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      in Boxing

      Jake Paul ‘getting even better’ claims sparring partner Hasim Rahman Jr ahead of Ben Askren fight

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      JAKE PAUL is rapidly improving as a professional fighter ahead of his bout with Ben Askren, his sparring partner has revealed.
      The YouTuber has two knockouts in as many bouts since turning over in 2020.

      Jake Paul pictured with Hasim Rahman JrCredit: https://twitter.com/_HasimRahmanJr/status/1314032111276290049

      Ex-UFC welterweight Ben Askren fights Jake Paul on April 17Credit: Getty Images – Getty

      Hasim Rahman Jr – whose dad Sr famously knocked out Lennox Lewis – sparred before both of Paul’s two fights, with his brother Logan, 25, too.
      And he hailed BJ Flores – an ex-cruiserweight contender – for his work as trainer and predicts the social media star will continue KOing opponents if he gets to handpick them.
      Rahman Jr, 29, told Pro Boxing Fans: “I sparred Jake twice and the first time was like almost night and day the second time.
      “The first time he was just learning, the second time was obviously months later and he definitely has dedicated himself to the craft of boxing and you can see the results in his sparring.

      “He’s definitely throwing his punches better and sitting down on his punches. BJ has done a great job and he’s learning and he’s getting better.
      “[The] proof is in the pudding. He even looked better from his first fight to his second fight, even though you couldn’t see much.
      “Don’t sleep on Jake Paul he really trains, he really takes it serious and I think he’s going to keep knocking these guys out.
      “If they keep letting him pick his opponents, he’s going to keep knocking them out.”

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      Paul, 24, debuted last January stopping online rival ‘AnEsonGib’ before leaving ex-NBA player Nate Robinson, 36, flattened in November.
      He faces his first big step up in competition on April 17, fighting retired UFC welterweight Ben Askren.
      But Askren, 36, was renowned for his limited striking style but dominant wrestling and grappling skills.
      As a result, Paul is the betting favourite to add the biggest name yet to his record and another highlight reel to his collection.
      And Rahman Jr is in agreement, as he said: “Ben Askren, he’s probably going to get knocked out.
      “Jake grew up fighting, I think he was a state champion wrestler.

      Logan Paul, Hasim Rahman Jr and Jake Paul
      “He has experience in combat, he’s not just like foreign to getting hit and that’s what people sleep on.
      “People think that he just picked this up out of nowhere and he’s trying to semi work his way up.
      “No, he’s dedicated to it, he’s dedicated to not being embarrassed when they turn on them lights.
      “I wish him much continued success. He’s going to keep shocking a lot of people.”
      Recently Paul has been involved in an internet feud with 5-0 Tommy Fury, the half-brother to WBC heavyweight champion Tyson, 32.
      Light-heavyweight Tommy, 21, his trainer and dad John as well as promoter Frank Warren have all expressed their interest in fighting Paul.

      Tyson Fury’s half-brother TommyCredit: Reuters
      And it would be the first time the millionaire vlogger would have fought an established fighter.
      But Rahman Jr backed Paul to to take inspiration from his dad, the two-time champ who upset Lewis in April 2001, but lost the rematch seven months later.
      He said: “I think that if he continues what he’s doing, if he continues to do that, you can’t put anything past any man.
      “Maybe he could compete with the boxers, maybe he’ll shock somebody, you never know.
      “If he keeps doing what he does, there’s no reason to count him out in any fight. I come from the Rahman family, so we already know when people get slept on that’s when they wake up the world.
      “So, don’t sleep on that he can fight, you better stop sleeping on him he can fight.”

      Tyson Fury’s dad John would love to his son Tommy to fight Jake Paul More

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      in Motorsport

      UFC 259 scorecards show how brutally Jan Blachowicz smashed Israel Adesanya with two judges putting last as 10-8 round

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      UFC light-heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz’s dominance over Israel Adesanya was highlighted in the judges’ scorecards.
      The Polish star, 38, inflicted a first defeat inside the octagon for Adesanya who failed in his attempt after moving up from middleweight.

