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      UFC legend Michael Bisping reveals he ‘didn’t suitably entertain’ offer to fight Jake Paul but ‘had a laugh with it’

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      MICHAEL BISPING admitted he did not ‘suitably entertain’ an offer to fight Jake Paul – but still ‘had a laugh with it’. Paul was searching for an opponent last December, having just knocked out ex-NBA star Nate Robinson in two rounds.
      Michael Bisping admitted he did not ‘suitably entertain’ an offer to fight Jake PaulCredit: Getty
      Jake Paul pictured with Evander HolyfieldCredit: Instagram @evanderholyfield
      Bisping, 42, along with Dillon Danis and Ben Askren, 36, were all sent a contract to fight the YouTuber.
      The UFC legend has since admitted it was not enough money, while 27-year–old Danis was ruled out with injury, leaving Askren to accept and be stopped in two minutes.
      Bisping was still engaged in a social media spat with Paul having been called out as he opened up on the short-lived negotiations.
      He told talkSPORT: “Jake Paul’s team did make me an offer which I didn’t suitably entertain.
      “I’m not interested in coming out of retirement, obviously I’ve got so many injuries. But I did have a bit of a laugh with it.”
      Bisping, who retired in 2017, has admitted he has no plans to fight again.
      He has found success as a commentator, pundit, podcaster and actor to help keep the competitive urge away.
      But others have not been so lucky, with legendary fighters since coming out of retirement for spectacle bouts.
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      Mike Tyson, 54, did so in November, with Evander Holyfield, 58, and Oscar De La Hoya, 48, among the others set to follow.
      But Bisping does not discredit the iconic names for lacing up the gloves again, for whatever reason it may be.
      He said: “I’m all for fighters, you know, being able to make money after they are done. Because it is such a tough road, it is.
      “I’ve been very lucky, I’m not trying to brag, I’m just saying I have been lucky.
      “I commentate for the UFC, I do my podcast and I’ve got things going on. But that isn’t the norm.
      “Most fighters, when they retire, they step away and it is hard reality.
      “They’re no longer the centre of attention, they don’t walk out to 20,000 people, people aren’t asking for autographs and the money dries up pretty quickly.
      “They are kind of on the scrap heap and what happens is some people turn to alcohol, some people turn to drugs, you know they get very depressed.
      “So I will never sit here and judge a fighter that decides to come out of retirement to get another pay day, because they need it.”
      Dana White refuses to do business with Jake Paul after UFC champ Kamaru Usman issues chilling threat to YouTuber More

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      YouTuber Jake Paul would ‘beat the s***’ out of Conor McGregor and his team-mates, UFC rival Khabib’s manager claims

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      KHABIB NURMAGOMEDOV’S manager has claimed Jake Paul would ‘beat the s***’ out of Conor McGregor and all his team-mates. YouTuber Paul has been relentlessly pursuing a boxing match with McGregor and even claimed he sent the UFC star a $50million (£37m) deal.
      Jake Paul has been relentlessly pursuing a boxing match with Conor McGregorCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Conor McGregor pictured ahead of his UFC return Credit: Twitter @thenotoriousmma
      It came after he called The Notorious an ‘Irish c***’ and insulted his fiancee Dee Devlin earlier this year.
      The viral callout earned the respect of Nurmagomedov’s manager Ali Abdelaziz – who himself has a bitter rivalry with McGregor.
      Abdelaziz told TMZ Sports: “Jake Paul, I like this kid. You know why? Because he is real.
      “When he talked about Conor’s wife, [Paul] said [McGregor] talked about Khabib’s wife. I like Jake Paul.
      “I think he’ll beat the s**t out of Conor, Conor’s team-mates, all these guys.
      “I like his brother too. Logan Paul, I like these kids, they make something from nothing. Even Mike Tyson likes these kids. Mike is my friend.”
      Paul even went after UFC president Dana White in a desperate bid to entice McGregor back into the ring.
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      Khabib pictured with his manager Ali Abdelaziz

