UFC

LOGAN PAUL admitted his brother Jake’s decision to call out Conor McGregor in an X-rated rant was ‘f***ing dumb’. Jake hit the headlines in December after he branded McGregor an ‘Irish c***’ and claimed to have sent him a $50million fight offer.
Jake Paul pictured with his big brother Logan
Even big brother Logan – who faces McGregor’s former opponent Floyd Mayweather this year – was left shocked by the video.
And he feared Jake, 24, went too far by going after ex-UFC champion McGregor – who has 19 knockouts in 22 wins.
Logan, 26, said on his podcast at the time: “I love Jake, obviously, but this one is f***ing dumb. Sorry, sorry, this one is f***ing dumb, dude.”
As Mayweather, 44, beat McGregor, 32, in their 2017 boxing match, Logan was asked why he objects to Jake fighting the loser of that bout.
And he responded: “Conor McGregor is a southpaw, he’s bigger than Floyd Mayweather, he’s younger than Floyd Mayweather.
“He’s way active. I understand what you’re saying, so did everyone else, but he’s just a precision striker, knockout artist.
“Floyd is not. He’s just not. He’s older, every day he gets older, every day I get better.
“I understand the discrepancy between us.”
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Logan was set to face Mayweather in February, but it has been postponed to allow fans to attend.
The internet sensation lost his pro debut last year by split-decision to social media rival KSI – real name Olajide William Olatunji.
But his little brother Jake has won his first two bouts, empathically knocking out retired NBA player Nate Robinson, 36, in November.
He fights ex-UFC welterweight Ben Askren, 36, next on Saturday, his third professional bout.
Jake Paul fights Ben Askren in his third pro boutCredit: Getty More

BEN ASKREN threatened to choke Jake Paul out in their boxing match – before the YouTuber claimed his purse would be forfeited by using MMA tactics. Askren faces Paul on Saturday night, his first fight since retiring from the UFC in 2019 and undergoing hip surgery.
Ben Askren threatened to choke Jake Paul out in their boxing match
Jake Paul warned Ben Askren will forfeit his purse if he uses MMA tacticsCredit: Getty
In the open workout, he got his coach in a guillotine and said he would do the same to Paul if fans could raise enough money to cover the cost of a potential penalty.
Askren said: “One of you guys can start a GoFundMe – how much would you give me to choke Jake Paul out with a guillotine?
“If the number’s bigger than my purse, maybe I’ll do it.”
Paul, 24, was asked about Askren, 36, potentially using his old tricks in the ring, but the social media star warned it would come at a cost.
He told MMA Junkie: “So a couple of answers to that question, the first one being I don’t think the fight will last long enough for him to even think about taking me down.
“The second being if he does do something like that, his purse is eliminated in the bout agreement.
“So if he wants to lose all the money for the fight, then sure, then go ahead.
“The third thing is, I’m beating him up in Asics Aggressors which are wrestling shoes, so he’s going to get beat up in wrestling shoes, which I think is hilarious.”
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Despite Paul’s stern caution, Askren simply responded on Twitter: “This is false.”
Matt Woodruff, the executive director of the Georgia Athletic and Entertainment Commission, revealed he was not aware of any potential penalties in their contracts.
He told MMA Fighting: “Obviously, Ben is a former MMA fighter, so we’ll have a conversation with him in the locker room to note that it’s boxing, and there will be no takedowns.
“But in terms of sanctions or anything Jake has said, nothing has been relayed to us.
“We’ll have a rules meeting with all the fighters individually before the fight.”
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FRANK MIR has vowed to learn from the mistakes Conor McGregor made against Floyd Mayweather when he trades the cage for the ring. Mir faces boxer Steve Cunningham on Saturday, with Jake Paul and Ben Askren headlining the night, exclusively on FITE in the UK.
UFC legend and former heavyweight champion Frank MirCredit: Getty
Conor McGregor was beaten by Floyd Mayweather in 2017Credit: Getty Images – Getty
The last time an ex-UFC champion crossed over to the ring, McGregor lost to all-time great Mayweather in ten rounds.
Throughout the build-up, the Irishman warned that fans would be in for an unprecedented performance, armed with unpredictability.
In reality, McGregor boxed very conventionally and with success, winning the early rounds before tiring late on and getting stopped on his feet.
But Mir, who twice won UFC gold, promised he will ditch traditional boxing tactics to leave even 39-fight veteran Cunningham bemused.
He told SunSport: “Trying to change into a boxer would be a mistake, how am I going to become a boxer in eight weeks? It’s impossible
“But we do hands in MMA and we do throw punches but there’s a foundation in boxing and the intricacies and different styles in MMA can throw off a lot of boxers.
“I’ve seen it where I’ve gone to gyms, my style is awkward for the conventional boxer to fight, it’s just different.
“You saw at times Conor do that, he took angles and footwork from MMA and got it on Mayweather but he kind of got behind him and showboated.

