Floyd Mayweather retires from boxing, MMA next?

[Hollywood]

Holy shit.
 
http://www.sportsline.com/mmaboxing/story/10856526
 
If that's not enough, the Sherdog forums are going nuts that Dana White of UFC has a major announcement, that he's signing Mayweather. Take it with a grain of salt, but this would be huge. The best pound for pound boxer retiring from boxing to goto Mixed Martial Arts?

http://www.sherdog.net/forums/f2/major-rumor-danas-announcement-793717/

 

[crimsondynamics]

Wouldn't he be completely outclassed in MMA?

Mayweather may be a hell of a boxer, but MMA guys are well-versed in many disciplines and unlike boxers, use fist, feet, knees and elbows. They also do moves (takedowns, submissions) that are not allowed in boxing. More than that, MMA fighters are used to having all these weapons at their disposal, unlike boxers who have to make do with punches.

[ToxicAdam]

Why would he take a paycut?

[Rman]

Why would he take a paycut?

Exactly.  Money management issues?

[chronovore]

I dunno about Mayweather, but promotionally speaking this would make Zuffa approximately a gajillion dollars.

[pilonv1]

basically. mayweather v bj penn would possibly do 2million+ buys.

it would probably cost UFC $4-5million to get Floyd in but it's guaranteed business for at least 2-3 shows.

[Candyflip]

Yeah..Sherdog has been clamoring about this "big announcement" for a while now. I don't see Dana digging too deep into his pockets for Mayweather if he wouldn't spend big on Fedor. White seems to have one of these announcements every other UFC.

Besides, he's a fantastic boxer, but I don't even thinking he would break into even the middle of the pack for a while considering he has had zero training on the ground. I would still love to see him in the cage though.

[crimsondynamics]

I saw this fight once where they paired up this boxer with a street fighter.

No contest. The street fighter completely and utterly gang-raped the boxer. The boxer was in a guard position waiting for the punch and the street fighter just went and did everything except conventional boxing. The poor boxer didn't know what hit him.

I think Mayweather would suffer a similar fate, unless he trained in several disciplines and was at least familiar with locks, submissions, grapples and groundwork. It's not that Mayweather isn't a great boxer - far from it. It's that he simply will enter the ring with far fewer tools and resources to work with than the average MMA fighter.

[pilonv1]

It depends on the type of fighter they put him in with. If they put him in with a BJ Penn or Sean Sherk who would be bigger and stronger than him and would kill him if they got him on the ground.

But if they put him in with a decent 155lber who is more of a kickboxer and will stand and trade with him then it's a good matchup.

The other problem is that Floyd isn't a power puncher, there's no point being a technique striker in MMA otherwise you end up like that taco Nick Diaz

[crimsondynamics]

It depends on the type of fighter they put him in with. If they put him in with a BJ Penn or Sean Sherk who would be bigger and stronger than him and would kill him if they got him on the ground.

But if they put him in with a decent 155lber who is more of a kickboxer and will stand and trade with him then it's a good matchup.

The other problem is that Floyd isn't a power puncher, there's no point being a technique striker in MMA otherwise you end up like that taco Nick Diaz

True, it would depend on the matchup. With kickboxers it would be pretty interesting. If anything, boxers in his category are stupid fast but have enough oomph in their punches, and at least boxers know about clinching. I just thought him being Mayweather and all, if he did go into MMA it'd be great to see him against a grappler or a submission specialist. That would be entertaining for a bit but I think he'd get the living daylights knocked out of him.

I hope it does happen, because I've got a bet with a buddy on this: he swears a good boxer would win with the weaving and bobbing, and I'm adamant that if he goes up against, say a Randy Couture or Chuck Liddell it'd be another story.

[bagofeyes]

No way he'll ever fight in MMA.

[Candyflip]

The other problem is that Floyd isn't a power puncher, there's no point being a technique striker in MMA otherwise you end up like that taco Nick Diaz

Oh come on, Diaz has more KO/TKO wins than submissions. He might not throw power like Gomi but he can hold his own on his feet.

Besides, boxing gloves cushion the blow a lot more. Mayweather would be more than capable of KOs.

Well, the event is in 4 1/2 hours anyway. We'll know soon

[Phoenix Dark]

50 Cent beat the shit out of him. How's he gonna do MMA?

[crimsondynamics]

He hould go up against this guy:

http://gonintendo.com/?p=45510

[Phoenix Dark]

50 Cent beat the shit out of him. How's he gonna do MMA?

Bullshit.

[youtube=425,350]k4dvm8vsh4M[/youtube]

u already knooow

[/julez santana]

[BamYouHaveAids]

basically. mayweather v bj penn would possibly do 2million+ buys.

it would probably cost UFC $4-5million to get Floyd in but it's guaranteed business for at least 2-3 shows.