      But the Dublin southpaw – who lost his boxing debut against Floyd Mayweather in 2017 – is more interested in his cage career.
      McGregor, 32, is set to face Dustin Poirier, 32, in July, and will look to avenge his recent defeat to the American.
      Paul, 24, on the other hand is still celebrating going 2-0 after he knocked out ex-NBA player Nate Robinson, 36.
      The YouTube sensation is due to fight MMA pro Ben Askren next month.
      Paul has even moved out of his Los Angeles mansion to focus more on training.
      Jake Paul slammed as a coward by ex-UFC star Ben Askren who says YouTuber has gone silent after accepting fight More

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      Jake Paul reveals there are ‘conversations happening’ to fight UFC champion Kamaru Usman and calls out Daniel Cormier

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      JAKE PAUL revealed there are ‘conversations happening’ to fight UFC champion Kamaru Usman – while he also called out Daniel Cormier. The YouTuber is 3-0 in his boxing career and recently knocked out retired UFC welterweight Ben Askren in one round.
      Jake Paul pictured with older brother LoganCredit: Getty
      Kamaru Usman is in talks to fight Jake PaulCredit: Getty
      Afterwards, he turned up to UFC 261 in Florida and was confronted by commentator and former two-weight champion DC.
      Later, he was involved in a Twitter spat with welterweight king Usman, 33, who knocked out Paul’s friend Jorge Masvidal, 36.
      The social media star admitted Usman’s manager Ali Abdelaziz is in talks with UFC boss Dana White to allow the champ to cross over to boxing.
      Paul, 24, told ex-UFC title challenger Chael Sonnen: “Look, there’s conversations happening.
      “I believe Kamaru’s manager is already in talks with Dana and I think that’s all I could say.
      “But 100 per cent, I’m down for the smoke. I want all the smoke. Look, Daniel Cormier, another example.”
      Askren, 36, was retired two years but was still under contract with the UFC and therefore needed their permission to fight Paul.
      It was granted, but White recently said he will not allow any fighter under contract to fight the internet sensation.
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      And Cormier, 42, poured cold water on fighting Paul as he insisted he would only do it in the UFC octagon.
      It followed after he was involved in a heated face-to-face debate with the American celebrity.
      Paul said: “It was crazy to me, I was like, ‘Is this guy really doing this right now?’
      “I’m just here as a spectator, he comes over and I’m like, ‘Bro, Daniel, like you’re playing into my game plan here’.
      “You could have just ignored me, went on with your day but instead I think he was just trying to intimidate me.
      Jake Paul was confronted by Daniel Cormier at UFC 261Credit: Reuters
      “Like I think he was really trying to check if I was really about this s***, if I was going to get scared.
      “Because a lot of people see like, I’m on Twitter saying all this s***, I have blonde hair, I’m dressed like an asshole, like I look like a little celebrity kid who you could probably intimidate.
      “I think he was legitimately coming over to check me to see if I was going to get scared by the former heavyweight champion of the world.
      “Like, I’m really about this life, I think I can say that with a lot of credibility now.”
      Dana White refuses to do business with Jake Paul after UFC champ Kamaru Usman issues chilling threat to YouTuber More

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      Nick Diaz dubs Tyson Fury ‘the last of a dying breed’ after boxer trains with UFC legend and issues demand to Dana White

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      NICK DIAZ has dubbed Tyson Fury ‘the last of a dying breed’ following his recent training session with the WBC heavyweight champion.The MMA great got some training in with The Gypsy King in Miami on Friday, much to the delight of combat sports fans.
      MMA legend Nick Diaz trained with Tyson Fury in Miami earlier this weekCredit: TWIITER@NICKDIAZ209
      Tyson Fury shared video footage of his training session with Nick Diaz to his InstagramCredit: Instagram @gypsyking101
      And Diaz – the elder brother of fellow fan favourite Nate – clearly enjoyed his time with Fury, sharing photos of their training session on his social media pages.
      He tweeted: “Last of a dying breed.. real fighting men only a few can relate. My bro @Tyson_Fury.”
      Diaz, 37, looked to be in tremendous shape ahead of a potential return to the octagon – which he hasn’t set foot in since January 2015.
      And the Stockton slugger’s current condition prompted Fury to demand UFC president Dana White book him a fight.
      A fired-up Fury said: “I’m here with my boy Nick, the bad man Diaz. What you saying, Nick?
      “We’re working hard, we’re coming for all you motherf*****s out there. You’re getting smashed to f**k. You better believe it.
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      “Absolutely smashing it, he’s in tremendous shape, he’s ready.
      “Make the fight Dana, make the fight.”
      Mixed martial arts fans across the world are excited by the prospect of the elder Diaz brother returning to the cage.
      UFC supremo White, however, isn’t so sure about the former Strikeforce welterweight champion’s desire to compete.
      He told ESPN: “My whole thing with Nick Diaz is I just question how bad he really wants to fight.
      UFC president Dana White isn’t sure about Nick Diaz’s desire to fight againCredit: Reuters

