UFC

NATE DIAZ claimed he invented the blueprint on how to beat Conor McGregor – which Floyd Mayweather and Dustin Poirier copied.
Diaz became the first man to ever beat the Irishman in the UFC, winning by second round submission in March 2016.

Nate Diaz submitted Conor McGregor in 2016Credit: Getty Images – Getty

Floyd Mayweather beat Conor McGregor in 2017Credit: PA:Press Association

McGregor, who went from featherweight to welterweight, started off strong but tired quickly, leading to the loss.
And Diaz reckons boxing legend Mayweather – who beat the ex-UFC champion in 2017 – and Poirier both adopted the same tactics.
He told ESPN: “I thought he did horribly [against Mayweather], I thought he did everything that I and the other boxers thought he would do.
“He went in there, punched himself out and got knocked out – he didn’t learn from what happened when I fought him.

“Floyd Mayweather watched the blueprint on how to beat him.
“When the fight started, that’s what he did, he made him punch himself out, because that’s not how Mayweather fights.
“He’d read up on him like I read up on him. I didn’t think Conor did a good job at all.
“He’d just lost to me like that and Floyd went out here and pushed the pace and Conor took the bait.

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“Conor did that with me, that’s what first exposed him, then he did it with Mayweather.
“He tried to make it last against Khabib, he took four rounds to finish him off. Then he fought Dustin, he was dropping combinations on him but I think he was pushing the pace like he had it in the bag.
“That happens because he doesn’t want to be in there, he’s too anxious for the kill because he wants out; he should have slowed it down a little bit.”
McGregor, 32, avenged defeat to Diaz, 35, five months later in a rematch, but was stopped in round ten of his boxing debut against Mayweather, 43.
But Diaz admitted he has no interest in a trilogy with his great rival right now, instead preferring to fight Poirier, 32, at welterweight.

Conor McGregor was knocked out by Dustin PoirierCredit: Sportsfile – Subscription
Poirier is coming off a knockout win against McGregor – the man he lost to in 2014 – in their lightweight headliner in January.
The UFC are now looking at a rubber match between the pair.
But Diaz slammed McGregor’s opportunity at revenge, pointing towards his three losses in the UFC.
He said: “This guy gets finished by me, finished by Khabib – the whole point of him fighting Poirier was to get a rematch against Khabib.
‘This guy gets rematches, it’s crazy. It’s time for something different. He was finished off, why should he get a rematch?”

Nate Diaz says Conor McGregor pushed the tempo v Poirier too much because ‘he’s anxious for the kill’ and ‘wanted out’ More

CONOR McGREGOR’S team-mate doubts even $50million would convince him to entertain a fight with ‘troll’ YouTuber Jake Paul.
Paul, 2-0 in his professional career which started in 2020, has continued to pursue a boxing match with McGregor and claimed to have a cheque ready to go.

UFC superstar Conor McGregor has been called out by Jake PaulCredit: Getty Images – Getty

YouTuber Jake Paul is 2-0 in his boxing careerCredit: Getty Images – Getty

The internet sensation, who has 20MILLION subscribers, even went after the Irishman’s fiancee Dee Devlin.
Paul’s viral goading took a turn in January after McGregor was knocked out by Dustin Poirier, and taunted that his offer now stood at just $10,000.
But Frans Mlambo, a long-time training partner of McGregor’s, reckons the original $50m still would not persuade the aspiring billionaire into the fight.
The Bellator featherweight predicts the former two-weight UFC champion would not have the patience to deal with the antics Paul brings with him.

Mlambo told SunSport: “He’s just such a troll, he gets to you.
“It’s fun for people, all the madness, he’s good at doing that stuff so fair play to him but at the same time it does not make sense for him to fight Conor.
“When I was watching all that I never usually get into it but it actually annoyed me so much that I wanted to ring Conor and say, ‘Conor, let me fight this guy’.
“For $50m I’d fight anybody, it would literally never not make sense, I’d fight Goliath. But Conor’s in a total different position.

