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Jake Paul Plans MMA Debut – But His First Cage ‘Fight’ Puts YouTube Star to Shame

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Jake Paul was defeated in an unofficial MMA fight just months before his boxing match with KSI’s brother, Deji Olatunji, in a training session in February 2018 with BJJ black belt AJ Agazarm, a well-known figure in the jiu-jitsu world at the time.

Despite having a size advantage over his 26-year-old opponent, Paul, who was then a self-proclaimed YouTuber and vlogger coming from Vine, struggled under Agazarm’s relentless pressure. The footage is the earliest known record of Paul competing in MMA or boxing, although he had previously been seen at high school wrestling tournaments.

Despite the difficulties of the sparring session, Paul showed his potential with powerful combinations and strategic positioning. In the first round, Paul was overwhelmed by AJ and kept at bay before being taken down and dominated on the ground.

Exhausted and gasping for breath by the end of the round, Paul met his demise in the second round. Despite Paul landing a powerful right hook early on, Agazarm managed to secure another takedown, secure a mount, and submit the YouTuber with a well-executed armbar. Agazarm signed with Bellator in 2019, compiling a 3-2 record in the MMA promotion despite losing his debut match to Jesse Roberts, according to reports mirror.

Paul, on the other hand, scored a victory in his amateur boxing debut against Deja, knocking him out in the fifth round, before launching his professional career in 2020 with a first-round knockout of fellow YouTuber AnEsonGib. He has amassed a 9-1 record over the past four years, defeating UFC stars Nate Diaz, Ben Askren, Anderson Silva and Tyron Woodley twice each – his only loss was a narrow decision loss to Tommy Fury in February 2023.

Although he was scheduled to face Mike Tyson this weekend, the 58-year-old boxing legend had to pull out of the fight earlier this year due to health issues. Instead, Paul is set to face undefeated BKFC star Mike Perry on July 20 in his toughest challenge yet.

But Paul isn’t limiting himself to boxing, signing a groundbreaking MMA deal with the Professional Fighters League last January. The internet sensation turned boxing sensation said at the time: “I’ve proven myself in and out of the boxing ring and now I’m looking to do the same in MMA and there’s no limit to the positive impact I can have on the sport.”

Despite not yet stepping into the PFL Astute Cage, Paul could soon lock horns in an MMA fight with Diaz. Diaz’s challenge comes after Paul and PFL boss Donn Davis offered a tempting $15m (£11.6m) for a blockbuster fight in the PFL, which Diaz turned down in favour of a boxing rematch with former UFC opponent Jorge Masvidal.

Undeterred, Paul, preparing to fight Perry at an open training session on Wednesday, sent Diaz another invitation: “Nate Diaz should have accepted my $15 million MMA offer, but yesterday’s price is not today’s price. So now that he needs the money, the offer is going down. And I’m still ready to apply it in the PFL against Nate Diaz.”

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UK Boxing

Mike Tyson candidly admitted to fighting Jake Paul before buying his £11 million mansion

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Despite earlier declarations that the fight with Jake Paul would not affect his lifestyle, Mike Tyson spent £11 million on a up-to-date, elegant residence. The 58-year-old icon returned to the ring last year in a spectacle streamed on Netflix against the YouTuber-turned-boxer.

The fight, initially postponed due to health problems Tyson experienced in May, ultimately resulted in a victory for 31-year-old Paul at AT&T Stadium in Texas in November. Tyson made around £16m from the event but was adamant that money was not his motivation.

He said Fox Sports Radio after the fight: “No, no, no, this paycheck won’t change my lifestyle at all.” Before the fight, he rejected claims that the reason for his return as a “bull****” was for financial gain.

At the MMA event, Tyson explained: “I’m a man, I want to go out there and take risks. Sometimes I want to see who I really am. I want to see what I’m really made of. I want to perform in front of the world.”

Nevertheless, just a few months after the fight, Tyson treated himself to a luxurious mansion in Delray Beach, Florida. According to Palm Beach Post Officethe property deal closed for $13 million (just under £11 million), and earlier this week a special guarantee agreement was filed confirming that Tyson now owns the 2.7-acre estate in the exclusive Tierra del Rey Estates.

Joseph Jonathan Schneider, representing Tyson, said: “This was a successful transaction and all parties demonstrated professionalism and cooperation. The Tyson family has been a valued client and friend for many years and it has been a pleasure working with them.”

Real estate agent Matthew Maschler previously revealed how Tyson was tempted to buy in Tierra del Rey Estates, which translates to “Land of Kings,” after his daughter started playing tennis in the area. He said, “Basically, he likes that his daughter is playing tennis and playing tennis in Delray.”

While most boxing followers can’t wait for Tyson to hang up his gloves, speculation is rife about a potential third fight with 62-year-old Evander Holyfield, who won the first fight between the pair in 1996. In the rematch, Tyson was disqualified after biting off a piece of his opponent’s ear.

Actor and martial arts expert Paulo Tocha, who is close to Tyson, recently said: “Finally [of the Paul fight]he kind of let us know there was another one coming. Most likely, however, it will be Evander. Him and Evander – after what happened to his ear and all that. So it will most likely be something like this.”

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UK Boxing

Start time of the Darren Till vs. Anthony Taylor fight at Misfits Boxing 20

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Tonight in Manchester, Darren Till will finally step into the ring against Anthony Taylor.