      Jan Blachowicz dominated Israel Adesanya at UFC 259 in Las VegasCredit: USA TODAY Sports

      Judges were unanimous in awarding Blachowicz the victory against AdesanyaCredit: Twitter @btsportufc

      Blachowicz earned a wide points decision over the 31-year-old, with judges scoring the bout 49-45, 49-46 and 49-45 in favour of the defending champion.
      Two of the judges even awarded Blachowicz a 10-8 in the final round, with Adesanya winning just one round on each of the scorecards.
      There was a mixed response on social media as to whether The Last Stylebender should have lost on such a wide decison.
      One user tweeted: “I think the fight was much closer than the scorecards, the commentary was so biased towards Adesanya though.”

      Another commented: “An absolute disgrace. Issy won that first round clearly, and a 10-8 in the 5th?! Seriously?! Round 4 is the only one you could see as a 10-8.
      “In Round 5 Issy won the first half of it comfortably, and because Jan got the takedown and did barely anything with it makes it a 10-8?”
      A third added: “It was correct Jan was up 2-0 going into the 3rd Izzy only won the third round and Jan then took rounds 4 and 5 with the takedowns.”
      Meanwhile one stated: “The right call – Jan won rounds 1, 2, 4, & 5. Round 4 was a 10-8. Izzy won round 3. You can make a case for Izzy winning round 1 as well, I won’t argue that but yeah IMO Jan – 1 2 4 & 5.”

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      Blachowicz inflicted a first professional defeat for Adesanya inside the octagonCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Adesanya – who has been mocked by Jon Jones following the fight – was gracious in defeat after losing his perfect record.
      He said: “It didn’t exactly go the way I wanted it to go but dare to be great.
      “The critics are the ones on the sidelines, but I’m the one putting it on the line.”
      Commenting on Adesanya, Blachowicz remarked: “I thought that he would be a little bit faster, but he don’t hit so hard.
      “He was slower, but he hit harder, this was something I didn’t expect.”

      Israel Adesanya reacts to his first ever MMA loss to Jan Blachowicz at UFC 259 More

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      in Soccer

      Cristiano Ronaldo talks to UFC icon Khabib ‘almost every day’ and told him he fears son will not have same ‘hunger’

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      KHABIB NURMAGOMEDOV has opened up about his friendship with football legend Cristiano Ronaldo.
      The reigning UFC lightweight champion has previously been pictured hanging out with the Juventus ace.

      Cristiano Ronaldo and Khabib Nurmagomedov are good palsCredit: Instagram / @cristiano

      And he has revealed that they talk ‘almost every day’, with Cristiano Jr’s prospects one of the topics that they’ve covered.
      Khabib, 32, told Russian YouTuber KraSava: “We talk many times, almost every day, but when we met we had a conversation about where we got our motivation from.
      “He told me that he wants his son to be his successor.
      “When Cristiano was a kid, he could only dream of having a simple pair of boots.

      “But his son has everything.
      “He fears that his son will not feel the same hunger, the same will.
      “People are guided by that will. Feel the desire to achieve things.
      “When you have everything, it’s hard to find the right motivation.

      Cristiano is worried about his son’s ‘hunger’ to succeedCredit: Instagram / @cristiano

      Khabib beat Justin Gaethje last October and is said to be retiredCredit: Handout – Getty
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      “When he told me that, I’m not going to say I was surprised, but I enjoyed listening to him. I realised that he’s a person who is not content with one, two or three titles.”
      Some may believe that Ronaldo, 36, could be winding down towards the end of his glittering career.
      But pal Khabib thinks that he has a another few years left at the top yet.
      He added: “He recently won his 30th title, he is the best scorer ever.
      “I think he will still be there for two or three more seasons.”
      Khabib retired last October after beating Justin Gaethje on Fight Island to move to 29-0.
      Post-retirement, he has revealed his love of football, having been pictured at PSG’s recent 4-1 victory at Barcelona in the Champions League.
      Clearly impressed by his surroundings, after the match, he said: “Hey Dana (White) you here? Let’s make fight here 100,000 people, let’s go”

