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      Conor McGregor’s manager opens door to MMA super-fight against Jake Paul as UFC star nears return

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      CONOR McGREGOR’S manager has refused to rule out an MMA super-fight against Jake Paul. YouTuber-turned boxer Paul has continued to call out and goad McGregor since his professional debut in 2020.
      Conor McGregor’s manager has refused to rule out an MMA super-fight against Jake PaulCredit: Sportsfile
      Jake Paul has continued to call out and goad McGregorCredit: Reuters
      And he is so eager to fight the Irishman that he has even offered to do it in the MMA cage.
      McGregor is building towards a UFC return having been out since July 2021 when he broke his leg.
      And his manager Audi Attar is open to the prospect of a blockbuster with Paul after the former two-weight UFC champion makes his return.
      Attar told Fox: “I think anything’s always possible. You never say never. It’s all about how things line up.
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      “I think the challenge with combat sports is looking that far ahead. You never say never.
      “Getting back into the octagon is step one, going in and handling business there.
      “Then, not looking past that, but then, obviously, when you get past that, look at your options and see what’s next.”
      Paul this year signed with the Professional Fighters League, a rival promotion to the UFC which is set to host his MMA debut.
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      But first, he returns on Friday, December 15 against 10-1-1 boxer Andre August, 35, in Florida.
      Paul, 26, suffered defeat for the first time in February losing a split-decision to Tommy Fury, 24, in Saudi Arabia.
      The American bounced back in August by beating ex-UFC star Nate Diaz, 38, over ten rounds in a performance slammed by McGregor.
      He posted on X: “That was abysmal last night, Paul is a r****d, absolute garbage he is.
      “Moving backwards like I was watching a fight in rewind. Holy garbage. Embarrassing stuff all round in my opinion.”
      In the post-fight press conference, Paul snubbed McGregor, 35, as he said: “I don’t care about that guy…
      “I want Nate in MMA. I want more professional boxers and I want Canelo.”
      Jake Paul beat Nate Diaz on pointsCredit: Getty More

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      Fans joke ‘Boy George has let himself go’ as Tyson Fury wears bizarre hat to congratulate Tom Aspinall on UFC 295 win

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      TYSON FURY drew comparisons to pop legend Boy George after congratulating Tom Aspinall on his UFC title win. Aspinall – a former sparring partner of Fury’s – knocked out Sergei Pavlovich at UFC 295 to win the interim heavyweight title.
      Tyson Fury stunned fans with his purple hat as he congratulated Tom Aspinall on his UFC title winCredit: Instagram @TysonFury
      Pop legend Boy George is famed for his brilliantly flamboyant hats
      Fans also compared Fury’s headwear to something the Undertaker might go for
      And the Gypsy King – wearing a burgundy fedora – was quick to congratulate Britain’s newest champion.
      He said: “Just want to say a massive shoutout to my brother Tom Aspinall, the new UFC heavyweight champion of the world!
      “God bless you Tom, all the best brother. It couldn’t have happened to a more lovely person.
      “Congratulations to you and your family and I hope you have a fantastic, fantastic time.”
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      But Fury’s uncharacteristic choice of hat was likened to something singer Boy George famously wears or WWE legend The Undertaker.
      A fan teased: “Boy George has let himself go.”
      Another joked: “What’s that hat sorry.”
      One said: “Why’s he dressed like a maroon version of The Undertaker though?”
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      Aspinall’s crack at glory came after Francis Ngannou was stripped of the UFC title when his contract expired, paving the way for a switch to boxing.
      Ngannou, 37, went on to face Fury, 35, in Saudi Arabia and even dropped the WBC champ but was controversially beaten on points.
      Meanwhile Jon Jones, 36, won the vacated belt and was due to defend it against Stipe Miocic, 41, until injury postponed the bout.
      So Aspinall, 30, filled in on two weeks’ notice and KO’d Pavlovich, 31, in the first round.
      And now the Northerner wants to fight Jones next in a dream bout.
      He said: “Right now I want to take a little break.
      “I don’t want to fight again this year. I’ve had enough of this nerves thing and pressure. I want a little bit of time off.
      “I want to fight Jon Jones. I know there’s a lot of contenders coming up at the moment, but I want to fight Jon Jones. That’s my goal.”
      Tom Aspinall knocked out Sergei Pavlovich in round oneCredit: Getty More

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      Deontay Wilder opens door to incredible career change as talks for massive Anthony Joshua fight stall

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      DEONTAY WILDER has opened the door to a stunning move into MMA.Wilder has suffered frustrations as a super-fight with Anthony Joshua remains on the ropes.
      Deontay Wilder has opened the door to a stunning move into MMACredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Now the former WBC heavyweight world champion is teasing a cross over to the cage.
      He told Blue Blood Sports TV: “I’m thinking about doing both, UFC and boxing. To keep the activity alive and keep it going.
      “I’ll be a dangerous man in the UFC, bro. With those four-ounce gloves?
      “I broke the f***ing hitting bag machine with those four-ounce gloves on. That was some real stuff.
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      “I could see myself in [the UFC]. I think I want to tie it to the competitive side of me, wanting to do both.
      “Get in there and just show the ability and talent of what I could do.
      “I don’t think there’s nothing cooler than being a champion in both. Have the titles at the same time, too.”
      Boxing legend James Toney was infamously dominated in a round against UFC star Randy Couture when he made the move.
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      But UFC president Dana White did not rule out welcoming 38-year-old Wilder to the octagon.
      White said: “It’s interesting, you know what I mean?
      “You never see this s*** happening, you never see the boxers going, ‘I want to come over there and fight in the UFC. So we’ll see what happens.”
      Dana White is open to Deontay Wilder joining the UFCCredit: Getty More

