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      Jake Paul hilariously called out to MMA fight by ex-UFC star Dan Hardy, 40, with timeline for PFL debut revealed

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      JAKE PAUL has been called out by Dan Hardy ahead of his anticipated MMA debut. The YouTuber-turned-prizefighter this year signed a deal with UFC’s rivals the Professional Fighters League.
      Jake Paul is lined up for an MMA debut with PFLCredit: Skills Challenge
      Dan Hardy has signed on with PFL Europe
      Paul, 26, is due to head up a “super-fight” series which will also host his debut in the cage.
      Ex-UFC title challenger Hardy – now on board with PFL Europe – joked that he would be the perfect opponent for the American.
      He told talkSPORT: “If he wants an opponent in MMA, I’m ideal.
      “I’m 40, I’ve been out of it for ten years now, my takedown defence sucks, my wrestling is terrible, I’ve got no ground game and I love a punch up.
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      “If he’s looking for an opponent in MMA, I mean, I’m probably a safer bet than Tyron Woodley. You would think, right?”
      Paul has beaten ex-MMA champions Ben Askren, 38, Woodley, 40, and Anderson Silva, 47, during his career.
      But in his first bout against a professional boxer, he was beaten, losing a split-decision to Tommy Fury, 23.
      The pair are rumoured to be lined up for a rematch, which could backdate Paul’s debut in the PFL cage.
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      Hardy said: “I’ve spoken with Jake Paul’s manager a couple of times for various different reasons.
      “So, I am in contact with the camp, but we’ll see what happens.
      “I think he’s planning another boxing match first and I think he’ll be doing a lot more promotional work than competing with the PFL.”
      Jake Paul was beaten on points by Tommy FuryCredit: Getty More

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      Conor McGregor wants Floyd Mayweather rematch and says boxing legend failed to ‘honour’ deal to fight UFC star in MMA

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      CONOR McGREGOR wants a rematch with Floyd Mayweather and claims a deal to fight each other in MMA was never honoured.McGregor put his UFC career on hold in 2017 to cross over to the boxing world for a money-spinning bout with the American legend.
      Floyd Mayweather beat Conor McGregor in 2017 and the Irishman wants a rematchCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      During their heated press tour, Mayweather boldly stated he would return the favour for a rematch in the cage.
      So far, the promise has not been kept after McGregor was beaten in ten rounds in the ring.
      Now, approaching six years on, the Irishman, 34, wants another shot at Mayweather, 46.
      McGregor said on Fox News: “That was the original, it was a verbal agreement, I box him, he fights me. But he didn’t honour it.
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      “He didn’t honoured it yet you know, who knows? I would go against him in another boxing bout. I’d like another crack at it.”
      Mayweather officially retired after the cash-grab fight which is said to have banked him around £300MILLION.
      But he has continued to box in exhibition bouts since and last year revealed he was in talks to face McGregor again.
      The ex-UFC champion remains open to the rematch between the ropes – but warned he could go off script.
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      McGregor joked: “I could always just say it’s going to be a boxing fight and just bend the rules a little bit when we’re in there.”
      The southpaw is set to return against Michael Chandler in his first fight since suffering a horror leg break in a loss to Dustin Poirier in July 2021.
      McGregor said: “I’m hoping end of summer. We’re working towards late summer.
      “I always train, I train everyday but I was filming the show and I’ve got a couple of commitments, this tour as well, this tour around St Patricks week.
      “But when this finishes it will be isolation, I’ll go in formulate my camp.”
      Conor McGregor is set to return against Michael ChandlerCredit: Getty Images – Getty More

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      Francis Ngannou CONFIRMS talks with Jake Paul after leaving the UFC and reveals he could sign for MMA rivals PFL

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      FRANCIS NGANNOU has CONFIRMED talks with Jake Paul after leaving the UFC and revealed he could sign for a rival MMA promotion. Ngannou walked out on the UFC while still heavyweight champion after failing to agree a contract extension.
      Francis Ngannou is open to signing for the PFLCredit: Getty
      Jake Paul has expressed an interest in signing with Jake PaulCredit: Getty
      YouTuber-turned-boxer Paul is among those to have voiced interest in signing the heavyweight to his Most Valuable Promotions banner.
      And Paul has recently signed a deal with the UFC’s competitors the Professional Fighters League – which could be Ngannou’s new MMA home.
      He told TMZ Sports: “It depends on where I am but I do think we can work together [with Jake Paul].
      “Also speaking of the PFL I have had a conversation with them too, so yes this is something in the near future that could happen very quick.”
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      Ngannou, 36, is open to a boxing switch and revealed he is negotiating a two-fight deal with Deontay Wilder, 37.
      And the pair of hard-hitting former world champions could take the crossover mega-fight to Africa.
      Ngannou said: “He’s ready for that. He’s very excited about it. He wants it. So, we are looking into that.
      “That’s something I’m very excited about. We even discussed a potential fight in Africa and one fight somewhere else.
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      “Why not even the two fights in Africa?”
      Ngannou added: “I can knock everybody out. I have to be clear about something.
      “To hit that person you have to get a clear shot, which is more about technique and experience I don’t have. So, I’m very aware of that aspect.”
      Deontay Wilder pictured with Francis Ngannou at the UFC’s training facility More