      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds

      Islam Makhachev backed by coach to replace Khabib as UFC lightweight champion this year More

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      in Soccer

      Cristiano Ronaldo talks to UFC icon Khabib ‘almost every day’ and told him he fears his son will not have his ‘hunger’

      by

      KHABIB NURMAGOMEDOV has opened up about his friendship with football legend Cristiano Ronaldo.
      The reigning UFC lightweight champion has previously been pictured hanging out with the Juventus ace.

      Cristiano Ronaldo and Khabib Nurmagomedov are good palsCredit: Instagram / @cristiano

      And he has revealed that they talk ‘almost every day’, with Cristiano Jr’s prospects one of the topics that they’ve covered.
      Khabib, 32, told Russian YouTuber KraSava: “We talk many times, almost every day, but when we met we had a conversation about where we got our motivation from.
      “He told me that he wants his son to be his successor.
      “When Cristiano was a kid, he could only dream of having a simple pair of boots.

      “But his son has everything.
      “He fears that his son will not feel the same hunger, the same will.
      “People are guided by that will. Feel the desire to achieve things.
      “When you have everything, it’s hard to find the right motivation.

      Cristiano is worried about his son’s ‘hunger’ to succeedCredit: Instagram / @cristiano

      Khabib beat Justin Gaethje last October and is said to be retiredCredit: Handout – Getty
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      “When he told me that, I’m not going to say I was surprised, but I enjoyed listening to him. I realised that he’s a person who is not content with one, two or three titles.”
      Some may believe that Ronaldo, 36, could be winding down towards the end of his glittering career.
      But pal Khabib thinks that he has a another few years left at the top yet.
      He added: “He recently won his 30th title, he is the best scorer ever.
      “I think he will still be there for two or three more seasons.”
      Khabib retired last October after beating Justin Gaethje on Fight Island to move to 29-0.
      Post-retirement, he has revealed his love of football, having been pictured at PSG’s recent 4-1 victory at Barcelona in the Champions League.
      Clearly impressed by his surroundings, after the match, he said: “Hey Dana (White) you here? Let’s make fight here 100,000 people, let’s go”

      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds

      Islam Makhachev backed by coach to replace Khabib as UFC lightweight champion this year More

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      in Boxing

      Ex-UFC star Paige VanZant wows fans in sexy lingerie and knee-high boots before showing off boxing skills

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      EX-UFC star Paige VanZant left little to the imagination on Instagram before showing off her boxing skills.
      VanZant uploaded a video where she started in lingerie and knee-high boots before cutting to herself in shorts and gloves.

      Paige VanZant left little to the imagination on Instagram

      The post comes off the back of her Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship debut

      Paige VanZant uploaded a video where she started in lingerie and knee-high boots before cutting to herself in shorts and gloves

      The post comes off the back of her Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship debut, which she lost against Britain Hart.
      It was VanZant’s first fight since leaving the UFC, which led to her shock bare-knuckle boxing switch.
      But the 26-year-old is set to perform a quick turnaround and get back in the ring early in the summer.
      Feldman told MMA Fighting: “I can confidently say Paige VanZant absolutely will be back with us here in early to mid-summer.

      “100 per cent. We are 100 per cent in the Paige VanZant business.
      “We like being in that business. She delivered for us on every aspect we needed and finished the fight strong so that was very important for us.”
      VanZant signed a multi-million-pound deal with BKFC last summer after being released by the UFC following her submission loss to Amanda Ribas.
      Despite VanZant coming up short in her promotional debut, Feldman insists BKFC’s acquisition has so far been a success.

