Author: Mike Chiari

Jim Ross Says ‘Word on the Street’ Is Jon Jones Is Interested in ‘WWE Payday’

Legendary WWE announcer Jim Ross wrote Monday that there is talk of UFC Light Heavyweight champion Jon “Bones” Jones wanting to work with WWE at some point in the future.
In his blog, JR revealed that “word on the street” suggests Jones has intere…

Legendary WWE announcer Jim Ross wrote Monday that there is talk of UFC Light Heavyweight champion Jon “Bones” Jones wanting to work with WWE at some point in the future.

In his blog, JR revealed that “word on the street” suggests Jones has interest in a “WWE payday” should the opportunity present itself down the line.

Jones is embroiled in a public rivalry with current WWE Universal champion and former UFC Heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar.

After Jones defeated Daniel Cormier by knockout to win the UFC Light Heavyweight title at UFC 214, he called out the Beast Incarnate, according to Greg Beacham of the Associated Press: “Brock Lesnar, if you want to know what it feels like to get your ass kicked by a guy who weighs 40 pounds less than you, meet me in the Octagon.”

Lesnar responded to the challenge by saying, “Be careful what you wish for, young man.”

The 40-year-old Lesnar hasn’t fought in UFC since beating Mark Hunt at UFC 200 last year, although the decision was overturned to a no contest following a positive drug test from Lesnar.

Lesnar is in the midst of a one-year suspension that is frozen until he re-enters the USADA drug-testing pool, and although there were rumors he re-entered recently, UFC denied it, per Marc Raimondi of MMAFighting.com.

If Lesnar and Jones do clash in the Octagon, it could pave the way for them to meet again in a WWE ring at some point after that.

Lesnar and Jones are two of the biggest draws in combat sports, and the fan interest would likely be significant regardless of when and where they collide.

 

Listen to Ring Rust Radio for all of the hot wrestling topics. Catch the latest episode in the player below (warning: some language NSFW).

 

 

 

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Conor McGregor, Paulie Malignaggi Sparring Got ‘Out of Control,’ Says Joe Cortez

Veteran boxing referee Joe Cortez revealed in an interview Monday that a recent sparring session between reigning UFC lightweight champion Conor McGregor and Paulie Malignaggi got heated.       
Cortez discussed the situation with R…

Veteran boxing referee Joe Cortez revealed in an interview Monday that a recent sparring session between reigning UFC lightweight champion Conor McGregor and Paulie Malignaggi got heated.       

Cortez discussed the situation with Randy Gordon and Gerry Cooney on SiriusXM Boxing:

McGregor is in preparations for his first professional boxing match, which will be a clash with Floyd Mayweather Jr. on Aug. 26 in the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

In the interview (h/t Anton Tabuena of SB Nation’s Bloody Elbow), Cortez said McGregor acquitted himself well against Malignaggi before things started getting out of hand:

“He handled himself pretty good with Paulie. That guy can pop. He was in there mixing it up a little bit with Paulie, and it was the real thing. They was no messing around. In fact, I had to stop the action, and I had to say, ‘All right, guys, you guys are a little out of control here, you gotta stop this.’ It got a little rough.”

Cortez also said he had to shut down the trash-talking between McGregor and Malignaggi while also trying to get them to have a clean sparring session:

“They were both roughing each other up, and I had to stop the action like in a regular fight. They were holding too much, they were trying to punch each other. I mean, it got a little bit out of control where I had to call ‘Time!’

“[I said], ‘All right, guys, you gotta stop this right now. I want a good clean round. Give me sportsmanlike conduct. Understand? I don’t want to take any points from either one of you. Do you understand?’ I looked at them, and they said, ‘OK, all right.’ And I said, ‘Time in.'”

Malignaggi boasts a 36-8 career record as a professional boxer, and he is a former welterweight and junior welterweight champion.

According to Sky Sports (h/t BoxingScene.com), Malignaggi has been impressed by what he has seen from McGregor: “It makes me respect McGregor to see his work ethic that he’s put into the training camp. Seeing him work hard every day and see that he’s really determined to upset the odds.”

The 29-year-old McGregor is 21-3 in his career as an MMA fighter and became the first UFC fighter to hold two titles at the same time (featherweight, lightweight).

He is easily among the top draws in combat sports, and his star power is undeniable. But he is stepping into an unfamiliar realm.

Mayweather is a perfect 49-0 in his boxing career, and despite being 11 years McGregor’s senior, his vast amount of experience makes him a significant favorite heading into the fight.

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Endo MMA Club Featuring Children in China Reportedly Under Investigation

Following the release of a documentary by Pear Media, the Endo MMA Club in China is reportedly under investigation for its training of children.
According to this video, Endo MMA Club takes in orphaned and poor children and trains them in hopes of deve…

Following the release of a documentary by Pear Media, the Endo MMA Club in China is reportedly under investigation for its training of children.

