      Jake Paul trains with Amanda Serrano leaving her impressed More