Frans Mlambo pictured with team-mate Conor McGregorCredit: Instagram / @thenotoriousmma

Frans Mlambo is a long-time training partner of Conor McGregor’s
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“That $50m might not be worth the effort, the rigamarole of going through the WWE-entertainment style leading up to the fight.
“I feel like if he went into the Jake Paul thing he might be looking at it as more of a show more than anything else.
“It might not even be worth the money to him, just my view knowing what I know about Conor.”
McGregor, 32, has already set his sights on a trilogy bout with Poirier, also 32, the man he first KO’d in 2014.
He too shelved a mega-money return to the ring to face Manny Pacquiao, 42, four years after losing his boxing debut against Floyd Mayweather, 43.
But lacing up the gloves for Paul, 24, has never been in McGregor’s sights, barley even acknowledging him.
The American vlogger has two knockouts to his name, against online rival ‘AnEsonGib’ and ex-NBA star Nate Robinson.
Paul is now set to face retired UFC welterweight Ben Askren, 36, in his third pro bout, scheduled for April 17.

Jake Paul knocked out ex-NBA star Nate RobinsonCredit: AP:Associated Press

Dustin Poirier beat Conor McGregor at UFC 257Credit: Getty Images – Getty
Askren has enjoyed some back-and-forth with his rival as he prepares to come to fight in the boxing ring for the first time.
But Mlambo admitted McGregor would have no self-restraint with Paul.
And he warned for the ‘everybody’s safety’ the pair – who have vastly contrasting fighting experience – should be kept far apart from each other.
Mlambo explained: “Conor would try and make an example out of him. Conor is rich and all but he’s still one of the boys and he doesn’t take s***.
“He’s obviously grown now, he’s a father and a family man but maybe he’s staying out of the whole thing for everybody’s safety.
“He’d lose control if he went into those situations.
“If the fight actually happened and Jake Paul was talking all this garage leading up to it, it would be very dangerous Conor in that ring.
“It would make a load of other people a load of money and that’s why people will be pushing for it, but it is something that should not happen.”

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CONOR McGREGOR’S team-mate warned the UFC star might ‘lose control’ if he fought Jake Paul and make it ‘very dangerous’ for the YouTuber.
Social media sensation Paul, 2-0 as a boxer, has tirelessly chased a boxing match with former UFC champion McGregor.

Frans Mlambo pictured with Conor McGregorCredit: Instagram / @thenotoriousmma

YouTuber Jake Paul has two knockout wins to his nameCredit: Getty Images – Getty

He even claimed to have a $50million cheque waiting to go, as he also directed insults to the Irishman’s fiancee Dee Devlin.
McGregor’s training partner Frans Mlambo doubts any amount of money could convince the superstar into facing Paul.
But if he did, the internet phenomenon has been told if the foul-mouthed tirades continue, he will be made to pay for his words.
Mlambo told SunSport: “I thought the whole thing was ridiculous.

“Conor would try and make an example out of him. Conor is rich and all but he’s still one of the boys and he doesn’t take s***.
“He’s obviously grown now, he’s a father and a family man but maybe he’s staying out of the whole thing for everybody’s safety.
“He’d lose control if he went into those situations.
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“If the fight actually happened and Jake Paul was talking all this garbage leading up to it, it would be very dangerous Conor in that ring.
“It would make a load of other people a load of money and that’s why people will be pushing for it, but it is something that should not happen.”
Paul, 24, has two knockout wins to his name, but only against internet rival ‘AnEsonGib’ and ex-NBA player Nate Robinson.
He fights former UFC welterweight Ben Askren, 36, next on April 17, after goading McGregor by changing his offer to just $10,000.
The Dublin southpaw, 32, made his ring debut in 2017, losing to all-time great Floyd Mayweather, 43, banking around £100m in doing so.
But Mlambo is not confident any sum could entice aspiring billionaire McGregor into fighting viral vlogger Paul and entertaining the antics that comes with it.