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      Logan Paul CONFIRMS boxing return in first fight since Floyd Mayweather… and rival says it will be against ex-UFC star

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      LOGAN PAUL has CONFIRMED his boxing return – but has tried to keep his opponent a secret. The YouTube, crossover boxing and WWE star has not been in the ring since his June 2021 exhibition with Floyd Mayweather.
      Logan Paul in his exhibition bout with Floyd MayweatherCredit: Sean Michael Ham/Mayweather Promotions
      Paul, 27, took Mayweather, 46, the distance and was due to return to boxing in January.
      He was in talks to face 2-0 MMA fighter and online rival Dillon Danis, 29, until a knee injury starring in the WWE ruled him out.
      Well now Paul – while on his podcast with Dave Portnoy – revealed his next fight is set in stone.
      He said: “I’ve got a new opponent. Not said yet. I’ll tell you and we’ll bleep it.”
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      Paul then reveals who he will fight, with the sound bleeped, as Portnoy responded: “No s***.”
      And Paul replied: “Cool, right? I don’t know what’s going on either.”
      Danis, a known troll, attempted to hijack the announcement by tweeting: “He ran from me to go fight 1-5 Darren Till.”
      Till, 30, recently hit the headlines after requesting his release from the UFC, having lost his last three fights.
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      He added fuel to Danis’ speculation by tweeting an emoji of boxing gloves and a money bag.
      Till himself admitted he would be interested in a switch to the ring against a celebrity star.
      And the ex-UFC welterweight revealed he has been contacted by rival promoters after his release.
      Darren Till has been released by the UFCCredit: Getty More

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      Deontay Wilder reaches ‘verbal agreement’ to fight Francis Ngannou as ex-UFC champ eyes blockbuster in Africa

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      FRANCIS NGANNOU revealed he has a “verbal agreement” to fight Deontay Wilder – which is being eyed for Africa. Ngannou is a free agent after leaving the UFC following a breakdown in contract negotiations.
      Francis Ngannou revealed he has a ‘verbal agreement’ to fight Deontay WilderCredit: AFP
      Deontay Wilder is in talks to fight Francis NgannouCredit: Getty
      And the Cameroonian confirmed he is eyeing a boxing switch and has held talks to face Anthony Joshua.
      But it is American star Wilder, 37, who Ngannou, 36, is deepest in conversations with.
      And they could look to fight in Africa next year on the 50th anniversary of Muhammad Ali’s Rumble in The Jungle.
      Ngannou told ESPN: “Yes we’ve been having some exchanges.
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      “We’ve basically come into some sort of verbal agreement that we want to fight each other. We want two fights.
      “Maybe one of those fights in Africa, maybe two of them in Africa. Which would be massive – which would be great.
      “I think August next year is the 50th anniversary of the Rumble in the Jungle and I think that would be an opportunity to do something massive in Africa.”
      Ali beat George Foreman in 1974 in Zaire, one of boxing’s most iconic fights.
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      Wilder has offered to face Ngannou in both the ring and cage as part of a two-bout deal.
      But Ngannou prefers to instead just box and could eye October 2024 for their proposed rematch on the anniversary of the Rumble.
      He said: “We are looking around that timeline for the potential second fight. Which, in my opinion, should still be in boxing.
      “Boxing is a new challenge, but remember, at the beginning, MMA was just as challenging as boxing – if not bigger.
      “So, I don’t back down from challenges.” 
      Deontay Wilder pictured with Francis Ngannou at the UFC’s training facility More

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      Angry Nate Diaz hits back at Mike Tyson over praise of UFC star Conor McGregor

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      NATE DIAZ hit out at Mike Tyson after the boxing legend praised Conor McGregor. Tyson hailed McGregor for going ten rounds in his ring debut against unbeaten American icon Floyd Mayweather.
      Nate Diaz hit out at Mike Tyson over the boxing legend’s praise of Conor McGregor.Credit: Getty
      Mike Tyson praised Conor McGregor for his performance over Floyd MayweatherCredit: Getty
      He said on his podcast in 2020: “This is where it’s not a spectacle
      “He’s never really had a boxing match in his life, right? He went ten rounds with the greatest boxer in the land, in 100 years of boxing.
      “You’re not listening to me! You don’t understand what I’m saying. He went ten rounds, scored punches on the greatest fighter in the last 20, 100 years.
      “Did he do something? Did he accomplish something? People look at it and say ‘the black guy beat the white guy’, look at what he had to fight against and look what he did when he fought against it?
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      “Imagine a guy who’s never had a boxing match and he’s fighting me? He goes ten rounds and we’re fighting?
      “We’re fighting and I’m doing my thing. We go ten rounds, that’s a bad motherf****r.
      “Ten rounds with the best champ? That’s the winner there. It should have been a one-round fight before it was easy [for Mayweather]. He was fighting someone who was throwing back.
      “That’s the only thing, when the guy is throwing back, you’re got to have the answers.
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      “When he was throwing punches, he should have panicked. He was in there with the greatest fighter in the business, he should have panicked. He kept his cool.”
      Diaz, 37, has only just responded to Tyson’s comments and referenced his second-round submission victory of McGregor, 34, in 2016.
      He posted: “I took him all the way out in about 8 minutes right before that what does that tell you. Finished dead.”
      McGregor, who beat Diaz in their rematch, vowed to defeat Mayweather, 46, if the rivals ever rematched.
      He told Tyson in a tweet: “Thank you Mike, and just know that for the inevitable rematch, with the knowledge I now hold of Floyd’s style, plus under the tutelage of my old school boxing coach, I will crack the puzzle, and I will beat Floyd.
      “I promise my life on it. It is great to see you back Iron Mike.”
      Conor McGregor lost to Floyd Mayweather in 2017Credit: GETTY More