      “We got together, we had a great conversation, talked about a possible comeback for him, I just don’t know.
      “We’ll see how it plays out this summer and the rest of this year.
      “It’s just the amount of time that he’s taken off already.
      “When you hear him talk about fighting, when you hear him talk about the sport – and I sit down daily, or talk to daily, hungry, young savages that want to break into the top ten, become world champions, all that stuff.
      “Nick Diaz has done it all, seen it all. He’s been in big fights. I just don’t see that in him when I talk to him.”
      Tyson Fury trains with Nick Diaz and calls for Dana White to ‘make the fight’ ahead of the UFC legend’s comeback More

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      Ben Askren surrounded himself with the ‘wrong people’ and bought into ‘hype’ ahead of brutal Jake Paul KO, says Ferguson

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      BEN ASKREN surrounded himself with the ‘wrong people’ ahead of his ill-fated clash with Jake Paul, according to UFC lightweight Tony Ferguson.The former Bellator and ONE Championship welterweight champion suffered a brutal first-round KO loss to the YouTuber in his professional boxing debut last month.
      Ben Askren threw down with social media star Jake Paul in a boxing match last monthCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      The former Bellator welterweight champion suffered a brutal first-round KO loss to PaulCredit: Getty
      Tony Ferguson respects Ben Askren for stepping out of his comfort zone and into the ringCredit: Getty
      Askren, 36, briefly trained for the bout at the Wild Card gym in Los Angeles with legendary coach Freddie Roach – who will be in Ferguson’s corner this weekend at UFC 262.
      But Ferguson believes the Olympic wrestler didn’t properly immerse himself in the sweet science.
      In an interview with The Schmo, he said of his meeting with Funky: “I’m gonna be real, it was cool.
      “I told him he’s coachable and that he’s gonna have a good shot but he’s going to have to hit the bag.
      “Boxing is no joke, man. You can go out there and learn the sport, but it’s an Olympic sport. People forget that.
      “MMA is so young it hasn’t made it to that spot yet. When I started surrounding myself around boxers, that’s what you get. You get into that mentality. That structured mentality.
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      “Ben, he went over there and I could kinda see that he was [working] really hard and he was doing his thing.
      “But he was surrounding himself with the wrong people and the vibe about too much of the hype.”
      Despite believing Askren could’ve surrounded himself with a better team, Ferguson respects the Iowa native for stepping into the ring.
      He continued: “Hats off to him to be going out there and to be able to do it because nobody else did it.
      “I’m gonna be real: he put in the work and hopefully he got paid for that s**t, man.

      “Next time, keep your hands up and your chin down.”
      Askren was bitterly disappointed with the outcome of his maiden foray into the ring but insists the fight was by no means fixed.
      He told ESPN: “That’s human nature [to question the fight] but it definitely didn’t happen, I got hit.
      “I guess the question I have for people is what do I gain from it?
      “I told you guys what I made for this fight, it was a very nice paycheque but I’m also not destitute and poor, so what do I gain by that? The answer is nothing.
      “I think in fact I would lose a lot and it’s not something that would ever cross my mind.
      “I said if they guy’s a good boxer then I’m going to lose. There was a fear he had around me and there was a feeling that maybe he wasn’t very good.
      “In the locker room I was pretty confident I was going to win but… the result afterwards is irrelevant to me, my life is going to be the same either way.”
      Ben Askren slams referee for ending Jake Paul fight and reveals he told him he was ready to continue More

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      Tyson Fury trains with Nick Diaz and calls for Dana White to ‘make the fight’ ahead of the UFC legend’s comeback

