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With the highly anticipated boxing match between the controversial YouTube star Jake Paul and the devastatingly powerful Mike Tyson edges closer, media for the fight is beginning to get underway.

Taking a complete U-turn from the opponents he’s used to facing inside the ring, Jake Paul opted to face the much older, but still extremely dangerous, Mike Tyson. ‘The Problem Child’ has won 9 of his 10 fights since turning professional and continues to shine a spotlight on the sport for new viewers.

While appearing on Fox News, Mike Tyson discussed the intensity of his training and believes he’ll have the speed advantage against his 27-year-old opponent.

“I don’t think he’s faster than me,” Tyson said referring to Jake Paul. “I train every day. I take it serious.”

“It’s the process of going through the whole day. I get up in the morning and do the road work. Then I go to the gym at 1, then I go to the strength and conditioning guy, then it starts all over again.”

Tyson then shared a moment to praise Jake for his journey from comedy influencer to professional boxer.

“He’s come a long way from YouTube-ing. Listen, I’ve seen a YouTube of him at 16 doing weird dances, that’s not the guy I’m going to be fighting.”

“This guy is going to come, he’s going to try and hurt me, which I’m accustomed to. And he’s going to be greatly mistaken.”

Despite the rumors of 18oz gloves and headgear, Mike Tyson has insisted that this will be treated as a real fight.

“[The rumors are] not true. Listen, this is called an exhibition but if you look up exhibition, you will not see any of the laws that we’re fighting under. This is a fight.”

At almost 58 years old, the legendary boxer explained why he is returning to the ring and is welcoming the challenge against Jake Paul.

“Whatever I’m afraid to do, I do it. And that’s how it is. I was afraid for the Roy [Jones Jr.] fight. I was scared to fight again, I was 100lbs overweight. I was however old, 54 [or] 53, and I said, ‘Let’s do it’.”

“Anything I’m afraid of, I confront it and that’s my personality. Like, right now, I’m scared to death. But as the fight gets closer, the less nervous I become because it’s reality, and in reality, I’m invincible.”

Related: Mike Tyson believes he’s bigger draw at age 58 ahead of Jake Paul fight

“I always believed that adversity or nervousness, it pretty much catapulted me into success. If I didn’t have these feelings, I wouldn’t go into this fight. I have to have these feelings to fight, without them, I would never go in the ring.”

Though he seems the most riled up he has been in years with nothing but a vicious display on his mind, Mike Tyson has no hard feelings when it comes to Jake Paul.

“I will do just that [teach him a lesson], but dislike him? No, I don’t. I do not have [any] grudges against him. He’s beautiful and no, it’s not from that perspective.”

“This is from my point of view of grabbing glory, you know? Never for money, only glory. I would never risk my health for money.”

Watch Mike Tyson’s Fox News interview below.

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Jorge Masvidal is no stranger to fighting, whether that be whilst locked inside the cage, in a boxing ring, or otherwise. Despite his passion for combat, the former UFC title challenger sprung into action, playing the peacemaker amid a potential fight breakout.

Since leaving combat sports last year following his fourth straight defeat, Masvidal has been working hard to build his unique fight promotion, Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA. The one-of-a-kind fight company has featured some huge names and continues to grow with each passing event.

The latest Gamebred Promotions event featured a headlining bout of former UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos taking on former BKFC heavyweight champion Alan Belcher. In the build-up to the card, Jorge Masvidal was forced to separate two fighters who got heated backstage.

Fan-favorite Charles Bennett can be seen engaged in a war of words with what looks like his opponent, Joe Penafiel. The Miami native can be heard urging the two fighters to save their animosity for the cage, while fellow fighter Anvar Boynazarov too tried to calm the proceedings.

Charles Bennett, better known for his ‘Krazy Horse’ alias, was later defeated late into the third round during the opening bout of the March 2 event. 

