UFC

JAKE PAUL has been warned ‘no amount of training’ could prepare him to fight Khabib Nurmagomedov in MMA. The YouTuber was invited to the cage by Khabib, in the UFC legend’s Eagle Fighting Championship.
Jake Paul called out UFC legend Khabib NurmagomedovCredit: Reuters
Khabib retired from MMA unbeatenCredit: Alamy
But Paul insisted he would only sign with Nurmagomedov if he could fight the unbeaten and retired Russian straight away.
The American, who competed as a high-school wrestler, had previously teased a switch to MMA by posting a video throwing leg kicks.
Still, despite his recent session and prior grappling background, former UFC champion Michael Bisping advised him against ever fighting legendary Khabib.
Bisping, 42, said on his YouTube channel: “For Jake Paul to be going out there and saying he will fight in MMA against Khabib, I mean what the f*** is that?
“No amount of training from Khabib or from anyone is gonna have you beating Khabib, yes he did a little bit of wrestling when he’s at school.
“Guess what, I haven’t researched Jake Paul’s wrestling credentials. I haven’t looked in so maybe I’m wrong, but I heard he wrestled a bit.
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“At the end of the day, we are talking about fights that will never happen. Jake Paul vs Khabib, never gonna happen.
“Jake Paul versus someone like Conor McGregor, probably never gonna happen.”
Paul has knocked out two former UFC stars, Ben Askren, 37, and most recently Tyron Woodley, 39, in the boxing ring.
He initially beat ex-UFC champ Woodley on points in August but scored a brutal stoppage in their late-notice rematch in December.
It added to prior KO’s over online rival ‘AnEsonGIb’ and ex-NBA point guard Nate Robinson, 37.
Paul has however not yet faced an opponent with prior professional boxing experience, after Woodley replaced Tommy Fury when the prizefighter-turned-Love Islander pulled out injured.
Jake Paul knocked out Tyron Woodley in their rematchCredit: Getty More

JAKE PAUL has continued his feud with Dana White by redesigning the UFC’s logo and teasing a ‘diss track’. The YouTuber-turned unbeaten prizefighter has rivalled the UFC president online over the past year.
Jake Paul goading UFC boss Dana WhiteCredit: Twitter

He has largely accused White of underpaying his UFC stable and vowed to help boost fighter pay and benefits.
Paul, 25, recently announced he had bought shares in the UFC’s parent company Endeavor in a bid to do so.
But it appears his saga with White is not slowing down with a series of social media posts taking a swipe at the promoter.
Firstly, Paul posed with MMA ring card girls in a cage, who held up ‘F*** Dana White’ signs.
And he also re-named the Ultimate Fighting Championship the ‘Underpaid Fighters Club’.
Paul had previously hit out at the UFC 270 purses and demanded White ‘pay fighters more’.
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Figures released after the pay-per-view event – headlined by heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou – revealed £1.3million was spent on the whole card.
In contrast, WBC heavyweight boxing champion Tyson Fury, 33, reportedly earned a massive £22million for his trilogy fight against Deontay Wilder.
Paul, who made £33m for his three fights in 2021, blasted the UFC 270 purses and tweeted: “I can’t stress enough how bad this is.
“My next step for helping with this situation will be announced tomorrow. PAY FIGHTERS MORE.”
Ngannou, 35, was paid £440,000 for his win over Gane, 31, but as champion he is entitled to a PPV bonus.
Even so, the Cameroonian has demanded a pay rise and clause in his contract that would allow him to also box at the same time.
As it stands, Ngannou is a free agent having failed to extend his UFC deal, enabling his dream move into boxing.
And Paul sent out his support to the heavyweight, and posted: “Francis Ngannou deserves much better than the lies and disrespect Dana White has shown him and his manager.
“It’s time for everyone to say F*** Dana White and support the men and women who put their bodies at risk to make him fat and rich. #F***Dana.”
Dana White has been in a feud with Jake PaulCredit: Getty More