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      TYSON FURY trained with Nick Diaz and called for Dana White to ‘make the fight’ ahead of the UFC legend’s comeback. Diaz has not fought since 2013, in a loss-turned no-contest against Anderson Silva, but the American veteran is preparing for a sensational return.
      Nick Diaz pictured with heavyweight champion Tyson Fury
      Tyson Fury and Nick Diaz training in Miami
      Tyson Fury pictured with his brother Tommy and Nick Diaz
      And in Miami he bumped into unbeaten WBC heavyweight champion Fury, 32, in camp himself to face Anthony Joshua, 31, on August 14.
      UFC president White held a meeting with Diaz, 37, to discuss a comeback fight, and the Gypsy King warned the Stockton icon is in ‘tremendous shape’.
      Fury said: “I’m here with my boy Nick, the bad man Diaz. What you saying Nick?
      “We’re working hard, we’re coming for all you motherf***ers out there. You’re getting smashed to f***. You better believe it.
      “Absolutely smashing it, he’s in tremendous shape, he’s ready. Make the fight Dana, make the fight.”
      Diaz, who has a history of sparring high-level boxers including Andre Ward, announced plans to fight again last year.
      The former Strikeforce champion was hit with a FIVE-YEAR ban after he tested positive for marijuana metabolites after facing Silva.
      After appealing the decision, it was overturned to 18 months, but after the suspension was lifted, Diaz never made a return.

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      He has since watched little brother Nate, 36, rise to fame thanks to his rivalry with Conor McGregor, 32.
      But Diaz has been training to fight for the first time in eight years, but is yet to fully convince White.
      He told ESPN: “My whole thing with Nick Diaz is I just question how bad he really wants to fight.
      “We got together, we had a great conversation, talked about a possible comeback for him, I just don’t know.
      “We’ll see how it plays out this summer and the rest of this year.
      “It’s just the amount of time that he’s taken off already.
      “When you hear him talk about fighting, when you hear him talk about the sport – and I sit down daily, or talk to daily, hungry, young savages that want to break into the top ten, become world champions, all that stuff.
      “Nick Diaz has done it all, seen it all. He’s been in big fights. I just don’t see that in him when I talk to him.”
      Nick Diaz with his little brother NateCredit: Getty More

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      Jake Paul says Dillon Danis ‘lives with his mum’ and rules out fighting rival as he would be ‘letting the fans down’

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      JAKE PAUL said Dillon Danis ‘lives with his mum’ and ruled out fighting his rival as he would be ‘letting the fans down’. The YouTuber has been feuding with Danis, one of Conor McGregor’s training partners, for several years.
      Jake Paul ruled out fighting his rival as he would be ‘letting the fans down’Credit: Rex
      Dillon Danis has feuded with Jake Paul over the last few yearsCredit: The Mega Agency
      It led to Paul, 24, offering the 2-0 Bellator welterweight a boxing match for March this year.
      But Danis, 27, was ruled out with a knee injury, and Ben Askren, 36, who retired from the UFC in 2019, instead took the fight and was knocked out.
      Despite the personal grudge between the two, Paul is adamant the jiujitsu champion has missed out on the chance to box him.
      He told SunSport: “It’s a genuine beef for sure.
      “But at this point he’s just a McGregor fan boy, clout-chasing, 27-year-old guy who lives with his mum and just talks s*** to me on Instagram trying to fight me.
      “But when the contract was presented to his face months ago he denied it.
      “And I told him, ‘Yo man, if you don’t take the fight now I’m never going to fight you because you’re going to become irrelevant after this, you’re not even a challenge to me right now, let alone after I beat Ben Askren.
      “It’s just left in the dust, he missed his opportunity and he will forever be known as a 2-0 jiujitsu guy who fights in Bellator and that nobody cares about.”