According to this video, Endo MMA Club takes in orphaned and poor children and trains them in hopes of developing them into UFC fighters:

Alice Yan of the South China Morning Post reported authorities in Chengdu, Sichuan province, are now looking into the club and its operating procedures.

                        

This article will be updated to provide more information on this story as it becomes available.

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Oscar De La Hoya Says Conor McGregor Has ‘No Chance’ to Beat Floyd Mayweather

Oscar De La Hoya became the latest to discount Conor McGregor’s chances against Floyd Mayweather Jr. when asked about the upcoming fight.
De La Hoya told TMZ Sports that McGregor has “no chance” to beat Mayweather, while pointing out the fact that even…

Oscar De La Hoya became the latest to discount Conor McGregor’s chances against Floyd Mayweather Jr. when asked about the upcoming fight.

De La Hoya told TMZ Sports that McGregor has “no chance” to beat Mayweather, while pointing out the fact that even he was unable to beat Money.

While De La Hoya fell to Mayweather in 2007, he came closest to beating the undefeated superstar than anyone else, losing by split decision.

De La Hoya said he wishes McGregor could provide Mayweather with some competition but that the only way that could happen is with a “flying kick to the head.”

There will be no kicking on Aug. 26, however, as McGregor and Mayweather will clash in a pure boxing match at T-Mobile Arena in Paradise, Nevada.

The 40-year-old Mayweather will enter the fight with a perfect professional boxing record of 49-0, while it will be the first pro boxing match of McGregor’s career.

Although he is 21-3 in MMA and the reigning UFC lightweight champion, there is little doubt that the Irishman is at a distinct disadvantage.

His confidence has masked that during the build toward the bout; however, few within the boxing world have gone on record as saying McGregor has a chance to beat one of the greatest pound-for-pound boxers ever.

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Floyd Mayweather Doesn’t Believe Conor McGregor Was KO’d in Sparring Session

Despite rumors, Floyd Mayweather Jr. said Monday that he doesn’t believe Conor McGregor was knocked out during a sparring session.
As seen in the following video courtesy of Villainfy Media, boxer Jessie Vargas said last week that the reigning UFC ligh…

Despite rumors, Floyd Mayweather Jr. said Monday that he doesn’t believe Conor McGregor was knocked out during a sparring session.

As seen in the following video courtesy of Villainfy Media, boxer Jessie Vargas said last week that the reigning UFC lightweight champion was dropped by his sparring partner (discusses it around the 2:05 mark):

According to Ben Thompson of FightHype.com, Mayweather responded by saying: “If I ain’t seen no footage, I don’t believe it … me and Jessie Vargas are in communication.”

The 29-year-old McGregor is 21-3 during his MMA career, but his clash with Mayweather on Aug. 26 in Las Vegas will be the first professional boxing match of his life.

McGregor has never lost in the Octagon via knockout, with all three of his defeats coming by way of submission.

During a recently concluded four-city press tour, Mayweather made light of that fact by calling McGregor “Mr. Tap Out.”

Mayweather, 40, has never been knocked out as a professional either, as evidenced by his perfect 49-0 record.

During the press tour in Los Angeles, McGregor guaranteed he would knock out Mayweather within the first four rounds of their fight.

Mayweather’s last knockout victory came in 2011, when he stopped Victor Ortiz in the fourth round.

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Dana White Says Conor McGregor Can’t Use MMA Moves vs. Floyd Mayweather

If Conor McGregor has any designs on breaking out MMA moves against Floyd Mayweather Jr. on Aug. 26, UFC president Dana White did his best to dissuade him Thursday.
When asked about the possibility of McGregor going beyond the rules of boxing, White ma…

If Conor McGregor has any designs on breaking out MMA moves against Floyd Mayweather Jr. on Aug. 26, UFC president Dana White did his best to dissuade him Thursday.

When asked about the possibility of McGregor going beyond the rules of boxing, White made it clear that it won’t be tolerated, according to Zach Braziller of the New York Post: “He would have a lawsuit against him that would destroy Conor’s life, and Mayweather would win. It absolutely cannot happen. He would be sued beyond belief if he does anything but hit Floyd Mayweather with his hands to the head and body.”

McGregor responded, “We’ll see on the night,” when the subject of pulling from his MMA background came up.

Both White and Showtime Sports executive vice president Stephen Espinoza said that language in the fight contract would punish McGregor significantly if he pulled any such stunt.

In addition to McGregor getting disqualified, Mayweather would stand to be in line for an even bigger payday than he already is due to a potential lawsuit.

The bout with Mayweather will mark McGregor’s first professional boxing match, while the 40-year-old Mayweather is a perfect 49-0.

McGregor is 21-3 in MMA and is the reigning UFC lightweight champion, but that fact isn’t likely to do him much good in the boxing realm.

Despite his lack of boxing experience, McGregor guaranteed an early knockout of Mayweather during Tuesday’s press conference, per Brian Campbell of CBS Sports.

Mayweather has never been knocked out in his professional career, and he has 26 knockout wins to his credit. 

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