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“Those are the mistakes he made and we’re going to learn from. I’ll use the different angles, attacks and strategies that we use in MMA.
“I’m also going to make sure I hurt him when I’m in those positions, take advantage.”
Mir, 41, left the UFC in 2017 before signing for rivals Bellator, where he lost his first two fights before returning with a win in 2019.
He is one of the most experienced campaigners on the roster, but was forced to start from the bottom as he signed to make his boxing debut with Triller.
Mir was initially set to face American legend Antonio Tarver, 52, before Cunningham, 44, was instead brought in as a replacement.
The transitioning of sports at his age has caused Mir to knock out any complacency he had while in the prime of his MMA career.
He admitted: “All humans are great at bulls***ing themselves. Where my bulls*** came from I always knew I was smarter than any guy I fought.
“So I’d be like I know more about fighting than the guy I’m fighting, so I could be like, ‘Oh, I’ll skip this session’.
Steve Cunningham and Frank Mir fight on Jake Paul’s undercardCredit: Getty
Steve Cunningham was brought in as a replacement for Antonio TarverCredit: Getty
“It was an arrogance, now I’m fighting in a boxing match, now I’m not the smarter one so I have to be in better shape, do the basics, be razor sharp and not make mistakes.”
Mir has backed Askren’s experience to trump Paul’s youth and finer skills in the night’s main-event, predicting a points win for the Olympic wrestler.
But he has opened the door to one day fighting 24-year-old YouTuber star Paul, so long as they can figure out a way around the weight disparity.
Mir said: “I don’t know if they would make that work, because that’s a lot of size difference, but yeah I’d definitely be up for it.
“Just because it’s a great way to go out on big platforms as martial artists. The more people we can fight in front of, the more of a showcase it is.
“All athletes and performers like to go out in front of a crowd because it’s like that’s our true payday.
“Yeah we get paid and there’s a monetary value but really having people value our accomplishments is truly one of the big payments fighters are looking for.
“So fighting on a big stage with an opponent that can bring that crowd and displaying your skills is the ultimate gift.”
Frank Mir left the UFC in 2017 and signed for Bellator
Jake Paul is 2-0 in his boxing careerCredit: Instagram More

BEN ASKREN – who fights Jake Paul this weekend – was on the wrong end of the fastest knockout in UFC history against Jorge Masvidal. The welterweight pair fought at UFC 239 in July 2019 after a bitter build-up, but no one could have foreseen the dramatic early stoppage.

Jorge Masvidal knocked out Ben Askren in just five secondsCredit: Getty – Contributor
Jorge Masvidal’s flying knee was the fastest KO in UFC historyCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Within just five seconds, Masvidal had run across the cage and planted a flying knee on Askren, before landing two more shots on the deck.
The unprecedented finish surpassed the previous record for quickest KO held by Duane Ludwig, which was six seconds.
Askren, 39, went on to have one more fight in the UFC after his unwanted history-making defeat.
But again, it resulted in a loss to Damian Maia and afterwards the American grappler retired and underwent hip surgery.
Askren appeared content on the sidelines, coaching wrestling, until he signed to fight YouTuber Paul, who is 2-0 in his boxing career.
The pair headline this Saturday at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
Paul, 24, trained with Masvidal, 36, in preparation and predicted he would top the UFC star’s finish.
Askren has been reminded about the knee in the pre-fight press conference, with Masvidal even getting a FaceTime on stage.
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Jake Paul FaceTiming Jorge MasvidalCredit: Getty

The former Olympian admitted he is not bothered about the KO, but slammed his old rival for backing Paul.
Askren told James Lynch: “I think, either way, it’s bad. I mean, people aren’t digging it whatsoever.
“He just looks like a dope. He really, really, really does. I don’t know what he’s doing. I don’t get it. I think it’s annoying.
“I have no issue with the fact that I got beat by a knee, and hey, that’s part of my life. I live it. I’m not embarrassed by it.”