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      Paul made his boxing debut in January 2020, stopping online rival ‘AnEsonGib’ in one round after two knockdowns.
      He later scored highlight-reel KOs against ex-NBA star Nate Robinson and Askren, both 36.
      But yet to face an experienced boxer or MMA fighter with proven striking skills, Paul’s record has come under question.
      Desperate for a step up in competition, he has ruled out boxing Danis and claimed it would be a waste of his fans’ time and money to watch it.
      Paul said: “After I beat each one of my opponents everyone makes excuses for them.
      “So before the Ben Askren fight everyone was like, ‘Oh, Jake’s going to lose. Ben Askren’s a real fighter’.
      “It was sort of 50/50, people didn’t know what was going to happen.
      Ben Askren was knocked out by Jake Paul in the first roundCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Dillon Danis pictured with training partner Conor McGregor
      “Then I beat him and people say, ‘He’s just a wrestler, not a striker, fight someone who is legit’.
      “Ben is a guy that’s gone up against some of the best strikers in the welterweight division and has won 19 times.
      “If I were to fight Dillon the excuses would pile in even before I destroy him. They’d say, ‘He’s only had two fights, he does jiujitsu and he’s not a striker’.
      “I’m not challenging myself, I’m almost letting the fans down and the community as I’m literally going to go in there and knock this guy out in one or two rounds.
      “I’m tired of my fans paying $50 and they only get one minute. I want a challenge. I want someone to punch me in the f***ing face.
      “This is fighting and I haven’t been hit yet in my three professional fights.
      “I’m a little disappointed and I know I don’t get paid extra being in there for longer rounds but, like let’s put on a show here.”
      Colby Covington brands Jake Paul a snake and calls YouTuber’s KO of Ben Askren a work More

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      Jake Paul called out by Tyron Woodley for fight as ex-UFC champ slams ‘culture vulture’ YouTuber’s antics

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      FORMER UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley has once again called out Jake Paul – branding the YouTuber a ‘culture vulture’.Woodley and the younger Paul brother had a heated exchange ahead of the former Disney star’s clash with Ben Askren – a team-mate and good friend of the MMA vet.
      Jake Paul celebrates his knockout victory over Ben AskrenCredit: Getty
      Former UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley wants to get his hands on Jake PaulCredit: Getty
      Paul’s pre-fight antics irked The Chosen One, who threw his hat into the ring after seeing Askren lose via first-round KO.
      The Problem Child is still very much on the radar of free agent Woodley, who told TMZ: “He keeps calling out everybody but me.
      “I’m the one with the real smoke with you. At the end of the day, that was Ben’s fight.
      “And I never want to take away the moment from Ben. That was to be his opportunity.
      “Everybody backstage was trying to get love and get their name [out there]. Almost the same way Jake took the shine away from Logan.
      “They just culture vultures. Like he’ll vult the juice from his own damn flesh and blood. His cornerman was trying to take the juice from him.
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      “So his whole group is goofy, My dogs don’t move like that, do you know what I mean?
      “I was in the gym today in Miami training, looking around for Jake Paul, and I ain’t seen him nowhere, he ain’t asked to fight me one time.
      “He wants to fight Dillon Danis, who couldn’t bust a grape in a fruit fight, or Tyson Fury’s cousin. But he don’t want to fight a real puncher
      “But you want to walk around and vult from the culture and suck it dry, walk around and take shots at rappers and think that you’re a big shot higher.
      “Nah, come and get this smoke for real. I’m in and I can actually find him.
      “People that keep talking about fighting him, they’re not even in a position to fight him. I can actually fight him. I can fight him tomorrow if I want to.”
      Tyron Woodley wants to teach Jake Paul a lessonCredit: Getty

      Woodley, 39, believes Paul has disrespected the combat sports world and needs a good hiding.
      He added: “Some people just need to be taught a lesson.
      “Like at the end of the day, you just can’t sit here and think that real motherf*****s have put their time in this.
      “Yeah if you want get in here and get a couple fights and make some money because you’ve got so many subscribers and you did something dope in another lane, I’m all for that.
      “But when it comes down to [it], you gonna parade around and act like, ‘Oh, I’m a boxer, everybody is scared of me. I’m this, I’m that.’
      “And then, you’re talking s**t about my dog. Now we gotta go.”
      Paul, 24, is eager to return to the ring later this year but has set his sights on showdowns with UFC stars Nate Diaz and Conor McGregor.
      Tyron Woodley has altercation with Jake Paul at his fight against Ben Askren More