Did Bellew nearly fight UFC champ Bisping?

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Bellew on Whyte vs Ngannou: “Ngannou stands zero chance in a boxing ring”

Last Updated: 28/05/20 5:48pm

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Bellew explains how close he came to fighting Bisping

Bellew explains how close he came to fighting Bisping

Tony Bellew has revealed that talks to face UFC champion Michael Bisping came to nothing partly because his potential opponent preferred to meet in the boxing ring.

British pair Bellew and Bisping each finally became world champions of their respective sports late in their careers and their paths nearly crossed.

Bellew told Sky Sports: “I met with guys from IMG who own the UFC, buying it from the Fertitta brothers. I saw them in Las Vegas, spoke a couple of words with them, and it was quite apparent that it would never happen.

Bisping is the UK's most successful UFC fighter Bisping is the UK's most successful UFC fighter

Bisping is the UK’s most successful UFC fighter
Bisping became UFC middleweight champion Bisping became UFC middleweight champion

Bisping became UFC middleweight champion

“I wasn’t going to get what I wanted to take the risk that I would have to take.

“Michael wanted to do it in the boxing ring. I said: ‘There’s just no point at all because that would be a massacre!’

“I’m a huge fan of Bisping. If he gets me in the cage? If I clip him before he gets me on the floor? He’s a legend, the greatest mixed martial artist that has ever come out of the UK.

“He’s brilliant, so charismatic. He paved the way for UFC fighters from the UK. He opened the doors and showed them the way.

“We have another amazing fighter in Darren Till from Liverpool who is hot on his tail but there is a fair way to go. Darren is only a baby in the MMA world.

“There are so many exciting guys in the UFC, the fights are always fantastic. There is only one [governing body] in control. One man, Dana White, is in control. It makes it easy to make big fights happen.”

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‘Ngannou has no chance against Whyte in a boxing ring’

‘Ngannou has no chance against Whyte in a boxing ring’

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Eddie Hearn says there is a genuine chance that Dillian Whyte could face UFC star Francis Ngannou towards the end of the year.

Eddie Hearn says there is a genuine chance that Dillian Whyte could face UFC star Francis Ngannou towards the end of the year.

Dillian Whyte and UFC heavyweight Francis Ngannou have exchanged challenges in the past week but Bellew insists they would have to agree to an MMA fight to make it competitive.

“Ngannou stands zero chance in a boxing ring,” Bellew said. “It is a completely different sport with a completely different set of rules and totally different technique. Boxing is so different to MMA and Ngannou doesn’t stand a hope in boxing.

“In a cage? I make it 60-40 in Ngannou’s favour because he has experience with small gloves.

“Dillian is massively improved, he’s not 18-years-old swinging for the lights. He is established and ready to be world champion. The most improved heavyweight. He massively deserves his shot. He is someone I enjoy watching – like an old-school fighter he’d fight anyone, anywhere.

“But you’re on a hiding to nothing [in MMA] if you fight someone who is pretty good on the floor.

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Back in 2008 Dillian Whyte made his MMA debut, knocking out his opponent in just 12 seconds!

Back in 2008 Dillian Whyte made his MMA debut, knocking out his opponent in just 12 seconds!

“I give Dillian every chance in a cage. It is easy pickings for him in a boxing match, a one-sided beating. In a cage Ngannou is the favourite but I give Whyte the greatest chance of any boxer going into a cage.

“It’s a great match-up because Ngannou isn’t a great wrestler, he doesn’t go to the ground much, he just has a fight with his fists.

“Dillian is on another level with his punches. If Ngannou thinks he hits hard, believe me, that if Dillian hits anyone with 4oz gloves they will go to sleep straight away.

“If Ngannou catches Dillian first? Dillian goes out like a light.

“It would literally be whoever lands first, that’s how explosive that fight is.”

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