Jorge Masvidal and Jake Paul training togetherCredit: Instagram / @jakepaul More

CONOR McGREGOR has thrown his trilogy bout with Dustin Poirier into doubt after claiming ‘the fight is off’. McGregor, who knocked out the American in 2014, enjoyed a cordial build-up to their rematch in January.
Conor McGregor was beaten by Dustin Poirier at UFC 257Credit: Getty
So much so, that he vowed to donate $500,000 to Poirier’s ‘The Good Fight Foundation’, before he himself was stopped to level the series.
But McGregor was accused of not following up with his pledge, despite revealing he was waiting for details on exactly where the money would go.
The two have gone back and forth online, which resulted in the Irishman calling off the fight – though it is not yet clear how serious that threat is. The UFC have not commented.
But just in case, here SunSport lists five potential alternatives for McGregor.
Justin Gaethje
The pair were in line to fight in the summer of 2019 until an injury kept McGregor out for the year.
Gaethje went on to beat Donald Cerrone and Tony Ferguson before losing to Khabib Nurmagomedov for the lightweight title.
McGregor has a personal feud with the American, after he was called ‘s*** human and parent’.
It led to McGregor responding: “I am going to f*****g butcher you. Your teeth. I’m going to put them on a f*****g necklace. Speak on my skills as a father? You are f*****g dead.”
It would leave to a blockbuster grudge match with their styles promising all-action.
Justin Gaethje has feuded Conor McGregor beforeCredit: Getty
Michael Chandler vs Charles Oliveira winner
After Khabib’s retirement was made official, he was stripped of the belt.
With Poirier preferring a rematch with McGregor, the UFC turned to Chandler and Oliveira to challenge for the vacant belt on May 15.
With McGregor planning to stay on track for July 10, his starpower could be enough to convince the UFC to put him in with the new champion.
It would be a stretch for the winner to return so quickly, and harsh on Poirier, but stranger things have happened.
Chandler also confirmed his interest in the proposal, as he tweeted: “May 15 and July 10…book it!”

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Nate Diaz vs Leon Edwards winner
McGregor and Diaz share one of the greatest rivalries in UFC history after their 2016 double header.
Despite a win for each, a trilogy decider has failed to materialise.
Diaz recently announced he will return against Leon Edwards, meaning he would be unavailable to face McGregor next.
But a win for the fan-favourite sets him up perfectly with his old rival, Edwards on the other hand does not have any history with McGregor.
Having said that, he is the No1 UFC star in England, and could push to sell out Wembley Stadium with The Notorious, which could break an attendance record.
Nate Diaz and Conor McGregor are yet to have a trilogy boutCredit: Getty – Contributor
Jorge Masvidal vs Kamaru Usman winner
Usman again defends his welterweight title against Masvidal, as the rivals headline UFC 261 on April 24.
McGregor was called out by Masvidal last year as their styles and personalties has the formula for box office success.
Usman on the other hand offers the Irish star the chance to make history by becoming the first ever three-division UFC champ.
The 170lb king has traded words with McGregor before and along with his belt it is more than enough to drive demand.
Whoever wins at the end of the month is a viable option for McGregor, who would again move up to welterweight.
Kamaru Usman is set to rematch Jorge Masvidal at UFC 261Credit: Zuffa LLC
Manny Pacquiao
McGregor made his boxing debut in 2017, losing to Floyd Mayweather in ten rounds – and has since flirted with a return to the ring.
Himself and Pacquiao – both signed to management group Paradigm Sports – were close to signing to fight each other this year.
That was until McGregor was beaten by Poirier, and admitted he focussed too much on boxing, with one eye on the PacMan clash.
Despite that, if The Notorious is in need for a stopgap opponent, no one offers a more lucrative payday than Pacquiao.
The Filipino icon is currently searching for an opponent too, and offers McGregor the chance to stay active and receive another unprecedented payday.

Manny Pacquiao was in talks to fight Conor McGregorCredit: AP
Cormier says Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier’s ‘bad blood’ is back More