The former UFC title challenger was originally scheduled to face Tommy Fury, but Fury pulled out after Till threatened to kick him in the face. Now Till is ready to make his Misfits debut against Taylor. “Pretty Boy” has decent in-ring experience, having already defeated Salt Papi and King Kenny.

Taylor, who was previously defeated by Fury, will pose a tough challenge for Till, who returns to competition two years after leaving the UFC, where he was a welterweight title challenger. There’s plenty of action on the undercard tonight too, and here’s everything you need to know about tonight’s fights…

What time is Darren Till – Anthony Taylor tonight?

The star-studded gala will take place at the Co-Op Live Arena in Manchester. The main card is expected to start around 6pm UK time, 12pm ET and 9am PT. The main event ring walks will likely take place around 10 p.m. The two stars will touch gloves just after 10:15 p.m., before the first bell rings. The fight is not expected to start later, but may be pushed forward if the card shortage fights end earlier than expected.

How to watch Darren Till vs Anthony Taylor on TV and live in the UK

The eagerly anticipated clash between the two fighters will be broadcast live on DAZN, available in over 200 countries around the world. This event is included in the standard DAZN subscription package, giving boxing enthusiasts the chance to sign up to the site and follow all the action.

Full Misfits 20 fight card and UK start times

Darren Till vs. Anthony Taylor – 10 p.m
Wade Plemons vs. Masai Warrior – 9:00 p.m
Carla Jade vs. Melanie Shah – 8:30 p.m
Sami Hamed vs. Ziggy Johnson – 8:00 p.m
Ty Mitchell vs. Tommy Hench – 7:30 p.m
Adam Brooks vs. Gavinio – 7:00 p.m
BBCC Gareth vs. Kak Hatt – 18:30
Little T vs. Afghan Dan – 6:00 p.m

Quotes corner

Darren Till stated: “You are just shit. Sorry to be disrespectful, but you really are shit. You fall off your feet and flap your wings. Actually, I don’t think so. you realize what you’re getting into with me. So I won’t even talk, I’ll just beat you. I respect you and then I’ll just move on because you really are shit, I promise you, you’re shit.”

Anthony Taylor calculated: “He may have more experience in the cage, but I have more experience in the boxing ring. You can’t expect an MMA or UFC fighter to come in and beat someone who has that kind of boxing experience. Look what happened when Mike Perry came to box with Jake Paul. He felt ashamed.

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UK Boxing

Logan Paul begs his boss to let him fight UFC star Conor McGregor

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Logan Paul directly approached Ari Emanuel, the head of Endeavor, owner of the UFC and WWE, for a chance to face Conor McGregor in the ring.

Last month, it was reported that McGregor was negotiating to fight Jake Paul’s older sibling. On X – the platform formerly known as Twitter – the Irish fighter denied rumors of a fight with UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria, stating: “The rumors about the fight with Topuria are false. I have preliminary arrangements with the Ambani family to face Logan Paul at a boxing exhibition in India. I then agreed to return to the octagon.

This potential megafight could net both fighters a staggering $250 million. Even though “The Maverick” recently confirmed his commitment to WWE, the tempting offer of a fight with the former two-time UFC champion might just lure him back to the boxing ring.

In a novel clip on his YouTube channel, Paul was seen attending the premiere of WWE Raw on Netflix. He did not compete but appeared in a pre-recorded interview before taking his ringside seat. The 29-year-old influencer was spotted hanging out with wrestling stars like Kevin Owens and LA Knight, but his most captivating moment was his clash with Emanuel – the huge boss of Endeavor and TKO Group, the entities behind WWE and UFC.

Paul was captured in a candid moment as Emanuel gave a candid hug and handshake before saying, “Ari, I need one favor from you,” to which the Endeavor boss replied, “Yes.” Give me the green featherlight to fight Conor.” There was a shared laugh and they both said “seriously” almost in unison.

The same footage also showed Paul’s openness to facing McGregor, despite his WWE commitments. Referencing the previous interaction, the clip then cut to a sequence suggesting a phone conversation about a potential fight, allegedly with McGregor on speakerphone and announcing: “This could really happen,” Paul holding up his cellphone. “It can and will happen,” the Irishman confidently assured.

In the following scenes, Paul brainstorms promotional ideas with WWE writer Rob Fee, considering announcing the end of his boxing career for shock value. “Saying no more boxing will attract attention,” he noted, quickly correcting himself. “Because it’s not true. If Conor McGregor wants to fight, we do it. I mean, bro, that’s an epic match… That would be something I’d like to do, step away from WWE for a while [that fight]. $250 million, bro. I have to take it. If Nick Khan can achieve this, I will stay in WWE.”

Paul noted that the Irishman appeared to be nudging UFC chief Dana White to approve the fight, saying, “I think he’s trying to put pressure on Dana to make it happen because he’s owned by the UFC,” and noted, “He can’t f**k *******, let alone fighting without them knowing.

However, White recently issued a challenge on the Pardon My Take podcast, pointing to a different path for “The Notorious”: “Ultimately,” he said in regards to a potential fight with McGregor in 2025, adding emphatically: “No, no (he won’t fight KSI or Logan Paul]I hope Conor McGregor returns in the fall.

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