TYSON FURY’S promotional team has opened the door to a ‘no-brainer’ Las Vegas crossover fight with UFC champion Francis Ngannou. The boxing and the UFC heavyweight champions have steadily built an online feud together.
Tyson Fury’s promotional team opened the door to a crossover fight with Francis NgannouCredit: Getty
UFC champion Ngannou has traded blows with Fury onlineCredit: Getty
Ngannou most recently retained his belt against Ciryl Gane at UFC 270 on points.
Meanwhile Fury – who called out the Cameroonian afterwards – is set to face WBC mandatory challenger Dillian Whyte, 33.
But president of Fury’s Top Rank promotion Todd DuBoef said if the rivals continue to win, a clash of the combat sports in the fight capital of the world remains on the cards.
DuBoef told MMA Fighting: “I think it does fantastic in Vegas.
“And the reason why I say that is because, looking from a perspective of pay-per-view.
“I think there would be a very, very big appetite on US pay-per-view for that fight, and what we’ve seen with Fury coming from the UK.
“The UK audience is used to staying up late and paying for the pay-per-view.”
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He added: “I’m just responding to somebody saying, ‘Hey, what do you think of this?’
“Honestly, I think it’s a very compelling product for the consumer, and I think it could work very easily. That’s what I think, if you ask my opinion.
“To have the biggest, baddest man of MMA and the biggest, baddest man of boxing meet in the ring is a no-brainer.
“There’s not much hype you have to do there.”
UFC stars are prohibited from competing outside of the promotion, unless given special permission.
Conor McGregor, 33, was in 2017 allowed to fight Floyd Mayweather, 44, but it has so far proven a one-off.
To have the biggest, baddest man of MMA and the biggest, baddest man of boxing meet in the ring is a no-brainer. Top Rank president Todd DuBoef 
Ngannou has recently been at odds with the UFC after calling for a pay rise and stipulation in his contract that would allow him to also pursue boxing.
After beating Gane, 31, his current UFC deal expired but there are still hopes a contract extension can be agreed.
DuBoef revealed the super-fight would need both Fury, 33, and Ngannou, 35, to push for it opposed to Top Rank and the UFC.
He said: “How much does Fury want it? How much does Ngannou want it?
“We know that Mayweather and McGregor really wanted it, and they were the driving force behind getting that done.
“At the end of the day, it may be the athletes that drive their respective partners to push that.”
Floyd Mayweather beat UFC star Conor McGregor in 2017Credit: USA Today Sports More

TYRON WOODLEY is refusing to let his knockout loss to Jake Paul keep him down – and could return to boxing in his next fight. Woodley in August faced Paul over eight rounds, losing by split-decision.
Tyron Woodley was knocked out by Jake Paul in their rematchCredit: AFP
But he got a shot at redemption with a late-notice rematch last month after Tommy Fury, 22, pulled out of fighting YouTube star Paul, 24, through injury.
Unfortunately for Woodley, it resulted in a brutal KO defeat and left him as the brunt of harsh online trolling.
But boxing coach Gerald Tucker, who cornered both the fights with Paul, insisted the ex-UFC champion has dealt with and overcome far worse.
Tucker told SunSport: “He’s from Ferguson, Missouri, it’s a tough spot, urban and equivalent to where I grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio. 
“We have something in us from birth which won’t let us stay down for too long or worry about something negative that happened in our past.” 
Woodley, 39, left the UFC following four consecutive losses and pursued boxing as a new venture.
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Having headlined back-to-back pay-per-views with Paul, his options are as wide as ever, in both the ring or cage.
But talented trainer Tucker – who also coaches Floyd Mayweather and Adrien Broner – believes Woodley will make his return under boxing rules.
He said: “He’s not done with boxing for sure. Me and Tyron talking about everything.
“I don’t think a day goes by without me and Tyron talking. I think he’s going to try go in there late spring.”
Boxing coach Gerald Tucker and Tyron WoodleyCredit: Instagram @gt_the_great_ More