Conor McGregor pictured before his UFC comeback

Jake Paul pictured after a sparring sessionCredit: Instagram / @danieltoretto
He said: “For 50million I’d fight anybody, it would literally never not make sense, I’d fight Goliath.
“But Conor’s in a total different position that $50m might not be worth the effort, the rigamarole of going through the WWE-entertainment style leading up to the fight.
“I feel like if he went into the Jake Paul thing he might be looking at it as more of a show more than anything else.
“It might not even be worth the money to him, just my view knowing what I know about Conor.”
Mlambo, a Bellator featherweight, would prefer to see his sparring partner rematch Dustin Poirier immediately.
McGregor was knocked out by Poirier at UFC 257, just under seven years after doing the same to the American.
The pair are now tied at one apiece and already talking up a trilogy.

Conor McGregor was beaten by Dustin Poirier at UFC 257Credit: Getty Images – Getty

Conor McGregor is eyeing a trilogy against Dustin PoirierCredit: Getty Images – Getty
It has also forced McGregor to shelve his proposed mega-money boxing return against 42-year-old Manny Pacquiao.
But Mlambo has backed his Straight Blast Gym gym-mate to bounce back in the UFC before entertaining a switch to the ring again.
He explained: “The Manny Pacquiao fight is an entertaining one and I’m sure it would make more money than any UFC one.
“So in that may I’d go for it but the loss to Poirier would be eating at Conor and I reckon he’d be trying to get into the octagon straight away to mend that.

“Since there’s a loss, it wouldn’t even be a distraction it just wouldn’t make sense to do the Pacquiao fight right now.
“Think of the promotion, it would be known he’s going in to fight one of the biggest boxers on the planet and he’s coming off a bad loss.
“He should put the Manny Pacquiao thing on pause right now, go back into the cage, take out a few lads and then we can talk about that.”

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CONOR McGREGOR’S team-mate warned the UFC star might ‘lose control’ if he fought Jake Paul and make it ‘very dangerous’ for the YouTuber.
Social media sensation Paul, 2-0 as a boxer, has tirelessly chased a boxing match with former UFC champion McGregor.

Frans Mlambo pictured with Conor McGregorCredit: Instagram / @thenotoriousmma

YouTuber Jake Paul has two knockout wins to his nameCredit: Getty Images – Getty

He even claimed to have a $50million cheque waiting to go, as he also directed insults to the Irishman’s fiancee Dee Devlin.
McGregor’s training partner Frans Mlambo doubts any amount of money could convince the superstar into facing Paul.
But if he did, the internet phenomenon has been told if the foul-mouthed tirades continue, he will be made to pay for his words.
Mlambo told SunSport: “I thought the whole thing was ridiculous.

“Conor would try and make an example out of him. Conor is rich and all but he’s still one of the boys and he doesn’t take s***.
“He’s obviously grown now, he’s a father and a family man but maybe he’s staying out of the whole thing for everybody’s safety.
“He’d lose control if he went into those situations.
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“If the fight actually happened and Jake Paul was talking all this garbage leading up to it, it would be very dangerous Conor in that ring.
“It would make a load of other people a load of money and that’s why people will be pushing for it, but it is something that should not happen.”
Paul, 24, has two knockout wins to his name, but only against internet rival ‘AnEsonGib’ and ex-NBA player Nate Robinson.
He fights former UFC welterweight Ben Askren, 36, next on April 17, after goading McGregor by changing his offer to just $10,000.
The Dublin southpaw, 32, made his ring debut in 2017, losing to all-time great Floyd Mayweather, 43, banking around £100m in doing so.
But Mlambo is not confident any sum could entice aspiring billionaire McGregor into fighting viral vlogger Paul and entertaining the antics that comes with it.

Conor McGregor pictured before his UFC comeback

Jake Paul pictured after a sparring sessionCredit: Instagram / @danieltoretto
He said: “For 50million I’d fight anybody, it would literally never not make sense, I’d fight Goliath.
“But Conor’s in a total different position that $50m might not be worth the effort, the rigamarole of going through the WWE-entertainment style leading up to the fight.
“I feel like if he went into the Jake Paul thing he might be looking at it as more of a show more than anything else.
“It might not even be worth the money to him, just my view knowing what I know about Conor.”
Mlambo, a Bellator featherweight, would prefer to see his sparring partner rematch Dustin Poirier immediately.
McGregor was knocked out by Poirier at UFC 257, just under seven years after doing the same to the American.
The pair are now tied at one apiece and already talking up a trilogy.

