UFC

PAULIE MALIGNAGGI has issued another stinging attack on bitter sparring rival Conor McGregor. The former boxing world champion entered McGregor’s training camp in 2017 before his crossover bout with Floyd Mayweather.
Paulie Malignaggi infamously sparred Conor McGregorCredit: @TheNotoriousMMA

They sparred twice in the UFC’s Las Vegas base, over eight and then 12 rounds.
And it was the second of session that is remembered infamously, as images and footage of the spar leaked.
It included a disputed knockdown of Malignaggi, which caused the American to storm out the camp.
The two have continued to feud ever since and now Malignaggi has claimed McGregor was wise not to accept a grudge match with him.
READ MORE ON MCGREGOR
He told Action Network: “I’m a better trash talker than McGregor, that’s one of the reasons he did not fight me. I would have trashed him in the press conferences and the fight.
“It would have ended all of the hysteria around him because I would have destroyed him in the trash talking and in the ring.
“I would have ruined the whole aura around him. He was smart not to pull the trigger on a fight with me.”
Malignaggi, 43, always insisted he was pushed to the ground by McGregor, who went on to lose in ten rounds to Mayweather.
Most read in Boxing
CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS
It has kept the feud alive but a boxing bout slipped away with McGregor remaining in the UFC octagon.
Although Malignaggi said the 35-year-old is now a “punching bag” and compared his career to heavyweight boxer Anthony Joshua.
He said: “McGregor was lucky to achieve what he achieved in his career, physically and talent wise he’s up there, but just because you can do a bunch of high kicks from a Jean Claude Van Dam movie, doesn’t mean you’re a fighter; you need guts, you need a willingness to succeed, you need a willingness to enter the trenches and if you don’t have that, you’re going to fade.
‘We’ve talked about AJ losing that edge, but McGregor is on a different level. McGregor will quit on you, he does quit.
“AJ does not take as many risks anymore but at least he’s not quitting. McGregor is an outright quitter.
“He is a fighter that was not as good as advertised, there was great marketing behind him.
“And the money he’s made now isn’t helping, so you’ve got a problem – all he’s going to do is continue to be a punching bag.
“If you’re a punching bag in your twenties, you’ll definitely be a punching bag in your thirties.”
Malignaggi claimed he was pushed down by McGregorCredit: @TheNotoriousMMA More

DEONTAY WILDER is in “ongoing” talks to fight Francis Ngannou – and the pair could collide in a never-seen-before set of rules. Ngannou walked out on the UFC to sign with rivals the Professional Fighters League, who gave him the green light to also pursue boxing.
Deontay Wilder is in ‘ongoing’ talks to fight Francis NgannouCredit: Getty
Ngannou held talks with Wilder before fighting Tyson FuryCredit: PA
The Cameroonian was in negotiations to fight Wilder but he instead agreed a deal with Tyson Fury for a crossover clash in Saudi Arabia.
Ngannou, 37, amazingly dropped Fury, 35, but was controversially beaten by split-decision on the scorecards.
The ex-UFC champion now wants to wait for a rematch after Fury’s undisputed showdown with Oleksandr Usyk, 36, on February 17.
So it paves the way for Ngannou to make a return to MMA in his next fight, also marking his debut in the PFL.
READ MORE IN BOXING
PFL CEO Peter Murray has named Wilder as a potential opponent and confirmed talks will continue with the American boxer.
Murray said: “Absolutely, ongoing. I’m going to see Deontay next week and we want the four-ounce gloves on him with Francis in the cage.”
Wilder has in the past called for a two-fight deal with Ngannou, to meet in the ring and cage.
But Murray has teased that a mixed-rules bout could be agreed in a bid to level up the playing field, a hybrid never before seen.
Most read in Boxing
CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS
He said: “We’re working through those details.
“I mean it’s a fight that Francis wants, it’s a fight we believe Deontay wants and we’re focussed on putting it together.”
Wilder, 38, first returns on December 23 in Saudi Arabia against New Zealander Joseph Parker, 31.
Anthony Joshua, 34, is also in action that night against Otto Wallin, 32, in the hopes of building towards a blockbuster with Wilder next year.
But Murray still believes Ngannou could face Wilder in his next bout despite the mega-money boxing moves.
He said: “I think as relates to the next fight, yeah a Wilder is much more likely. That is our goal.”
Anthony Joshua could fight Wilder next yearCredit: Reuters More