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      Jake Paul threatens to ‘KILL’ rival amid $15m fight offer as YouTuber-turned boxer talks up MMA debut

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      JAKE PAUL has talked up his impending MMA debut by threatening to “KILL” an old boxing rival. The YouTuber-turned boxer this year signed for the Professional Fighters League, a competing promotion to the UFC.
      Jake Paul is set to debut in MMA with the PFLCredit: PFL
      Paul is coming off the back of a ten-round points win over ex-UFC star Nate Diaz in August.
      And both the American and the PFL have proposed a $15m (£12.5m) rematch in the cage.
      But Diaz has so far seemed uninterested and instead wants a return in the boxing ring.
      So Paul said: “Nate Diaz is a smart man, staying away from me in MMA. He can’t take me down, I have better wrestling than him.
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      “Ohio Division-1 state wrestling experience. He clearly can’t punch me. He punches so soft, like pillow hands.
      “If we fought in MMA it would only be 15 minutes, which is half the amount of time we just fought.
      “I’d up the punch count, up the pace, kill that man.”
      Paul, 26, suffered his first defeat in February, losing a split-decision to Tommy Fury, 24, in Saudi Arabia.
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      And despite the prospect of rematching Diaz, 38, in the cage, the social media sensation returns in the ring on December 15.
      He faces little-known 10-1-1 pro boxer Andre August, 35, as he bids to start a steep climb up the world championship rankings.
      Paul said: “I’m a professional boxer and I want to be world champion, so I need to pursue the path towards greatness against people who have been boxing their whole life.
      “So far, my entire boxing career has been on pay-per-view, but now it’s about more than business.
      “Now I want to build my experience in the ring against seasoned fighters.
      “I’m coming to prove my greatness on Friday, December 15th live on DAZN for the world to see.”
      Jake Paul wants to rematch Nate Diaz in MMACredit: Reuters More

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      Jake Paul ‘can’t fight for toffee’ but Conor McGregor would still get ‘absolutely slaughtered’ by him, says Carl Froch

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      CARL FROCH says Conor McGregor would get “absolutely slaughtered” by Jake Paul. That is despite YouTuber-turned boxer Paul not being able to “fight for toffee.”
      Jake Paul has been backed by Carl Froch to beat Conor McGregorCredit: Getty
      McGregor has feuded with both Jake Paul and FrochCredit: AP
      The ex-boxing champion has traded his fair share of words with the American in recent years but he still backs him to beat McGregor.
      Froch told CasinoAlpha: “I no longer know what (McGregor’s) motivation is for fighting; he’s had a couple bad pastings, he’s not short of a few quid.
      “In fairness, he’s earned every penny and he was a phenomenal fighter and you have to admire him for that.
      “But I’m not sure why he wants the Michael Chandler fight, or what his motivation is.
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      “He’s better off hanging around the Misfits and YouTubers and getting involved in a celebrity fight because he’s a massive name.
      “But forget about a crossover fight with Jake Paul, he’d get absolutely slaughtered.”
      McGregor, 35, lost his one and boxing bout to American legend Floyd Mayweather in 2017.
      Froch, 46, commentated on the crossover clash and gave a scathing verdict on the Irishman.
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      It has kept the bad blood brewing between the two to this day.
      Similarly, Froch has not been impressed by Paul’s foray into boxing and insisted he could beat the 26-year-old after ten years in retirement.
      He said: “He’s a s***house, he can’t fight for toffee, and he would not come anywhere near me, even though I’m ten years retired.
      “That’s all you need to know about Jake Paul, he called me out, but he won’t take on a guy who has been retired for ten years.
      “I could come back, not even put myself through a training camp, and it would be such an easy night’s work.
      “He’s a performing clown, hopefully he will go away because boxing fans are not taking him seriously.
      “The reason this isn’t on pay per view is because people are no longer prepared to pay for this rubbish.”
      Froch said he would beat Jake Paul even after ten years in retirementCredit: AP More

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      Conor McGregor leaves first ever boxing coach stunned by gifting him a custom £30,000 truck