Conor McGregor was beaten by Dustin Poirier at UFC 257Credit: Getty Images – Getty

Conor McGregor is eyeing a trilogy against Dustin PoirierCredit: Getty Images – Getty
It has also forced McGregor to shelve his proposed mega-money boxing return against 42-year-old Manny Pacquiao.
But Mlambo has backed his Straight Blast Gym gym-mate to bounce back in the UFC before entertaining a switch to the ring again.
He explained: “The Manny Pacquiao fight is an entertaining one and I’m sure it would make more money than any UFC one.
“So in that may I’d go for it but the loss to Poirier would be eating at Conor and I reckon he’d be trying to get into the octagon straight away to mend that.

“Since there’s a loss, it wouldn’t even be a distraction it just wouldn’t make sense to do the Pacquiao fight right now.
“Think of the promotion, it would be known he’s going in to fight one of the biggest boxers on the planet and he’s coming off a bad loss.
“He should put the Manny Pacquiao thing on pause right now, go back into the cage, take out a few lads and then we can talk about that.”

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UFC lightweight Dustin Poirier said ‘we’ll see who is talking’ after social media stars who claim to be boxers fight ‘real opponents’.
Jake and Logan Paul have both embarked on professional boxing careers and called out some of the biggest names in the business.

Dustin Poirier took a swipe at YouTube boxersCredit: Getty Images – Getty

Jake Paul, left, pictured with big brother Logan

Logan, 25, is set to face boxing royalty Floyd Mayweather, 43, this year while Jake, 24, has chased a fight with UFC legend Conor McGregor, 32.
Without naming names Poirier – who knocked out McGregor in January – thinks social media stars are taking their callouts too far.
And he challenged them to stay as confident as they are now once they run into an experienced fighter.
Poirier, 32, said on Hot Ones: “It crosses the line to me because I’m one of these guys who can really scrap.

“I wish these guys would get the fights they’re calling for and get in there with real opponents and then we’ll see who is talking after.”
Jake initially offered McGregor a $50million fight offer, but after the Irishman was beaten at UFC 257, it got reduced to $10,000.
The internet sensation then called Poirier a ‘bum’ as he mocked The Notorious’ loss.
Jake, 2-0 both by KO, is set to fight ex-UFC welterweight Ben Askren, 36, on April 17.

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In an interview with ESPN, the viral vlogger revealed he wanted to spar Poirier in preparation for his third bout.
Jake said: “I don’t respect a lot of MMA fighters.
“Like even watching Poirier, he did a great job against McGregor, and he’s in South Florida and so I am putting it out there, I would love Poirier, I’d love to spar you in boxing.
“You can help me with my fight for Askren. But, I don’t know, I am just not impressed with these guys in boxing at all.”

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BRITAIN HART revealed Paige VanZant knocked out her TOOTH despite beating the ex-UFC star.
VanZant was outpointed on her anticipated Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship debut.

Paige VanZant knocked out Britain Hart’s toothCredit: @bareknucklefc

But she did leave her mark in the five, two-minute round bout after knocking out one of her opponent’s teeth.
Hart – who also lost a tooth against Bec Rawlings in July 2019 – made the reveal in her post-fight interview.
She said: “This is awesome. This is as big as you make it.
“Bec Rawlings knocked my teeth back in BKFC 2. Paige VanZant you knocked my teeth out.

“I made this moment about the people who believed, not the people who didn’t believe.”
Punch stats revealed VanZant threw 146 shots compared to Hart’s 150.
But the former UFC flyweight, 26, was more accurate, landing five more with 61.
In the post-fight press conference Hart – who has had 11 pro boxing bouts and four in bare-knuckle – admitted VanZant was her hardest-hitting opponent.

The 31-year-old said: “I hope the boss man fixes my teeth again. That would be nice.
“I started off with crooked teeth, then Bec helped get them really straight and Paige, credit to her.
“I’ve never been hit as hard as as Paige VanZant hits. I’ll give her that, so everyone got it right whoever said that girl’s got power.
“They were not lying, that’s the hardest I’ve ever been hit.”

