Jake Paul may be still in the infancy of his boxing career, but he’s already thinking about what could be next in another athletic journey.
Paul is just one week removed from his vicious knockout over Tyron Woodley to remain undefeated in boxing. A…
Jake Paul may be still in the infancy of his boxing career, but he’s already thinking about what could be next in another athletic journey.
Paul is just one week removed from his vicious knockout over Tyron Woodley to remain undefeated in boxing. After he was originally slated to face Tommy Fury, he fought Woodley on short notice after Fury withdrew due to an injury.
Jake and his brother Logan have always been athletes, dating back to their time competing in high school wrestling in Ohio. But Jake has big ambitions, including a potential attempt at making it in the National Football League at some point.
“I wanna go to NFL after this,” Paul said. “Like legitimately, just to play like safety and just deck people. I swear to God, I’m about to bring hella ratings to whatever team I’m on.” (h/t Sportskeeda)
Paul later alluded to a potential tryout with his hometown team, the Cleveland Browns.
“Would you have ever thought that I would play for the Cleveland Browns? No, right? That would be crazy. I could run a 4.34. I have the size, I have the power, I can knock people out with one punch. So why can’t I play free safety?”
Jake Paul Has Also Hinted At A Move To MMA
Paul has garnered quite a high amount of star power in the boxing world but has also teased a transition to MMA in the future. During the lead-up to his rematch with Woodley, he claimed that he’s been in talks to train at the American Kickboxing Academy alongside some of the all-time MMA greats, including Khabib Nurmagomedov. However, the YouTuber may have just been joking in making this claim.
Paul appears to just be getting started in this post-YouTube venture, and the next few years could go a long way at determining how his story may ultimately end.
What are your thoughts on Jake Paul as an athlete?
UFC President Dana White has argued against the perception that former two-division champion Conor McGregor wrongly receives special treatment from the promotion.
While he’s certainly had a fall from grace in recent years, both inside and outside t…
UFC President Dana White has argued against the perception that former two-division champion Conor McGregor wrongly receives special treatment from the promotion.
While he’s certainly had a fall from grace in recent years, both inside and outside the Octagon, McGregor is undeniably MMA’s biggest superstar and one of the best to have ever fought on the sport’s grandest stage. On his way to becoming the promotion’s first-ever simultaneous double champ, the Irishman defeated the likes of Max Holloway, Dustin Poirier, Chad Mendes, José Aldo, and Eddie Alvarez.
But since his 2016 lightweight triumph, McGregor’s performances have dipped. In just four fights in the five years since, “The Notorious” star has gone 1-3, with a single welterweight victory over Donald Cerrone surrounded by 155-pound failings against former foe Poirier and Khabib Nurmagomedov.
Despite his setbacks and his brutal injury at UFC 264 in July, McGregor’s motivation and drive to keep fighting doesn’t appear to have dwindled. The Dublin native has consistently maintained his desire to keep making the walk, has provided updates on his recovery and increased training, and suggested he’ll return to full MMA sparring by April next year.
“When we started this thing and this guy was on his rise—and believe me, I’ve dealt with a fuckin’ thousands fighters. ‘Oh, this isn’t the fight for me at this time’ and ‘This isn’t that, this isn’t this,’ this fuckin’ kid, we’ve been in a house that he was renting. I think it was when [José Aldo pulled out of 2015 bout]. This is what he said us: ‘I don’t give a fuck who you get. I’m going to work out. When you figure it out, call me and let me know.’
“And then the Nate Diaz fight, another fight fell out for him, he said, ‘Well, let’s fight Diaz.’ ‘Well, do you want to do—’ ‘No, I don’t want it at catchweight. If I don’t fight him at this weight, it doesn’t matter. It’s bullshit if I don’t fight him at his weight.”
White went on to suggest McGregor’s toughness and willingness to fight anyone has been a characteristic in his repertoire since day one. For that reason, he’s earned special treatment, according to the UFC kingpin.