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      He said: “Some people looked at me crazy ‘you’re paying her too much, you’re doing this, you’re doing that.’
      “I said, ‘Look I don’t know everything but I know what I’m doing on this stuff and she delivered.’
      “She delivered on every aspect that we needed her to deliver on.
      “She was worth everything that we gave her and it’s a great partnership.
      “She did everything we wanted her to do and we did everything she wanted us to do. We definitely have a win-win relationship.
      “I said in all my interviews and I said to you, I really take my hat off to her because she didn’t have to do this.
      “Now I take my hat off to her even more because she definitely doesn’t have to do this again.
      “She’s doing it and she really wants to prove herself and that’s the kind of person that I wanted to be in business with, the kind of person I have a lot of respect for.”

      Paige VanZant wants to return to the ring in the summerCredit: Instagram

      Paige VanZant was beaten on her BKFC debutCredit: @bareknucklefc More

    • 250 Shares99 Views

      in Boxing

      UFC star Leon Edwards predicts Jake Paul will ‘chin’ Ben Askren and warns YouTuber’s fight will be ‘bad for MMA’

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      LEON EDWARDS predicted Ben Askren is ‘going to get chinned’ against Jake Paul – with the result ‘bad for MMA’.
      YouTuber Paul faces the retired ex-UFC welterweight on April 17, and heads into the pay-per-view headliner as a betting favourite.

      Jake Paul fights ex-UFC welterweight Ben Askren on April 17

      Ben Askren is coming out of retirement to fight Jake PaulCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      And according to current 170lb contender Edwards, the social media sensation does so for a reason.
      Paul has been backed to KO Askren, leaving a humorous stain on MMA in doing so.
      Edwards, 29, told talkSPORT: “He’s going to get knocked out, I’m serious.
      “It’s going to be bad for MMA, man! I don’t know who agreed to this. I don’t think it’s going to be good for MMA and he’s going to get chinned.

      “But, it’s going to be funny to see.”
      Askren, 36, comes into the fight having won titles with Bellator and ONE Championship before signing for the UFC in 2019.
      But after three bouts, and two losses, he hung up his gloves and underwent hip surgery last year.
      Paul, 24, turned pro in 2020, boxing only once before in an exhibition bout in 2018.

      Leon Edwards has tipped Jake Paul to knockout Ben AskrenCredit: Getty Images – Getty
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      But he already has two knockouts in as many fights, although he only beat online rival ‘AnEsonGib’ and ex-NBA player Nate Robinson, 36.
      Despite Askren’s lifetime of experience in MMA, his lack of proven striking skills leaves him the underdog.
      But it has not affected his confidence in any way, as he predicted Paul will be beaten into an ugly submission.
      Askren said on Twitter: “I feel great, just tremendous. Boxing stuff is really starting to come together.
      “I can’t promise you it’s going to be the prettiest thing you ever saw – although my face is pretty – my combat skills are not, they are unique, they are different.
      “But here’s what I can tell you; you will witness the humiliation of Jake Paul. You will witness one man breaking another man’s will.
      “And that man Jake Paul, will give up and be humiliated in front of millions of people, live on Triller on April 17th.”

      Ben Askren trains for fight against Jake Paul as ex-UFC star punches heavy bag with YouTuber’s face on it More

    • 238 Shares109 Views

      in Soccer

      Khabib ranks Cristiano Ronaldo above Lionel Messi and Zlatan Ibrahimovic as UFC star has his say on GOAT debate

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      KHABIB NURMAGOMEDOV has had his say on football’s GOAT debate.
      The reigning UFC Lightweight champion is a passionate fan, and recently attended Barcelona’s clash with PSG in the Champions League.