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PAIGE VANZANT showed off her battle-scarred face following her bare-knuckle boxing debut.
The former UFC star was beaten in her highly anticipated bow at BKFC 16 as Britain Hart stole the show.

Paige VanZant addresses her BKFC loss online

But PVZ was in high spirits after the loss as she took to Instagram to accept the result graciously.
VanZant, 26, wrote: “Humble in victory. Humble in defeat.”
After the win, Hart, 31, said: “I love Paige VanZant, she was an idol to me because she was a pretty girl who could break the limits.
“I’m not a person though, I’m not. I’m a f***ing feeling and all of you guys are gonna feel it.

“I make this moment about the people who believe, not the people who don’t believe.
“This is not to my haters, this is not to the people who didn’t believe in me, this isn’t for the people who said Paige VanZant was going to win.
“This is for the people that said I could.”
PVZ was bullied in the clinch and not powerful enough with her ungloved punches to get the much-needed win.

Social media star VanZant started well, jabbing and moving far better than her unknown rival.
But Hart soon sussed that VanZant lacked the tools to hurt her and started to walk her down.
Hart dominated the second-round clinches and a welt started to grow under PVZ’s left eye.
VanZant began that fourth round with some fresh impetus but she was stunned by a little right hand that stopped her flow.
Then Hart then smashed a huge right hand into VanZant’s jaw but she somehow swallowed the meaty dig.
Hart’s corner told her, before the fifth and final two-minute round, that she was about to change her life.
And she went out and did it by surviving a late desperate barrage and getting the nod from the judges who all scored it 49-46.

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PAIGE VANZANT suffered a shock upset loss on her bare-knuckle boxing debut.
The beautiful former UFC fighter left the MMA promotion with a sliding 8-5 record and claimed she could earn 10 times more in BKFC.

Paige VanZant suffered a shock upset loss on her bare-knuckle boxing debutCredit: Getty Images – Getty

Ex-UFC fighter left the MMA promotion with a sliding 8-5 record and claimed she could earn 10 times more in BKFCCredit: Getty Images – Getty

So Friday night’s bow against underdog Britain Hart was supposed to be a soft welcoming for the bombshell.
VanZant did not attend the the post-fight press conference, but showed off her bruised face on Instagram.
She captioned the post: “Humble in victory. Humble in defeat.”
After the win, Hart, 31, said: “I love Paige VanZant, she was an idol to me because she was a pretty girl who could break the limits.

“I’m not a person though, I’m not. I’m a f***ing feeling and all of you guys are gonna feel it.

Paige VanZant started well, jabbing and moving far better than her unknown rivalCredit: Getty Images – Getty

PVZ was bullied in the clinchCredit: Getty Images – Getty

Britain Hart soon sussed that Paige VanZant lacked the tools to hurt her and started to walk her downCredit: Getty Images – Getty
“I make this moment about the people who believe, not the people who don’t believe.
“This is not to my haters, this is not to the people who didn’t believe in me, this isn’t for the people who said Paige VanZant was going to win.
“This is for the people that said I could.”

PVZ, 26, was bullied in the clinch and not powerful enough with her ungloved punches to get the much-needed win.
Social media star VanZant started well, jabbing and moving far better than her unknown rival.

But Hart soon sussed that VanZant lacked the tools to hurt her and started to walk her down.
Hart dominated the second-round clinches and a welt started to grow under PVZ’s left eye.
PVZ started that fourth round with some fresh impetus but she was stunned by a little right hand that stopped her flow.
Then Hart smashed a huge right hand into VanZant’s jaw but she somehow swallowed the meaty dig.
Hart’s corner told her, before the fifth and final two-minute round, that she was about to change her life.
And she went out and did it by surviving a late desperate barrage and getting the nod from the judges who all scored it 49-46.

PVZ started that fourth round with some fresh impetusCredit: Getty Images – Getty

Britain Hart won the fight on pointsCredit: Getty Images – Getty

Watch Paige VanZant and Britain Hart clash at explosive weigh-in ahead of ex-UFC star’s bare knuckle bow at KnuckleMania More