“Conor McGregor has been that guy since the day that he walked into this fuckin’ company. So for anybody to point the finger and say, ‘Oh, this guy’s getting special treatment…’ (Because) This guy’s special. This guy’s fuckin’ special. You know how many fighters I’ve fuckin’ dealt with that’ll talk to me about, ‘This isn’t good for my brand.’ ‘I’m not fighting my friends…’”
https://www.instagram.com/p/CW-lAT3JoWC/
Even with the so-called “special treatment,” it’s hard to see McGregor walking straight back to the belt. If Poirier had beaten Charles Oliveira, that seemingly would have been a strong possibility. Instead, we could see the Irishman complete a tetralogy with “The Diamond” without the gold on the line.
Colby Covington has made it known he wants Jorge Masvidal next.
Ever since Covington lost to Kamaru Usman at UFC 268 he called out Masvidal for his next fight and he even told “Gamebred” to pull out of his scheduled UFC 269 scrap against Leon Edwar…
Colby Covington has made it known he wants Jorge Masvidal next.
“Put that fuckin’ wack-ass BMF belt back on the fuckin’ line. Everybody knows who the real baddest motherfucker in this sport is,” Covington said to Submission Radio. “It’s Colby ‘Chaos’ Covington. Bring that fuckin’ belt out and lets fuckin’ do this shit: do The Ultimate Fighter whatever, tape for four weeks, six weeks, eight weeks, and run this fight in Miami. It makes sense.
Colby Covington
“Let’s go to American Airlines Arena. We could sell out that arena in seconds. And if we don’t go to American Airlines, we can go right up the street to BB&T Center, which is 30 minutes up the street. I’ll beat his ass in both arenas,” Covington continued. “We’ll go beat BB&T Center, go up to Broward County; then, go down to Miami-Dade County and beat his ass in American Airlines Arena. Fuckin’ little bitch Jorge.”
Of course, both Covington and Masvidal live in Miami so having their grudge match in Miami makes a ton of sense. As “Chaos” says, the arena would almost surely sell out, and it would be a massive fight not just in the area but around the world and would likely sell a ton on pay-per-view.
Whether or not a Colby Covington vs. Jorge Masvidal grudge match is next is uncertain. Masvidal just recently came out and said none of the welterweights are signing the contract. However, if this deal gets done, it would be a highly-anticipated fight and the lead-up would be intense to say the very least.
Do you think we see Colby Covington vs. Jorge Masvidal next?
UFC flyweight Manel Kape claims foot pedicures have caused big improvements in how he fights recently.
The former RIZIN Bantamweight Champion had a rough start to his UFC run, dropping two bouts in early 2021. However, he has since made a name for …
UFC flyweight Manel Kape claims foot pedicures have caused big improvements in how he fights recently.
The former RIZIN Bantamweight Champion had a rough start to his UFC run, dropping two bouts in early 2021. However, he has since made a name for himself and become ranked at flyweight with two finish wins.
Kape claims getting pedicures has helped him get a grip on the UFC Octagon canvas, giving him a “good base” to land punches.
“The problem is the skin [on my feet] is dead. The skin is very dead. They take all the skin [that’s] dead from my feet so my feet can stay fixed very well on the floor and don’t slide,” said Kape on Episode 352 of The MMA Road Show With John Morgan. “If you see other fights, even in Japan … I’m like in an [ice] rink.”
After Rough Start, Kape Finished 2021 Strong
Manel Kape (Photo: RIZIN FF)
It’s clear that Kape’s improvements, which he partly attributes to pedicures, have been evident in the cage. Kape had initially struggled in the UFC, losing two consecutive bouts to start the year.
Kape made his UFC debut in February, losing a unanimous decision to Alexandre Pantoja. He returned just a month later, dropping a razor-thin split decision to Matheus Nicolau.
The Kape that many recognized from his RIZIN days has come out more recently. He has picked up two consecutive first-round finish wins since August. His first was a highlight-reel flying knee win over Ode Osbourne at UFC 265.