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      CONOR McGREGOR gifted his first ever coach a custom truck.The Irishman was just ten-years-old when he first walked into Phil Sutcliffe’s Crumlin Amateur Boxing club.
      Conor McGregor’s first coach Phil Sutcliffe was gifted a new truck
      Sutcliffe with McGregorCredit: INSTAGRAM
      But he left behind a promising career in the ring to focus on MMA with his sights set on the UFC.
      What followed was the most iconic rise in the UFC with McGregor becoming the sport’s greatest star.
      He has since brought two-time Olympian Sutcliffe back into his team as a boxing coach.
      And McGregor repaid his first trainer with a brand new Toyota Hilux, which costs around £30,000.
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      Liam Flynn, manager at his Black Forge Inn pub, said: “On behalf of Conor McGregor, he wants to give you this for yourself. This is your new Jeep.”
      A stunned Sutcliffe said: “Thank you Conor, gentleman. Anything he touches turns to gold.”
      McGregor, 35, has been out the cage since July 2021 when he broke his leg against Dustin Poirier, 34.
      But he is now touted for a return next year against Michael Chandler, 37, with April the likely date.
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      McGregor said in Saudi Arabia: “I’m happy with April.
      “I would’ve loved it earlier, but if I’m to be honest and be realistic, for my fans, I want to put in a good run, build myself back, and that’s it.
      “It’s looking like April, mixed martial arts.”
      McGregor is set to make his UFC return in AprilCredit: Getty More

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      I was first boxer to have a crossover UFC bout and just like Fury it all went wrong – but I’m still fighting aged 55

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      BOXING legend James Toney became the first to trade the ring for the UFC octagon – but it did not go to plan. Toney was among the best during the 1990s and went on to win titles in three divisions.
      James Toney became the first to trade the ring for the UFC octagonCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      James Toney was beaten in a round by Randy CoutureCredit: Getty
      But in 2010, he made the shock move to MMA and challenged UFC legend Randy Couture.
      It ended in disaster for Toney, who got taken to the floor within seconds and tapped out to a chokehold in the first round.
      Reflecting on the fight, he told Sky Sports in 2017: “My plan was to knock him out quickly but he got to my legs, took me down, and did what he did.
      “It worked. MMA is not my game but, if I did it again, it would have been different.”
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      In recent times, MMA fighters have more frequently crossed over to boxing.
      It came after the financial success of Conor McGregor’s money-spinning bout with Floyd Mayweather six years ago.
      McGregor, 35, lost in ten rounds but it encouraged several others MMA fighters to step into the boxing ring.
      But none performed as well as former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou.
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      Ngannou, 37, floored and took Tyson Fury, 35, all ten rounds of their clash in Saudi Arabia, with many feeling he was unlucky to lose on points.
      It was the latest and most shocking of the crossover clashes but if Toney had it his way he would have got Couture back in the ring.
      He said: “I would have loved for Randy to do a boxing match but he wouldn’t. I couldn’t wrestle with him but he can’t box with me.”
      Toney would return to boxing six months after his dismal MMA debut and went on to fight nine more times over seven years.
      His last bout was against Mike Sheppard in 2017 all the way up at heavyweight, which he won by knockout aged 48.
      But now at 55 Toney prepares for another comeback bout in an exhibition in Jamaica against Razor Ruddock, who is 59 himself.
      Toney said: “At my age, I can still whup anybody on the planet, any time, anywhere, any place.
      “I’m the original old-school fighter. I was born to fight. Everybody else was taught to fight.”
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      Dana White finally breaks silence on ‘crazy’ Francis Ngannou vs Tyson Fury fight and reveals if star could return to UFC

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      DANA WHITE has broken his silence on the “crazy” Francis Ngannou vs Tyson Fury fight and revealed whether the star could return to UFC.The Predator shocked the world by dropping the WBC heavyweight world champion in the third round of their blockbuster crossover boxing clash last month.
      Francis Ngannou put on a fine display in his boxing debut against Tyson FuryCredit: Reuters
      UFC president Dana White has broken his silence on the crossover boutCredit: Getty
      However, the 37-year-old ex-UFC title holder departed Saudi Arabia disappointed as Fury scored a controversial points win – although he did not leave empty-handed as he picked up £8million for the bout, the biggest cheque of his fighting career.
      The road to his showdown with Fury began when Ngannou left the UFC once his deal expired in January and he was stripped of the heavyweight championship.
      The Cameroon grappler then signed for the Professional Fighters League – with both he and UFC president White trading several barbed remarks about each other since.
      White had previously stated that Ngannou would not return to his promotion in the future, saying: “It’s over, that’s over. He’ll never be in the UFC again. 
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      “I never say never, but I’ll give you a never on that one. We tried.”
      He recently appeared on Donald Trump Jr.’s Triggered podcast and, even though he still seemingly does not want Ngannou back, he did praise the achievements of his old star for his performance inside the ring.
      He said: “The fact that he went 10 rounds with Tyson Fury is crazy.
      “He just went 10 rounds with Tyson Fury, Conor [McGregor] made it nine or 10 with Floyd, Anthony Pettis just beat Roy Jones Jr. – I know Roy is friggin’ 60-years-old or whatever, but I don’t know what the hell is going on. It’s crazy.
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      “I didn’t see the fight, but the fact that he went 10 rounds is unbelievable.”
      When pressed on whether any other UFC talents would be making the crossover into boxing, White added: “Listen, these guys, at some point, everybody is going to move on.
      “Everybody has to do what’s right for them and make money for their families, so whatever they’ve got to do, they’ve got to do.” More