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      Fans are just realising Anthony Joshua vs Francis Ngannou will have different rules after UFC legend’s request

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      ANTHONY JOSHUA’S fight with Francis Ngannou is set to have a different set of rules.The rule change for the heavyweight bout comes at the request of the former UFC champion.Anthony Joshua and Francis Ngannou meet in the ring on Friday nightCredit: AFPNgannou will make his second appearance in the boxing ring against Joshua on Friday night.The pair are set to clash at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.However, the fight will not take place over 12 rounds as is usually the case for professional bouts.Instead, AJ and Ngannou will do battle over ten three-minute rounds, with the number of rounds reduced at the Predator’s request.READ MORE IN BOXINGThe mixed martial arts icon’s boxing debut against Tyson Fury was also contested over ten rounds.He knocked down the Gypsy King back in October but was ultimately beaten via split decision.His forthcoming fight with Joshua will be a standard boxing match at heavyweight outside of the number of rounds.Ngannou clarified his decision to make the request after being asked by the two-time unified world champion.Most read in BoxingBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSSpeaking ahead of the fight, the 37-year-old explained: “They told me 12 and I said ‘No, cut it out.’”I’m not taking a Mike Tyson fight as a reference like ‘Oh, I’m a pro boxer now’.Reliving Fury v Ngannou and how UFC fighters are moving over to boxing for better pay”No, I’m building it up. I just came into it, they asked for ten rounds or 12 rounds, and I said ten.”Ngannou amassed a 17-3 professional record in MMA before his transition to boxing, including 12 knockout victories.He had hinted at wanting a mixed rules event for his clash with Joshua after the fight was confirmed.Back in December, Ngannou said: “Anything that he wants. Ring or octagon.ANTHONY JOSHUA VS FRANCIS NGANNOU: ALL THE DETAILS YOU NEED AHEAD OF HUGE CROSSOVER BOUT”The good thing is I’m the one that can go everywhere comfortably. My comfort zone will be the octagon, but I’m going to the ring and putting them in a bad spot in the ring.”I have my territory [in MMA] where they cannot mess with me. If they come, they will need something like some favour, like, ‘I’ll give you this, we’ll take kicks out.’”I have to give him something, but when we step in the ring, they don’t give me anything, and I still get them in trouble.” More

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      ‘He’s got this massive toolbox’ – Anthony Joshua’s trainer reveals how Brit can beat ‘serious threat’ Francis Ngannou

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      ANTHONY JOSHUA’S trainer has warned the Brit over the “serious threat” posed by Francis Ngannou.Ben Davison will be in AJ’s corner for the stunning crossover fight later this month.Anthony Joshua has been sent a warning ahead of his fight with Francis NgannouCredit: AFPBen Davison has revealed how AJ can triumph against the UFC legendCredit: Youtube – OneOnOneBoxingHe has worked with some of boxing’s top superstars, including Tyson Fury.And the respected coach is now looking to help Joshua rebuild his career after the Brit lost his world heavyweight titles to Oleksandr Usyk in 2021.AJ’s last fight saw him cruise to an impressive win over Otto Wallin in December.And he now faces a tricky test against UFC king Ngannou, who controversially lost to Fury in his first-ever boxing match last year.READ MORE IN BOXINGDavison admits he has told AJ not to treat Ngannou lightly.The boxing expert fears the MMA star’s general fighting skills will serve him well in the ring again.But Davison reckons that Joshua can get victory by utilising his own “tool box” correctly.He told the One on One podcast: “(Ngannou) is a fighter, he’s a novice boxer, but he’s a fighter. He’s had plenty of fights and he’s had a boxing contest at the highest level.Most read in BoxingCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS“He’s a serious threat, we’re treating it like a serious threat, we’re treating it like, ‘this is Ngannou, we need to be on it’.“Physicality wise, you couldn’t pick two other guys that you think, ‘I hope it’s not him’, in the playground or the bar!Anthony Joshua v Francis Ngannou Knockout Chaos fight preview with Sun Sport panel ANTHONY JOSHUA VS FRANCIS NGANNOU: ALL THE DETAILS YOU NEED AHEAD OF HUGE CROSSOVER BOUT“As well as the fact that he’s a skilled trained fighter, now a boxer who has boxed at the highest level…“He had (MMA) fights where he’s won the world heavyweight title, he’s had a step up boxing at world level.“How can you not call him world level? You’ve got to consider him that, we certainly are anyway.”As for how AJ can emerge triumphant, Davison added: “It’s less adding (tools), more understanding“He’s already got this massive toolbox, it’s more a case of, ‘you know this tool, did you know it can be used for this as well?’“I don’t like the whole ‘rejuvenated AJ’, all we’ve done is help him understand his own tools and select the right tools for the job.” More