This was the 44-year-old’s 21st straight loss across numerous combat sports. Sensationally, his most recent win came against the debuting Minoru Kimura in Rizin almost eight years ago.

Related: Jorge Masvidal went to Nate Diaz’ gym looking to ‘make this fight happen’

What’s next for Jorge Masvidal?

At UFC 287 on April 8, 2023, Jorge Masvidal called an end to his fighting career and hung up the gloves after competing for 20 years professionally.

However, his retirement didn’t last too long, and ‘Gamebred’ has now confirmed that he will be returning to action in just two months.

On June 1, Jorge Masvidal will collide with former opponent Nate Diaz. The two will run back their ‘BMF’ bout from 2019 which ended controversially, this time in a boxing ring.

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Before the main event announcement, many expected UFC 300 to be headlined by the defending champion Dricus Du Plessis, and former king of the middleweight division Israel Adesanya.

Unfortunately, the grudge match never came to fruition and fans were instead treated to an Alex Pereira vs. Jamahal Hill matchup on April 13. News surrounding ‘The Last Stylebender’s return to the octagon has been scarce of late, but that may have now changed.

In a post on social media, Dricus Du Plessis potentially confirmed his first middleweight title defense is set to take place on August 18 at UFC 305 in Perth, Australia. According to the South African, Israel Adesanya will return to the octagon and try to recapture a throne that he held for so long.

“Looks like someone wants another beating in Australia,” Du Plessis teased on Instagram. “I’m in. I also wouldn’t want to fight the king of Africa on home soil. Manifestations working good for you AGAIN!”

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Long before he climbed the ranking and became the UFC middleweight champion, Du Plessis had been angling for a fight against the kickboxing superstar Israel Adesanya.

Following his win over Sean Strickland to capture gold last time out, ‘Stillknocks’ set his sights on Adesanya. Ideally, the titleholder wanted to bring the UFC over to Africa for the very first time, though that plan seems to have lost traction.

Related: Israel Adesanya claims Dricus Du Plessis rejected UFC 300 main event slot

The middleweight division is stacked with viable options for whoever comes out on top between Israel Adesanya and Dricus Du Plessis, should the bout eventually take place.

Former champion Sean Strickland is keen on getting another crack at the title after controversially coming up short in his last outing. 

Both Robert Whittaker and Khamzat Chimaev are eager to get their hands on the belt. Whoever finds themselves walking away the victor when they meet in the UFC’s debut Saudi Arabia card on June 22 will likely have a strong case at a title opportunity.

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CM Punk will forever be regarded as one of the greatest professional wrestlers of his generation, but he wasn’t able to replicate that success when he ventured into the world of mixed martial arts.

The WWE star has competed all around the world for various promotions and has captured multiple championships. He achieved significant heights as an entertainer both before and after his UFC career, so where did it all go wrong for ‘The Best in the World’ inside the octagon?

During a recent appearance on The MMA Hour, CM Punk reflected on his time spent in the octagon.

“I asked my wife the other day, ’cause I said something, I was just like, ‘What was I, like 35 when I fought?’ And she was just like, ‘No, you were like 36 or 37.’ And I just went, ‘What the f*** was I thinking?'”

Although he is happy to have ticked it off his bucket list, Punk did admit to having some regrets when it came to his decisions under the UFC banner.

“I’m glad I did it. Zero regrets,” Punk said. “I shouldn’t have fought in Chicago because they were like the worst two weeks of my life. Like, easily the worst two weeks of my life.”

“I couldn’t cut weight properly, you know. I still made weight. I’m proud of myself for that. But yeah, I’m an ambitious guy.”

“My mind was, ‘Okay, I can fight at 170.’ ‘Cause the dudes at 185 are f***ing beasts.”

Related: Conor McGregor, CM Punk, Brock Lesnar, and more huge UFC salaries revealed

Despite coming up short in both of his matchups—though one of those was later overturned to a no-contest—Punk stated that he’s rightfully proud of himself for trying his hand at MMA.