      Khabib Nurmagomedov reckons his pal Cristiano Ronaldo is football’s greatest everCredit: Instagram / @cristiano

      Real Madrid is the club closest to his heart, however, and it is a former Bernabeu hero that he ranks as the game’s No1.
      The Dagestani fighter told Russian YouTuber Krasava: “Well, I would place Cristiano first.
      “Cristiano is the best. Zlatan can also be called a great player in his own way. And in terms of results – Messi is the best.
      “So: Cristiano, Messi, Zlatan.”

      Khabib, 32, also recently revealed that he dreamed of being a footballer – but in Dagestan, fighting comes first.
      He said: “I’ve loved football since my childhood and always dreamed of becoming a footballer.
      “But I was born in Dagestan and you know yourselves, what the priority is.
      “Who knows, maybe if Cristiano Ronaldo was born in Dagestan, he would have also become a UFC champion.”

      Lionel Messi is only No2 on Khabib’s listCredit: Splash News

      Zlatan is still going strong at 39Credit: Getty Images – Getty
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      CR7 and Khabib are great pals, with the latter having also lifted the lid on his friendship with the Portuguese great.
      He added: “We talk many times, almost every day, but when we met we had a conversation about where we got our motivation from. He told me that he wants his son to be his successor.
      “When Cristiano was a kid, he could only dream of having a simple pair of boots. But his son has everything.
      “He fears that his son will not feel the same hunger, the same will. People are guided by that will. Feel the desire to achieve things.
      “When you have everything, it’s hard to find the right motivation.
      “When he told me that, I’m not going to say I was surprised, but I enjoyed listening to him. I realised that he’s a person who is not content with one, two or three titles.”
      Khabib retired last October after beating Justin Gaethje on Fight Island to move to 29-0.

      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds

      Khabib demands Dana White make UFC fight at Barcelona’s Nou Camp with 100,000 fans after getting signed Mbappe shirt More

    • 263 Shares179 Views

      in Soccer

      Cristiano Ronaldo talks to UFC star Khabib ‘almost every day’ and told him he fears his son won’t have his ‘hunger’

      by

      KHABIB NURMAGOMEDOV has opened up about his friendship with Cristiano Ronaldo.
      The reigning UFC lightweight champion has previously been pictured hanging out with the Juventus star.

      Cristiano Ronaldo and Khabib Nurmagomedov are good palsCredit: Instagram / @cristiano

      And he has revealed that they talk ‘almost every day’, with Cristiano Jr’s prospects one of the topics that they’ve covered.
      Khabib, 32, told Russian YouTuber KraSava: “We talk many times, almost every day, but when we met we had a conversation about where we got our motivation from.
      “He told me that he wants his son to be his successor.
      “When Cristiano was a kid, he could only dream of having a simple pair of boots.

      “But his son has everything.
      “He fears that his son will not feel the same hunger, the same will.
      “People are guided by that will. Feel the desire to achieve things.
      “When you have everything, it’s hard to find the right motivation.

      Cristiano is worried about his son’s ‘hunger’ to succeedCredit: Instagram / @cristiano

      Khabib beat Justin Gaethje last October and is said to be retiredCredit: Handout – Getty
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      “When he told me that, I’m not going to say I was surprised, but I enjoyed listening to him. I realised that he’s a person who is not content with one, two or three titles.”
      Some may believe that Ronaldo, 36, could be winding down towards the end of his glittering career.
      But pal Khabib thinks that he has a another few years left at the top yet.
      He added: “He recently won his 30th title, he is the best scorer ever.
      “I think he will still be there for two or three more seasons.”
      Khabib retired last October after beating Justin Gaethje on Fight Island to move to 29-0.
      Post-retirement, he has revealed his love of football, having been pictured at PSG’s recent 4-1 victory at Barcelona in the Champions League.
      Clearly impressed by his surroundings, after the match, he said: “Hey Dana (White) you here? Let’s make fight here 100,000 people, let’s go”

      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds

      Islam Makhachev backed by coach to replace Khabib as UFC lightweight champion this year More