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      Anthony Joshua in shock talks to fight fearsome ex-UFC heavyweight Francis Ngannou

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      FRANCIS NGANNOU has revealed shock talks to fight Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder after leaving the UFC. The heavyweight star is a free agent having failed to agree a new UFC contract and walking out on the promotion.
      Francis Ngannou revealed shock talks to fight Anthony Joshua and Deontay WilderCredit: AFP
      Anthony Joshua pictured ahead of his comebackCredit: Alamy
      Ngannou, 36, confirmed he is eyeing a switch to boxing and has held talks with Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn and Wilder’s team.
      He told ESPN: “My next step has to be boxing.
      “I want to do one boxing match first, and then maybe go back to MMA because I still enjoy MMA. I want to do a couple of fights in boxing.
      “We are working on some stuff and hopefully in a month or two, I will be able to come out with an announcement on potential fight dates and locations.
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      “It’s taking a little longer than I expected but it’s coming along. Big things come with time.
      “I’m considering everybody. I talked to Eddie Hearn about Anthony Joshua, I don’t know what’s going to happen.
      “The most that we have spoken with is Deontay Wilder’s team. We’ve been having some exchanges, basically coming to some sort of verbal agreement.”
      Wilder, 37, has even offered to face Ngannou in both the ring and cage as part of a two-fight deal.
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      Meanwhile, Hearn has expressed an interest in having Joshua, 33, meet Ngannou in a crossover bout in the future.
      The Cameroonian left the UFC amid talks of a super-fight with Jon Jones, 35, who has since picked up the heavyweight title.
      Ngannou said: “For three years I tried to fight Jon Jones. I did everything to have that fight. I wanted that fight, but not at any cost.
      “There is not a fight on Earth I would back down for. I would go there and whatever happens, happens. It’s the sport.
      “Jon Jones is not the guy. He might be the best fighter ever, but he’s not the guy I’m running away from. Nah. Not him.
      “I would fight Jon Jones twice a month.”
      Jon Jones is the new UFC heavyweight championCredit: Getty More

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      ‘I’m there to take your head off’ – UFC star Jorge Masvidal gives brutal Jake Paul fight prediction in callout to rival

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      JORGE MASVIDAL has brutally warned Jake Paul to avoid fighting him – if he wants to keep his head on his shoulders.Paul has built a rivalry with the likes of Masvidal and others UFC stars during his polarising prizefighting career.
      Jorge Masvidal brutally warned Jake Paul to avoid fighting himCredit: Getty
      Jake Paul lost his last fight to Tommy FuryCredit: AFP
      He has beaten ex-MMA champions in Ben Askren, Tyron Woodley, and Anderson Silva in the boxing ring.
      Paul, 26, fell to his first defeat in February, losing to unbeaten boxer Tommy Fury by split-decision in Saudi Arabia.
      Now ex-UFC title challenger Masvidal, 37, has promised to hand the YouTuber more than a points loss if they were to ever fight.
      He told DAZN: “Jake Paul wouldn’t be ready for that heat. I’m throwing with bad intentions and I’m a pro with 50 fights.
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      “I’m not gonna get tired throwing heat and I’m there to take your head off.
      “You’re gonna have to do some really evasive things in that ring to get away from me. Jake hasn’t hit that stride yet.”
      Paul has talked up fighting Masvidal or ex-UFC welterweight Nate Diaz, 37, but instead looks set to rematch Fury in the summer.
      Meanwhile, Masvidal returns to the octagon at UFC 287 on April 8 against Brazilian Gilbert Burns.
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      The ex-backyard brawler-turned pay-per-view attraction has not fought since March of 2022 against friend-turned-enemy Colby Covington.
      Covington won on points over five rounds but the feud did not end there following a street brawl in Miami a month later.
      Masvidal, who has previously pled not guilty, was accused of attacking Covington with the case set to go to trial on May 22.
      Colby Covington beat rival Jorge MasvidalCredit: Getty More