“I get it, it’s easy to L-O-L [and] make fun of me. Some people look at that and be like, ‘Oh, that’s embarrassing.’ I made the weight and made the walk.”

“I’m 100% proud of myself and I would do it again. That was me at my absolute worst, you know, and I did it… I’m tenacious. I’m tough if I’m not anything. [If] you want to call me a loser, that’s cool. But I was stoked I got that opportunity and I’m stoked I did it.”

CM Punk is asked about the UFC.#TheMMAHour pic.twitter.com/TEjiwB1uIg

— Jed I. Goodman © (@jedigoodman) April 1, 2024

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The fighting world never fails to surprise us and it did so again when Mike Tyson’s return to boxing was announced in a clash against the controversial Jake Paul.

Aside from one exhibition bout which saw him battle to a draw against Roy Jones Jr. back in 2020, Tyson hasn’t stepped into the squared circle since 2006—with his last professional fight coming in June 2005. Despite being out of the game for so long, the 57-year-old continues to be one of the biggest names in all of combat sports.

He is respected by many for his dominant past in the ring and Mike Tyson himself believes that he is still a huge draw regardless of his age.

“I’m 58 and what? I’m getting billions of views from just talking to somebody about fighting,” Tyson told Reuters. “Everybody, even most of the athletes, they’re jealous. That’s whack.”

“I say in your prime, you couldn’t draw a million people, man. What are you talking [about]? You couldn’t sell out an arena. Who at 58 could sell out an 80,000-seat arena?”

Comparing himself to other potential opponents, Tyson detailed why he thinks Jake Paul chose to face him ahead of anybody else.

“Why [do] you think he wants to fight me and not anybody else? Everybody wants to fight him, all the boxers want to fight him.”

Related: Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul set for July 20

“But, if he fought them, the only people that will come are the people that like him. The other guys, their parents might not even come watch them. That’s just keeping it real. They’re too boring for their children to watch, it’s like watching grass grow.”

Jake Paul is exuding confidence ahead of the bout and both he and Mike Tyson expect to get the job done via knockout. Whether you love him or hate him, Jake’s ability to put on huge events is second to none right now.

The collision will take place on Saturday, July 20. The pair will meet in the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas and the fight will be available to all Netflix subscribers.

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The world of combat sports is becoming more strange with each passing day and this time, Rampage Jackson has found himself in the middle of the madness.

Rampage has had a long, successful career in the sport of mixed martial arts and proved to be one of the best fighters in the world during his prime. However, his accolades haven’t stopped viral bodybuilder Mike O’Hearn from welcoming a fight against the former UFC champion.

As stated by Bloodsport Bushido on X, several names have been confirmed for their event in Tokyo, Japan on June 22. Both Rampage Jackson and Mike O’Hearn stood out among the list of names announced to be in action on the card.

ジョシュ・バーネット主宰
「Bloodsport Bushido」６.２２(土)両国大会

楽天チケット独占先行発売中！
購入URL⇒ https://t.co/xyI10rjRJS

【大会名】Bloodsport Bushido（ブラッドスポーツ 武士道）
【開催日時】２０２４年６月２２日（土）１６時開始
【会場】 東京・両国国技館

【出場予定選手】… pic.twitter.com/XwATMQOyJX

— Bloodsport Bushido【公式】 (@JBBloodsport_JP) April 1, 2024

Alongside Bloodsport Bushido’s announcement on social media, Mike O’Hearn also made the bout official on his Instagram page. 

The bodybuilder thanked Josh Barnett for making the weird but wonderful bout come to fruition.

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A post shared by Mike O'Hearn (@mikeohearn)

Aside from his bodybuilding and modeling career, Mike O’Hearn is best known for being a viral social media meme accompanied by an altered version of the Haddaway song, “What Is Love”.

Related: ‘Rampage’ Jackson still has some fight left in him: ‘I’m not done’

What is Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport?

