UFC

AMIR KHAN has warned Conor McGregor against a return – fearing the UFC legend could get himself hurt. McGregor has been left frustrated as talks for his comeback – set to be against Michael Chandler – continue to drag.Boxing legends Mike Tyson and Amir Khan with Conor McGregorCredit: @amirkingkhanHe has been out of action since July 2021 after brutally breaking his leg in the first round of his bout with Dustin Poirier. More recently, McGregor has been celebrating the release of his movie debut, starring alongside Jake Gyllenhaal in a reboot of Road House. And he has enjoyed boozy nights out to promote the movie with his UFC return seemingly in more doubt than ever. It leaves Khan, 37, telling Gambling Zone: “One hundred per cent McGregor’s hunger has died, you can see it. READ MORE IN UFC”He might do a training session but then he’s more chilling, galavanting and enjoying himself than he is killing himself in the gym. “That focus and fire in his eyes is gone. But he’s probably in the same boat as me, people only see him as a fighter and he wants to fight for the people and put on a good show. “But that’s when you get hurt or have a bad performance, that’s when you realise this isn’t for me anymore. McGregor, 34, is the UFC’s highest-paid star of all time and has made well over £200MILLION in and out of the cage. Most read in BoxingCHELTENHAM BETTING OFFERS – BEST FREE BET DEALS FOR THE FESTIVAL So Khan – who claimed to have earned £60m himself in boxing – knows all too well about running out of motivation. He said: “Fighters that make big money like Conor McGregor and myself, we start thinking towards the end of our careers ‘we don’t need this anymore’ and we start to question whether we still want to be in those hard training camps, do we still want to be punched? Conor McGregor reveals exact date for UFC comeback after three years out of cage “McGregor has got everything in the palm of his hands; the yacht, the house, his wife. “He’s financially strong like myself, so you think, ‘do I need this’?. Shall I stay in bed and chill or get punched in the head? “I was a totally different fighter in my twenties than in my thirties because I was happy and financially strong in my thirties, I made enough money and the hunger died. McGregor has not fought since 2021Credit: @TheNotoriousMMA More

UFC icon Demetrious Johnson has stunningly claimed Anthony Joshua could beat Francis Ngannou in a mixed martial arts match.AJ potentially ended the former UFC heavyweight champion’s foray into boxing last week with a brutal knockout in their crossover clash in Saudi Arabia.Francis Ngannou fought Anthony Joshua in a lucrative Saudi showdown last weekCredit: REUTERSNgannou was brutally knocked out by AJ in the second round of their Riyad rumbleCredit: GETTYEx-UFC flyweight champ Demetrious Johnson fancies AJ’s chances against Ngannou in an MMA fightCredit: GETTYIt took the Watford warrior less than two rounds to separate the MMA superstar from consciousness in their lucrative Riyad rumble.And after having seen the manner in which he dispatched of Ngannou, Johnson believes Joshua could have similar success inside the cage – provided The Predator tries to solely stand with him again.The former long-reigning UFC flyweight king said on his YouTube channel: “Does Anthony Joshua beat Francis Ngannou in an MMA fight? I think he does.“It would just be another striking match. AJ understands his distance. He understands the void.READ MORE IN BOXING”He has better hands than Francis, and he can make Francis even whiff and miss again.”Unless Francis is going to change his tactic and go clinch him and wrestle him. But AJ is very athletic.”He is smaller, he’s more limber. I think he’d be able to stuff the shot and be able to give it to Francis Ngannou.”Ngannou, 37, shone in his professional boxing debut last October against WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury.Most read in BoxingBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSThe Cameroonian clubber cut and dropped The Gypsy King in the third round of their clash, which he lost via split decision.Johnson, like many others, was blown away by Ngannou’s display that nigt but believes he showed all his cards against the Brit.Tyson Fury hits back at Eddie Hearn’s claims Anthony Joshua is best heavyweight in world and vows to make fight happenHe said: “Another thing that could have been Francis’ downfall was he had that boxing match with Tyson Fury.”So Anthony Joshua got an opportunity to see Francis fight boxing.”What he took from the boxing match on Francis vs. Tyson? He probably took, ‘Okay, Francis doesn’t move his head.”He doesn’t really move his head. He’s not very light on his feet,’ where Tyson Fury, he’s kind of light on his feet, and Tyson’s trying to avoid the fight.”This time, Anthony Joshua got right to work right off the bat, and that’s usually not a good sign if the other opponent doesn’t respond.”Ngannou cut a devastated and forlorn figure after the loss but is adamant his journey is far from over.He told SecondsOut: “Absolutely [I still plan to box].READ MORE SUN STORIES”Right now I feel like I have an obligation to continue because it owes me now.”I think boxing owes me now and I really intend to collect.”Francis Ngannou insists he won’t be walking away from boxingCredit: REUTERS More

UFC president Dana White brutally aimed a dig at Tyson Fury following Anthony Joshua’s knockout of Francis Ngannou. AJ finished the ex-UFC champion in two rounds following three knockdowns and one final ruthless right hand. Dana White aimed a dig at Tyson Fury after Anthony Joshua’s KO of Francis NgannouCredit: GettyFury watched on as AJ defeated NgannouCredit: Sky SportsNgannou, 37, came into only his second boxing bout having floored Fury, 35, on his debut only to lose a controversial decision. But White – who saw the Cameroonian walk out on the UFC to pursue boxing – was not surprised to see order restored in the ring. He said: “If Fury trained for the fight and didn’t show up looking like he ate Tyson Fury, that’s probably the way that fight would’ve ended too. “Listen, you know how I feel about the crossovers in boxing – that’s how they end, just like that.”READ MORE IN BOXINGNgannou signed for UFC rivals the Professional Fighters League, who permitted his switch to boxing. It leaves his MMA future up in the air but the heavyweight star insisted his business in the ring is not over yet. Ngannou said: “You can be sure I’m not done here. It was not my day.“He was way better than me. It sucks, but it’s the game. We all know that.”Most read in BoxingCHELTENHAM BETTING OFFERS – BEST FREE BET DEALS FOR THE FESTIVAL Joshua embraced with Ngannou moments after the stunning KO and even urged him to remain in boxing. He said: “You’re an inspiration. ‘You’ll beat a lot of people. Don’t leave boxing. Don’t leave boxing.” Joshua, 34, then added: “If you need anything, let me know, but we’ll speak another time.”Ngannou dropped Fury on his boxing debutCredit: GETTYJoshua brutally knocked out NgannouCredit: ReutersJoshua blasts ‘f*** Tyson Fury’ after overhearing rival’s commentary on DAZN for Francis Ngannou More