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      Inside world of bare-knuckle MMA dubbed ‘most VIOLENT show’ where ‘skulls vibrate’ in brutal bouts made by ex-UFC star

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      JORGE MASVIDAL is providing fans with the “most VIOLENT show” on Earth by mixing his two passions together. Masvidal became a cult hero during his UFC days and stands as the proud owner of the fastest knockout in octagon history. Ex-UFC stars Junior dos Santos and Fabricio Werdum in bare-knuckle MMACredit: Gamebred Bareknuckle 5MMA legend Jorge Masvidal promotes the boutsCredit: Gamebred Bareknuckle 5Werdum left brutally marked upCredit: Gamebred Bareknuckle 5But nearly 20 years before rendering Ben Askren unconscious in five seconds with a flying knee, the American was a feared street fighter. He shot to underground fame on YouTube brawling on the streets of Miami for $500 at a time after being recruited by viral sensation Kimbo Slice. So when Masvidal launched Gamebred Fighting Championship in 2021, he married together his two loves to produce sweet violence. He introduced bare-knuckle MMA, where fighters compete without gloves on in the cage, which returns on Saturday streaming free on Kick. READ MORE IN MMAMasvidal, 37, told SunSport: “There’s more submissions, there’s more knockouts, there’s more cuts, it’s more violence. So it’s not everybody’s cup of tea.”But for the right type of person that wants to see two trained killers going at it with no gloves and see what would happen in real life this is it right here. “When we did Junior dos Santos’ fight with Fabricio Werdum over a period of five hours we had a million views. “That just shows, like man, we’re heading down the right path. This is the right cup of tea for a lot of people are we’re going to keep pushing this product that nobody has. Most read in SportCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS“And on March 2nd, I bring you the world’s most violent show, Junior dos Santos versus Alan Belcher for the heavyweight title.” Masvidal says bare-knuckle MMA bouts have a brutal 80 per cent stoppage ratio. Jorge Masvidal insists making amends with Jake Paul will not stand in way of mega-fight after confirming boxing switch He added: “People are just going to sleep, sleep from ground and pound. “Because they get hit with that bare-knuckle fist and they’re on that mat and they don’t get to absorb it. “It’s all on their skull freakin’ vibrating. Those are pretty gnarly. Some submissions and obviously a lot of blood. “You’ll see a guy with a submission and as he’s squeezing he’s pouring blood and this guy’s pouring blood and it’s just a bloodbath. “That’s definitely something you don’t see as much with the padded gloves. But the knockouts when they do happen are just violent.” Masvidal credits much of his career to Slice but what would the street fighting king think of bare-knuckle MMA? “He’d be sitting there ringside with me handing out belts, having a good old time just promoting fights and finding the future talent,” Masvidal replied.  Masvidal says bare-knuckle MMA bouts have an 80% stoppage ratioHe called it the ‘most violent show’Masvidal admits ‘it’s not everybody’s cup of tea’Bare-knuckle MMA launched in 2021“I always give a big shout out to Kimbo because he allowed me to come onto his platform back then when he was a rockstar on YouTube, getting millions of views. “Nobody knew me and he asked me, ‘Hey, do you want to come fight on my platform?’ He opened that door for me as a mixed martial artist and pro fighter to just build a platform.” Masvidal emotionally announced his retirement from MMA last April in his home of Miami following defeat to Gilbert Burns. But surrounding himself immersing himself in promoting fights has done nothing to itch the scratch that has plagued him since hanging up his gloves. And now Masvidal has confirmed he is coming back this year – but not in the MMA cage. He said:“Does a dog miss a bone, brother? Hell yeah, every mother f***ing day. “I’m coming back to do boxing this year, that’s definitely maybe something the UK didn’t know too much about. READ MORE SUN STORIES“I’m definitely going to be doing boxing this year.” Masvidal intends to come out of retirement for a boxing switchCredit: Getty More