CONOR McGREGOR was just a schoolboy when he first went into Phil Sutcliffe’s Crumlin amateur boxing club. Two decades later, Sutcliffe is still in the UFC legend’s corner as one of his coaches.
Conor McGregor Jr training with his dad
Phil Sutcliffe with McGregor
The Irish trainer is a double Olympian who has worked with a host of amateur champions.
But his gym in Dublin is synonymous for welcoming McGregor into the world of combat.
At the time, the future MMA icon was playing for a local football team when he stumbled into Crumlin BC.
And after being told to take his muddy boots off and have his parents fill out a membership, McGregor’s fighting journey began.
READ MORE ON MCGREGOR
In his later years, McGregor trained away from the boxing gym as he became entrenched in learning mixed martial arts.
But Sutcliffe says the superstar was as talented as any other boxing champion he had – which was clear even from the age of 12.
He said: “In pure boxing ability he was as equal to them but he didn’t put in enough for the one talent. 
“It’s like if you wanted to play rugby but you play on the soccer pitch. It’s hard to master the two. 
Most read in Boxing
FREE BETS – BEST BETTING OFFERS AND BONUSES NEW CUSTOMERS
“If you want to play rugby you need to be tough, you want to be fast but in soccer you want to be skillful you want to be avoiding. 
“It’s the same in the boxing. If you want to box, you stay boxing. But Conor mastered the ability of reading. Reading the shot that comes at you.
“He always mastered that from an early age of 12 he was able to avoid, he was able to move comfortably.” 
McGregor left Crumlin and Sutcliffe to pursue MMA with his sights set on the UFC.
In the years following, he became the sport’s biggest and most well-paid star.
His fame and fortune skyrocketed in 2017 when he returned to his boxing roots for a crossover clash with Floyd Mayweather.
He lost in ten rounds but the defeat sparked a reunion with Sutcliffe – who became a part of McGregor’s MMA camp.
And it also changed the veteran trainer’s mind about the often brutal sport of MMA.
Phil Sutcliffe with McGregor
Conor Jr training at Sutcliffe’s gym with dad Conor
Conor Jr is already learning the ropes
Conor McGregor pictured as a child before growing up to become the face of UFC
Sutcliffe said: “I was never fond of mixed martial arts, I thought it was barbaric until I got involved and saw the amount of work these boys have to put into it.
“I saw it and thought this is interesting.”
Sutcliffe’s influence has rubbed off on McGregor, who is already teaching his six-year-old son techniques.
And Sutcliffe admits he cannot help but see himself when McGregor gives Conor Jr a masterclass in boxing.
He said: “Every time he’s on the pads with his son, I see me. 
“Every time he’s teaching him I see me, every word out his mouth – except the f’ing and all that type of stuff – I see me. 
“He’s learned a lot and I’m so glad he’s learned a lot from the person that taught him so much.”
Conor Jr strikes a remarkable resemblance to his famous fighting father and Sutcliffe is already blown away by the youngster’s skills.
He revealed: “He’s an athlete. I saw when he was wrestling with Cian Cowley’s son. They’re all friends. 
“Little Conor is an athlete and his little girl is not bad either! Conor Jr is a natural, you see on the sticks and on the pads but there’s more to that, he’s making his son hard for life. 
“He’s an athlete, no matter what he does. He’s got flexibility, he’s strong, he has no fear.”
McGregor, 35, is currently working towards a comeback having been out since July 2021 when he broke his leg.
He is expected to face American Michael Chandler, 37, in his return which UFC president Dana White has hinted will be in the summer.
McGregor is back training again and Sutcliffe insisted he is still as hungry and driven as ever.
He said: “If you see him spar or you see him fight, you see the devil in him and that’s what I love. He still wants it. 
“He hates losing and I love that, he wants to win because he’s a winner no matter what he does.
“He has a few years left, get few more fights get this Chandler out the way. He’s more talented than Chandler.
“Chandler will be a rough person to beat but he’s so talented, skill base and everything, wrestling, his pouches, jujitsu, his kickboxing, he’s special.”
McGregor is set to fight Michael Chandler in his UFC return More