Manel Kape Flying Knee
Kape most recently appeared earlier this month, putting away Zhalgas Zhumagulov with punches on December 4.
The #14-ranked flyweight hopes he can earn a title fight after scoring two more wins in the promotion. Now training in Las Vegas, Nevada, the “Starboy” hopes the future will be bright.
Do you think Manel Kape’s recent improvements will lead him to a title shot someday?
Derek Brunson has welcomed UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira to join him in celebrating a successful 2021 for “the culture.”
The culture that Brunson is referring to is that of blonde excellence. Since making the career-altering change to h…
Derek Brunson has welcomed UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira to join him in celebrating a successful 2021 for “the culture.”
The culture that Brunson is referring to is that of blonde excellence. Since making the career-altering change to his hair color, Derek Brunson underwent a transformation: from overlooked gatekeeper into the seemingly unbeatable Blonde Brunson.
Blonde Brunson
Blonde Brunson made his UFC debut last year when he derailed the hype train of Edmen Shahbazyan with a TKO victory. Shahbazyan hasn’t quite been the same since, and neither has the MMA world after the arrival of Blonde Brunson.
In 2021, Blonde Brunson has remained undefeated. First, he was able to silence “Big Mouth” Kevin Holland with a one-sided victory in March. He then outdid himself in his second consecutive main event by defeating Darren Till via rear-naked choke in the third round of another dominant performance in September.
Blonde Brunson will enter 2022 looking to remain undefeated. But before he rings in the new year, Brunson took a moment to share his spotlight with a blonde brother from another mother, UFC lightweight champion Charles “Do Bronx” Oliveira.
Brunson also offered congratulations to Oliveira directly, who gladly accepted his membership into this sacred club. The lightweight champ even sealed this blonde alliance with a virtual fist bump.
Charles Oliveira did not have a shabby 2021 run himself by any means. As Brunson referenced, Oliveira also went 2-0 this year. He first captured the UFC lightweight championship at UFC 263 by defeating Michael Chandler via TKO in a vacant title bout. He then followed that up by defeating Dustin Poirier in the UFC’s final pay-per-view bout of the year to retain the title at UFC 269.
Now that Blonde Brunson has welcomed Oliveira into the blonde family this Christmas season, Brunson will now look to enter a sacred group that Oliveira is already in: the UFC champion’s club.
To do so, he first must get past Jared Cannonier at UFC 271 on February 12 to remain undefeated and draw one step closer to capturing his own world championship—for the culture.
Derrick Lewis hasn’t stopped thinking about his loss to Ciryl Gane just yet.
Despite a highly successful first-round stoppage win against Chris Daukaus in the main event of UFC Vegas 45, Lewis hasn’t put his recent defeat to Gane in the past.
Le…
Derrick Lewis hasn’t stopped thinking about his loss to Ciryl Gane just yet.
Lewis returned to the win column on Saturday with his win over Daukaus. Before then, he was finished in an interim UFC heavyweight championship bout against Gane at UFC 265. The fight over the summer was a hard loss for Lewis, as he was nearly shut out by Gane before getting stopped in the third round.
Lewis was asked if his recent win “erased” his title-fight loss during Saturday’s post-fight press conference. In response, Lewis mentioned the location of the fight as an important factor.
“I think it really didn’t erase anything because I prefer to get the win in Houston than get the win in the APEX. So it didn’t erase anything. I’m still [gonna] be thinking about it at night.”
What’s Next For Lewis?
Derrick Lewis, Image Credit: Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC
If Lewis wants to pick up a win in front of his home state of Texas, he might be able to do so early next year. UFC is currently planning on hosting an event (UFC 271) on February 12th from Houston. When asked if he would want to get on that card, he said he would take a fight if it is only three rounds.
The win on Saturday night put Lewis back on the right track. The win showed his ability to stop the fast-rising momentum of Daukaus, becoming the first man to beat him in a UFC fight through five bouts.
Lewis has now won four of his last five bouts. This includes a notable upset victory over Curtis Blaydes from the start of this year.