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      I ate Uber Eats for 30 days to fill empty space after retiring… now I’m back for boxing switch, says Jorge Masvidal

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      JORGE MASVIDAL binged on a month’s worth of takeaways before being convinced to end his retirement. Masvidal emotionally hung up his gloves last April in his home of Miami following defeat to Gilbert Burns. Jorge Masvidal is coming out of retirement to make a switch to boxingCredit: GettyThe next day – with his 20-year and 52-fight MMA career over – the American superstar was left feeling so empty he decided to fill up on fast food. Ahead of Gamebred bare-knuckle MMA, Masvidal told SunSport: “It wasn’t the best feeling when I woke up the next day. “It was like, ‘Damn I’m not retired, am I really retired? Guess I’m retired, Uber Eats!’ “Then I started ordering food and just eating to like fill this f***ing empty space and I did that for a while for like 20 or 30 days of waking up and feeling the same. READ MORE IN BOXING“It just wasn’t right, it definitely didn’t feel right being retired.” Masvidal, 37, was soon back to training and as luck would have it he was approached to make a switch to boxing. He said: “As that was happening a lot of other things were happening and this great deal fell on my lap to come back and be able to come back and box. “I got to straighten out a lot of things in my life at that time on a personal level as that was the only way I was going to be able to go forward on a professional level. Most read in BoxingCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS“I got those things done and here I am, pushing forward.”Masivdal is still under contract with the UFC but looks to have their blessing to make a move into boxing. Jorge Masvidal boasts of having ‘world’s most violent’ sport as bare-knuckle MMA leaves fighters’ ‘skulls vibrating’ And despite making amends with YouTuber-turned 8-1 boxer Jake Paul, 27, it will not stand in the way of a mega-fight between them. Masvidal said: “Being friends with him or not, I mean that has nothing to do with us fighting. “I’ve got respect for him for all the things he’s doing in his life in terms of turning his life around, these personal conversations, that’s how I’ve grown respect for him. “How he told me how his life was going and how boxing switched it and changed it because of the discipline that sport demands and how he grew up in the media world and the Disney world, it was very different.“I respect that and it’s very commendable but it has nothing to do with us fighting. If the UFC allowed me to, I don’t have all these permissions yet to be calling out people. “But I’d fight anybody, I don’t have friends in this sport. I didn’t get into this sport to make friends, I got in this sport to provide for myself, my family and be number one.” Masvidal is looking to face a fellow crossover star as he prepares to swap the cage for the ring. He said: “I would like to fight a couple of MMA guys, some YouTube influencers and get my feet wet in the traditional boxing way. “The same way that boxers do, they go get a gold medal and they come out and they fight ten guys that could never hurt them in the sport. “And that’s the same thing I want to do, I want to push myself as much as possible but within my MMA-boxing experience. READ MORE SUN STORIES“I’m not going to go and fight a world champion off the rip, is what I’m saying.” Masvidal is back in trainingCredit: @gamebredfighter More

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      Ebanie Bridges forced to defend relationship with Conor McGregor after boxer and OnlyFans star parties at his pub

