Floyd Mayweather mulling move to MMA in deal with Cuban

Unread post by **$outhPhillypuppet** » December 21st, 2007, 10:12 pm

By Dan Rafael and Marc Stein
ESPN.com

Floyd Mayweather Jr., the world's No. 1 boxer, is strongly considering a revolutionary jump to mixed martial arts under a deal being discussed with Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban.

Leonard Ellerbe, Mayweather's adviser and best friend, told ESPN.com Friday night that the five-division world champion, who generated 3.25 million pay-per-view buys and more than $200 million in revenue in two mega fights in 2007, came away from a Thursday meeting with Cuban giving serious thought to taking his game and considerable drawing power to MMA.

"It's definitely something he is interested in, and when Floyd makes his move, obviously it's going to be a mega event," Ellerbe said. "We don't have a timetable. Floyd is taking some time off, but Floyd understands what is involved. You have to take time to go out and understand what you're getting involved in, and he's ready to do that. But it's something he's definitely interested in doing.

"Mark Cuban is a very successful business man and has some very, very successful business ventures that we've discussed. We're looking to do a lot of business with Mark. He's a great guy, and we had a great meeting. Doing an MMA event with him is most definitely something we are looking at, among many things we are looking at doing with Mark Cuban."

Mayweather's interest in participating in an MMA event was sparked after he struck up a friendship with Cuban during their participation this season as contestants on the ABC reality series "Dancing with the Stars."

Cuban was Mayweather's guest at the fight and even carried two of his championship belts into the ring before he knocked out England's Ricky Hatton to retain the welterweight world championship Dec. 8 in Las Vegas.

Mayweather and Cuban were together again Thursday in Las Vegas, where they met to discuss various business ventures, including Mayweather participating in an MMA event.

A few boxers, such as former heavyweight contenders Ray Mercer and Frans Botha, have attempted to compete in mixed martial arts with little success. Mayweather's entrance would bring it to another level, especially at a time when the sports have been pitted against each other by fans and media -- MMA as the hotshot newcomer trying to overtake the century-old, more traditional sweet science.

One of Cuban's many business interests is ownership of HDNet Fights, a fledgling mixed martial arts promotional company whose bouts are aired on Cuban's HDNet. Cuban promoted his second event Dec. 15 in Dallas.

"Floyd is considering fighting with HDNet Fights," Cuban told ESPN.com. "We are going to let him visit some gyms to talk to some folks about what it would take to learn. He knows it won't be easy. But he is getting involved with MMA and HDNet Fights one way or another. He is pumped about it. He wants to go on to the next big thing. Floyd is a brilliant marketer. He follows the money."

Indeed, Mayweather, like Cuban, knows how to make money. Mayweather, 30, won the year's two biggest fights, a decision against Oscar De La Hoya in May in a fight that shattered all boxing revenue records and a 10th-round knockout of Hatton that did 850,000 buys and $47 million in television revenue on HBO PPV.

Mayweather-De La Hoya, with 2.4 million buys, set the all-time PPV record. Mayweather-Hatton was the biggest PPV fight in history not involving De La Hoya or heavyweights Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield.

Mayweather earned about $50 million for the two fights.

"If I said there's a guaranteed $30 million payday, Floyd would be lacing them up," Cuban said, optimistic that Mayweather would eventually participate in an MMA match. "If not, I could see him working to train and develop and invest in MMA fighters, knowing the upside. He can teach them how to be a better boxer and add to their other skills."

After each of his last three fights, Mayweather has talked about retirement or, at least, an extended break. Ellerbe said Mayweather is on vacation now but that when he returns, they'll discuss the prospect of an MMA bout in more detail.

"Floyd is about taking on challenges," Ellerbe said. "This ain't some kind of prank. That is one of many things we've talked about with Mark. Floyd would have to take time to really understand it, but it is most definitely something he is interested in."

Unread post by **$outhPhillypuppet** » December 21st, 2007, 10:14 pm

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHHH SHIT

Dream Match
Floyd Mayweather vs Norifumi Yamamoto

Unread post by **oso1** » December 21st, 2007, 11:29 pm

If this is true, I think this would be a big mistake for Mayweather. MMA is a whole differen't animal compared to boxing.

If Floyd just fought a Muay Thai match (elbows, clinching and knee's) he would be in danger of being KO'd.

Those round house kick's to the thigh of a boxer, who stands in that slightly angled stance are dangerous. Just one can knock you off your feet, or hurt you so bad that it would affect your balance or footwork.

If Floyd should let his opponent in close on him, his opponent would clinch right away and let those knee's and elbows go !

And then you add the ground game = MMA, with those small ass gloves and Floyd's fragile hands, that would be a major mistake.

Floyd could learn a lot MMA and try to fight, but hes 30yrs old, most of his life has been in boxing. It would just be a habit for him to do the shoulder roll defense, the angled boxing stance, ducking a punch and many other things that are not wise to do in MMA.

I'm not hating on Mayweather, It's just my opinion.

Unread post by **$outhPhillypuppet** » December 21st, 2007, 11:53 pm

I'd pay to see this fight if it went down.

Floyd

KID Yamamoto

Unread post by **creativemind** » December 28th, 2007, 1:07 am

oso1 wrote:If this is true, I think this would be a big mistake for Mayweather. MMA is a whole differen't animal compared to boxing.