Josh Barnett held his first Bloodsport event back in April of 2019, with the headlining bout being Barnett himself taking on Minoru Suzuki.

Bloodsport has a unique ruleset—which is almost a mixture of professional wrestling and mixed martial arts.

The athletes compete inside something similar to a traditional wrestling ring, though the ropes and turnbuckles have been removed, leaving just the canvas.

While each fight is pre-planned like professional wrestling, each matchup must end with one competitor winning by a knockout or submission.

Rampage Jackson isn’t the first UFC alumni who have fought inside the Bloodsport ring. Frank Mir, Shayna Baszler, Tom Lawlor, Dan Severn, and Matt Riddle, alongside the aforementioned Josh Barnett, have all partook in a Bloodsport event.

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Conor McGregor has not competed in combat sports for two years but that hasn’t stopped him from excelling outside of the cage. The former two-division UFC champion made his first venture into the acting world and, despite the mixed reviews of his performance, the movie has been a huge success.

‘The Notorious’ played a leading role in the 2024 remake of the 1989 cult-classic Road House. The action-packed movie follows Elwood Dalton (Jake Gyllenhaal), a disgraced former UFC fighter who now works as a bouncer at a Florida Keys roadhouse. His new life takes a turn for the worse when he’s forced to use his fighting past to fend off the barrage of trouble that comes his way, most notably the ruthless Knox (Conor McGregor).

Road House was released less than a month ago and has already been a monstrous success on Prime Video. The movie broke a record by boasting 50 million worldwide viewers in its first two weekends of release, making it the platform’s biggest-ever opening in its 18-year history.

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Related: Conor McGregor done with movies, ready to focus on fighting career

The success of the movie is great for all involved, but one telling factor that clouds over Road House is the reviews from both critics and the general public.

On Rotten Tomatoes—an American website that reviews all things films and television—Road House was given a horrible 59% from critics and an even worse 54% from fans.

However, the movie does have a better score on IMDb, though only slightly at 6.2/10.

Despite the poor reviews from viewers, Road House does a good job of executing what type of viewing it intends to be. An exaggerated, adrenaline-fueled action film with a touch of comedy.

Road House is available now on Prime Video.

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Petr Yan completed a successful return to the cage last time out with a thrilling unanimous decision victory over Song Yadong. 

Despite coming out on top, ‘No Mercy’ was forced to have surgery on a torn ACL following the bout which will keep him sidelined for the majority of the year. Though he received an unfortunate injury, the Russian already has his sights set on a return to competition and has one name in mind.

Following his title fight loss against Sean O’Malley, Marlon Vera wanted to fight his way back into title contention and planned to do so in a clash against former champion Petr Yan. After undergoing successful surgery, Yan has now welcomed the matchup against the Ecuadorian and has given his ideal timeline for a return to action.

“Yes, I’ll be ready just in time for November,” Yan told KPSport. “Of course, I’ll do it [fight Marlon Vera]. I’ll take him to mixed martial arts school.”

Recalling his latest win inside the octagon, Petr Yan believes ‘Chito’ Vera will suffer the same fate as Yadong if the two lock horns next.

“You saw how Song Yadong showed his best boxing. It went a little off the rails. Things won’t go according to plan for Vera either. That’s a hundred percent.”

“We’re going with what we’ve got so far, October or November is a good time to make that fight.”

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Related: Conor McGregor and Petr Yan stare each other down in intense face-off

Petr Yan’s aforementioned victory over Song Yadong was his first in almost three years in the sport. Now back in the winners’ circle, Yan hopes to battle his way back into the title picture and reclaim the throne that he believes is rightfully his.

Cruising to his second title defense against Aljamain Sterling at UFC 259, Yan hit his opponent with an illegal knee and ultimately lost via disqualification.

The 31-year-old would go on to beat Cory Sandhagen before losing back-to-back controversial split decisions to Aljamain Sterling and Sean O’Malley. He would suffer his third loss in a row against Merab Dvalishvili before getting a win over Song Yadong last month.