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      EBANIE BRIDGES was forced to defend her relationship with Conor McGregor after partying at his pub.The boxing ace and OnlyFans star visited Dublin last week for an epic knees-up in the Irish capital.Ebanie Bridges has been forced to defend her relationship with Conor McGregorCredit: Instagram / @ebanie_bridgesThe pair partied together in Dublin at McGregor’s pubCredit: SportsfileBridges linked up with UFC legend McGregor at his pub, the Black Forge Inn.And she even sank a pint of Forged Irish Stout – Notorious’ take on an iconic pint of Guinness.Bridges appeared to have a whale of a time as she posed for several photos with McGregor.But internet trolls quickly began commenting, with one saying “Out together AGAIN.”READ MORE IN BOXINGThis forced Bridges to defend her relationship with married McGregor, replying: “That’s what friends do.”The Aussie bruiser also revealed she is taking advice from McGregor on life after the ring.She told Lucky Block: “Conor’s team reached out to me and just asked me if I was going to the AJ fight and then if I was interested in collaborating.“He is so caring and he just wants everyone to be okay. He’s really caring and obviously he’s the life of the party.Most read in BoxingHOW TO GET FREE BETS ON FOOTBALL“While he’s doing all that, he’s definitely thinking of others around him and just making sure everyone’s okay.“He’s nice, fun, supportive and really, really positive. I do feel sorry for him in a sense, especially in public.Conor McGregor’s Five Craziest Moments as UFC megastar plots return to MMA“There’s so much pressure and he could probably never just be Conor McGregor.“He always supports whatever I’m doing, so f**k the haters. You look up to someone like him with the brand that he’s built and the success he’s made.“I know that I put in a lot of work to be where I am, so I can only imagine the work that he puts in.“Really, it’s all about being yourself with a dash of something extra.” More

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      I’m an MMA expert, Francis Ngannou will BEAT Anthony Joshua as Brit is easier to rattle than Tyson Fury

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      MMA expert Dan Hardy has backed Francis Ngannou to BEAT Anthony Joshua because the Brit is easier to “rattle” than Tyson Fury. Ngannou put his cage career on hold last year to make a stunning switch to boxing.
      Anthony Joshua facing off with Francis NgannouCredit: AFP
      And in his ring debut, he astonishingly floored Fury, only to fall victim to a controversial points loss in Saudi Arabia.
      But the disputed decision did not stop AJ coming to the table to agree another crossover clash for Ngannou, set for March 8 in Riyadh.
      And ex-UFC star-turned pundit Hardy believes this is a more favourable match-up for the Cameroonian, who he expects to cause an upset.
      Hardy told Sky Sports: “I’m going with Ngannou genuinely.
      READ MORE IN BOXING
      “I picked Fury in the last one. I felt Fury was going to be able to catch him fifth or sixth round once he started to get tired. But this for me is a much better match-up for Ngannou.
      “I feel like AJ’s easier to hit, easier to rattle psychologically and I feel like because of the unknown commodity of Francis Ngannou there’s going to be a shock to the system.”
      Hardy knows Ngannou is not going to be the only heavy hitter in the ring but he believes the former UFC champion’s power will shock Joshua.
      He said: “There’s an unquantifiable power about Ngannou and that’s concerning because he can punch through a decent guard.
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      ANTHONY JOSHUA VS FRANCIS NGANNOU: ALL THE DETAILS YOU NEED AHEAD OF HUGE CROSSOVER BOUT
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      “I feel like AJ’s going to feel punches coming through his guard and they’re going to surprise him a little bit.
      “Because Ngannou will let them go and try and really hurt him. But they’ve both got to respect one another’s power.
      EXCLUSIVE: Ngannou wants Brit Hollywood star to play him in movie about crazy journey from sand mines to fighting Fury and Joshua
      “If Ngannou gets tired, he gets over-extended, he leaves himself open, AJ’s going to pick him apart and it could look like a very easy night for him.
      “AJ knows how to land and deliver a punch. He’s very precise. He’s very powerful as we know.”
      Dan Hardy has backed Ngannou to beat JoshuaCredit: Getty More

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      MMA star Renan Ferreira scores 20 second KO in front of Mike Tyson to secure Francis Ngannou fight and huge $2m payday

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      RENAN FERREIRA sent a brutal message to Francis Ngannou following his stunning 20 SECOND knockout of Ryan Bader. The Professional Fighters League champion headlined in Saudi Arabia against Bellator star Ryan Bader.
      Renan Ferreira knocked out Ryan Bader