He made around $15 million for a single fight against De La Hoya and even more in the Hatton fight. Why would he sign with the UFC to do multiple fights for $4-5 million?

[bork]

He's going to be a full-time WWE wrestler, after his ultra-successful $20 million bout against The Big Show!

spoiler (click to show/hide)

[close]

[Boogie]

I can't imagine Mayweather taking the pay cut to fight MMA.  No chance, imo.

[Candyflip]

http://www.mediatakeout.com/24196/explosive_rumor_floyd_mayweather_retired_from_boxing__and_hes_set_to_sign_a_200m_deal_with_the_ufc.html

June 08, 2008.   MediaTakeOut.com has just caught word of an EARTH SHAKING rumor. According to a number of sources within the UFC, Floyd Mayweather is set to be the first big name boxer to sign on as a mixed martial arts fighter.

One UFC insider, who asked to remain nameless, told MediaTakeOut.com that the reported deal will net Floyd more than $200 million in cash and equity in teh UFC. Word is that the deal will be announced at a press conference set for this Thursday.

Still skeptical.

Actually, I can't believe they would shell out $200 million for someone who would probably struggle to maintain a .500 record. He would bring in the PPV buys though

[BamYouHaveAids]

http://www.mediatakeout.com/24196/explosive_rumor_floyd_mayweather_retired_from_boxing__and_hes_set_to_sign_a_200m_deal_with_the_ufc.html

June 08, 2008.   MediaTakeOut.com has just caught word of an EARTH SHAKING rumor. According to a number of sources within the UFC, Floyd Mayweather is set to be the first big name boxer to sign on as a mixed martial arts fighter.

One UFC insider, who asked to remain nameless, told MediaTakeOut.com that the reported deal will net Floyd more than $200 million in cash and equity in teh UFC. Word is that the deal will be announced at a press conference set for this Thursday.

Still skeptical.

Actually, I can't believe they would shell out $200 million for someone who would probably struggle to maintain a .500 record. He would bring in the PPV buys though

Dana White would not shell out that kind of money. Don't the UFC champions get $150,000 a fight at best? (not including bonuses)

[bork]

Don't know if it's a similar practice in MMA, but Mayweather claimed he got $20 million for his WWE stint, which was complete and utter bullshit.

[Candyflip]

Dana White would not shell out that kind of money. Don't the UFC champions get $150,000 a fight at best? (not including bonuses)

Yeah, 200-250k. I think Liddell gets more. I remember hearing $500,000 when he fought Wanderlei, but I don't know if that's legit.

Oh, http://www.wrestlingherald.com/headlines.php?subaction=showfull&id=1212871181&archive=&start_from=&ucat=8&

Dana White, who is in England for today's UFC pay-per-view, spoke to Setanta Sports is being quoted as saying that UFC is 'due to have an all star caliber boxer make the jump to mma to help legitimize the sport'.

[Boogie]

http://www.mediatakeout.com/24196/explosive_rumor_floyd_mayweather_retired_from_boxing__and_hes_set_to_sign_a_200m_deal_with_the_ufc.html

June 08, 2008.   MediaTakeOut.com has just caught word of an EARTH SHAKING rumor. According to a number of sources within the UFC, Floyd Mayweather is set to be the first big name boxer to sign on as a mixed martial arts fighter.

One UFC insider, who asked to remain nameless, told MediaTakeOut.com that the reported deal will net Floyd more than $200 million in cash and equity in teh UFC. Word is that the deal will be announced at a press conference set for this Thursday.

Still skeptical.

Actually, I can't believe they would shell out $200 million for someone who would probably struggle to maintain a .500 record. He would bring in the PPV buys though

That source is utter bullshit.  UFC's total revenues in 2006 were around $250 million.  No way PBF would get that much.

Dana White would not shell out that kind of money. Don't the UFC champions get $150,000 a fight at best? (not including bonuses)

Yeah, 200-250k. I think Liddell gets more. I remember hearing $500,000 when he fought Wanderlei, but I don't know if that's legit.

Oh, http://www.wrestlingherald.com/headlines.php?subaction=showfull&id=1212871181&archive=&start_from=&ucat=8&

Dana White, who is in England for today's UFC pay-per-view, spoke to Setanta Sports is being quoted as saying that UFC is 'due to have an all star caliber boxer make the jump to mma to help legitimize the sport'.

Before bonuses, Chuck gets 500k.  But it is widely known that Chuck makes between 2 and 5 million per fight.  Randy made around 1 million a fight.  GSP probably makes around 500k a fight.

The disclosed payrolls are not all that fighters make, but through rumours and hints, it is possible to have a rough idea of what UFC fighters make.  Still not enough to lure PBF, though.

Also, CindyO, a source who is close to Dana, says that Dana denies nabbing PBF.