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Headlined by a number one contender clash between Erin Blanchfield and Manon Fiorot, UFC on ESPN 54 showcased many brilliant performances from the opening bout to the last.

As the dust settled on the event, the UFC revealed the competitors who would be handed an additional incentive for their performances. 

Fight of the Night Bonus

If you missed the prelims of UFC on ESPN 54, you missed an action-packed number of fights, but arguably none better than the light heavyweight affair between two Contender Series alumni, Anton Turkalj and debutant Ibo Aslan.

The pair slugged it out, throwing heavy leather until Aslan landed a powerful overhand right, bringing an end to the fight in the final round. The newcomer capped off an impressive debut performance with a statement finish.

Performance of the Night Bonus

Known for his ability to out-grit anybody who stands across the cage from him, Nate Landwehr was forced to do just that once again earlier tonight.

The proud Tennessee native fought his way through adversity and an early knockdown scare to score his first knockout win under the UFC banner. Despite looking incredible from the opening bell, Jamall Emmers was overwhelmed by Nate ‘The Train’s perseverance.

Related: UFC on ESPN 54 Results: Blanchfield vs. Fiorot

Performance of the Night Bonus

Entering the octagon in danger of being cut, Dennis Buzukja was desperate to snap his two-fight skid. To get back into the winners’ column, ‘The Great’ had to bypass the dangerous Connor Matthews and he did just that.

Buzukja secured his first knockout in almost three years when he landed a beautifully executed left hook, which was then followed up by some ground and pound.

There has been a lot of hype surrounding the 26-year-old under the tutelage of Ray Longo and he finally got to showcase himself after a nightmare start to his UFC career.

💰 After a record-tying set of fights, these fighters are leaving Atlantic City with some more cash for their efforts. #UFCAtlanticCity

— UFC News (@UFCNews) March 31, 2024

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Erin Blanchfield and Manon Fiorot took center stage at UFC on ESPN 54 with a flyweight title shot likely in the winners’ future.

While the Fight Night card had some questionable officiating, it was an unforgettable night of fights for viewers. Eight of the 13 bouts came to an end with knockout stoppages, but it was Manon Fiorot who took all the plaudits for her standout victory in the main event.

A hectic start to the fight saw Fiorot edge slightly ahead in the striking exchanges. Despite executing a brilliant takedown, the Frenchwoman was caught in a tight guillotine, and though nothing came of it, Blanchfield used the submission attempt to change the tide of the fight.

Once the affair returned to the feet, both ladies had some success. The first round came to an end with neither fighter establishing their dominance thus far.

Round 2 began with more of the same. Fiorot looked like the more seasoned striker and seemed to have an answer for Blanchfield’s grappling attempts, though neither athlete had landed anything of major significance. 

The round came to an end, again with both Blanchfield and Fiorot failing to make their stamp on the proceedings.

Although it is difficult to separate the two thus far, the European had a clear strength advantage over her opponent. As the halfway point of the fight ticked by, ‘Cold Blooded’ was visibly struggling to deal with the height and aforementioned power of Fiorot.

Related: UFC on ESPN 54 Results: Blanchfield vs. Fiorot

Known primarily for her high-level grappling, Erin Blanchfield made it clear she was comfortable exchanging on the feet with the 34-year-old. Though admirable, Blanchfield’s game plan wasn’t doing her any favors and she was most likely falling behind on the judges’ scorecards.

The American prospect wasn’t giving up on herself and intended to empty the gas tank to secure victory with just five minutes remaining in the fight.

After an early head kick and flurry of punches in favor of Blanchfield, more of the same ensued as time trickled to an end in the fifth and final round. While it wasn’t one of her standout performances, Manon Fiorot’s physicality was on full display and she was announced as the rightful victor.

Manon Fiorot def. Erin Blanchfield via unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 50-45).

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