If Floyd just fought a Muay Thai match (elbows, clinching and knee's) he would be in danger of being KO'd.

Those round house kick's to the thigh of a boxer, who stands in that slightly angled stance are dangerous. Just one can knock you off your feet, or hurt you so bad that it would affect your balance or footwork.

If Floyd should let his opponent in close on him, his opponent would clinch right away and let those knee's and elbows go !

And then you add the ground game = MMA, with those small ass gloves and Floyd's fragile hands, that would be a major mistake.

Floyd could learn a lot MMA and try to fight, but hes 30yrs old, most of his life has been in boxing. It would just be a habit for him to do the shoulder roll defense, the angled boxing stance, ducking a punch and many other things that are not wise to do in MMA.

I'm not hating on Mayweather, It's just my opinion.

That's a very good and accurate breakdown of what would happen. Floyd would need a solid 3 years of training before jumping onto MMA.

Unread post by **creativemind** » December 28th, 2007, 1:13 am

$outhPhillypuppet wrote:I'd pay to see this fight if it went down.

Floyd

KID Yamamoto

Puppet, I like the way you think, but we both know that'll never happen. Ground and pound is Floyd's worst nightmare; even more than the ground game. He can alway tap to a submission and just say he got caught. We all get caught when we train. But to get KTFO would be something hard for him to swallow. I could see I could see Joe Rogan snickering while he interviewed him and Floyd not remember what the fuck happened.

Unread post by **BxxMILITIA** » December 28th, 2007, 11:58 pm

word, if it hits the ground, floyds in trouble...but if they stand thru out the fight, of course, floyd would dominate...but its no suprise that an MMA fighter aint that stupid...theyll try 2 go strait for the takedown n land elbows all day...if anything floyd needs time...

Unread post by **bgpride1** » December 29th, 2007, 4:40 pm

BxxMILITIA wrote:word, if it hits the ground, floyds in trouble...but if they stand thru out the fight, of course, floyd would dominate...but its no suprise that an MMA fighter aint that stupid...theyll try 2 go strait for the takedown n land elbows all day...if anything floyd needs time...

You act like the first contact in fightin aint his strength [hands swaggin] thats why jokers who try and wrestle off the bat get knocked out. He would need atleast 18 months of training and strenthing up, but in the meantime he could fight cans with weak ground games themselves. He could make it happen, because most fighters would be scared of his hand speed anyway. I think his hand problems are his biggest problem.

Unread post by **BxxMILITIA** » December 29th, 2007, 11:31 pm

mayweather got hand problems???since when???

Unread post by **$outhPhillypuppet** » December 30th, 2007, 12:03 am

I think he'll either be like Kit Cope or Josh Koscheck.
Kit Cope DOMINATED in Mauy Thai but was one dimensional in MMA and got dogged.
Josh Koscheck got some crazy wrestling skills and is also one dimensional but fights alot of bums and wins.

Unread post by **bgpride1** » December 30th, 2007, 6:46 am

BxxMILITIA wrote:mayweather got hand problems???since when???

Hes had hand priblems since 01 when he hit that mexican fighter on top of his head [hernandez] and went down to one knee in pain, he finished beating the guy with one hand. His whole body is starting to tear down.Thats why mayweather is beating guys with one hand most of the time.

Unread post by **oso1** » January 20th, 2008, 10:10 am

Heres an Interveiw that Mayweather Sr. gave about Floyd fighting in MMA.

http://news.proelite.com/86115

The quotes come from an interview with FightHype.com.

"He needs to leave that shit alone. He’s going to get the same fucking thing Vince Phillips got; leg broke, arm broke or whatever. Vince Phillips got his arm broke. You can’t mess with that…that’s what they do. You can’t beat nobody at their own game."

"All of this he talking about right now, this martial arts shit, I’m telling you, he about to get broke the fuck up right now. I’m telling you, he could forget all of that stuff being cute and how you supposed to hit somebody with a check hook. Man, them motherfucker’s going to take that check hook motherfucker and squeeze your guts out. I’m just being real with you man."

"If he ever want to take a motherfuckin’ loss, you bout to take one right now motherfucker. Go ahead and try that. One of them motherfuckers grab you and bing, bing…hit the floor twice motherfucker and it’s over with."

"Lil Floyd about to get his ass tore up man. He ain’t about to whoop them motherfuckers. He can forget that shit!"

"Man, let me tell you something, they don’t even need a referee for this shit right here. They ain’t going to need a referee because he’s going to tap his own self out if he’s able." "They going to break his fucking limbs. One of them motherfuckers hit him upside his fucking head and he may never be the same. I’m just telling the truth." "He ain’t got to worry about retiring. When they get through with his ass, he will be retired. He will be retired fucking with them motherfuckers. They would love to fight him. This ain’t no fucking boxing; ain’t none of these motherfuckers scared of his ass. I’ll fight one of them motherfuckers if they just want to throw their guards up. I’m old and I’ll beat they ass, but when they start talking about that going to the ground, elbows and knees and all of that, man fuck that shit. I ain’t about to go in there. Them motherfuckers dangerous man. One thing about it, them guys can take a fucking punch man. Those guys will laugh at Lil Floyd when he hit them."