      And not only would the winner leave Riyadh with bragging rights and a championship belt but also a life-changing bout against Ngannou.
      The PFL announced the victor would be the man to welcome Ngannou back to the MMA cage.
      And Ferreira made short work of Bader after dropping the former UFC contender with a right hand in the opening stages.
      It did not take very long for the referee to then jump in as the giant 6ft 8in Brazilian reined down brutal strikes.
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      Ngannou sat next to Mike Tyson cageside and watched on as Ferreira called him out following his KO of the night.
      He said: “I’m the record breaker, I’m the record setter. Francis, where you at? I’m waiting, let’s do this. I’m the champion out here.”
      Ngannou, 37, last year walked out on the UFC to sign for rivals PFL, who allowed him to pursue boxing along with his MMA commitments.
      He faced Tyson Fury, 35, on his boxing debut and astonishingly dropped the Gypsy King, only to lose a controversial split-decision.
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      Now, Ngannou returns on March 8 back in Saudi against Anthony Joshua, 34.
      But the PFL have already confirmed he will fight Ferreira by the time he makes his MMA comeback.
      Boxing star Claressa Shields breaks down in tears after MMA win and reveals her arm nearly ‘SNAPPED’ in nasty submission
      And when Ngannou entered talks to sign with the PFL, he negotiated that his next opponent in the cage must be paid $2m (£1.5m).
      So Ferreira – who won the PFL’s $1m season last year – looks in line for another healthy payday when Ngannou swaps the ring for the cage. More

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      Jon Jones throws shock support to Francis Ngannou in Anthony Joshua fight… but thinks MMA rival will LOSE boxing bout

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      JON JONES threw his shock support to Francis Ngannou – but still backs Anthony Joshua to beat his MMA rival. Ngannou faces AJ on March 8 in Saudi Arabia having made his professional boxing debut in October against Tyson Fury.
      Jon Jones predicts Anthony Joshua will beat Francis NgannouCredit: DAZN
      Francis Ngannou with boxing legend Mike TysonCredit: DAZN
      The Cameroonian made a switch to boxing after walking out on the UFC and the offer of a $10million (£8m) payday to fight Jones.
      He instead signed for the Professional Fighters League, who gave Ngannou the freedom he always wanted to box at the same time.
      Jones joined the heavyweight cageside in Riyadh for the PFL vs Bellator event and he was probed on the boxing bout with AJ.
      And Jones replied: “I’m rooting for Francis to win, only because his story, how far he’s come in life and being a fellow mixed martial artist.
      READ MORE IN MMA
      “So I’m rooting for Francis but Anthony Joshua, he’s being doing this since he was a young boy and I’m the type of guy who just gives respect where it’s due.
      “So if I was to put my money on it – not that I gamble – I would put it on Anthony Joshua but I am rooting for Francis.”
      Ngannou, 37, astonishingly dropped Fury, 35, but still suffered a controversial split-decision loss.
      Although the performance was enough to bring Joshua, 34, to the table for another huge crossover clash in the desert.
      Most read in Boxing
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      Meanwhile Jones, 36, is coming off a chest injury that forced him out of his UFC title fight against Stipe Miocic, 41, in November.
      He has since been called out by interim champ and British star Tom Aspinall, 30, while the PFL are open to a cross-promotion to fight Ngannou.
      EXCLUSIVE: Ngannou wants Brit Hollywood star to play him in movie about crazy journey from sand mines to fighting Fury and Joshua
      But Jones diplomatically said: “I feel like there’s a lot of fights that the world wants right now.
      “The Tom Aspinall fight is still really massive, Francis Ngannou and I would be really massive.
      “And Stipe, to the hardcore fans, it’s still a respectable opponent. I don’t know how the cards are gonna fall.
      “My prediction is I would beat Stipe Miocic, my prediction is I would beat Tom Aspinall and Francis Ngannou.
      “The way it unfolds is really not of my business my job is just to always do what I’ve done from day one.” More