Mayweather Moving To MMA?

[y2krog2000]

MMA round-up: Mayweather moving?
Eurosport - Thu, 27 Dec 13:19:00 2007
All the latest news from the world of Mixed Martial Arts, including news of a potential shock convert from boxing...

The biggest news in MMA history? Or a shameless piece of promotion? It has been reported this week that Floyd Mayweather, the world's best boxer, might be considering a deal to switch to MMA under the HDNet Fights banner, promoted by Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban.

"We're definitely going to work together," said Cuban, who became friends when they were both contestants this year on Dancing with the Stars. "It's just a question of in what capacity. You just don't jump from being a boxer to an MMA fighter overnight. He's got to test the waters."

While Mayweather's advisors insist that PBF is interested in a move to MMA in the future, it is far more likely the announcement is nothing more than a publicity stunt to raise awareness of the new HDNet organisation.

Any fight that might happen would likely be against a cherry-picked opponent, designed to raise Mayweather's profile with MMA fans ahead of his next PPV boxing promotion.

And it does beg the question, how does Floyd expect his famously brittle hands to hold up to punching a guy's head in those skimpy 5oz gloves?

BISPING FACES THE CHAINSAW

Michael Bisping faces a tough test in his first fight as a middleweight - American Top Team have revealed their fighter Charles McCarthy will face Bisping at UFC 83 on March 8.

Ultimate Fighter 4 participant McCarthy has a mixed record in the UFC. He was defeated by David Loiseau at UFC 53 in June 2005 before being invited on the Ultimate Fighter series, where he was beaten by Pete Sell. However, "Chainsaw" returned to fight on the card of the live finale in November 2006, beating Gideon Ray with a first-round armbar - his last professional fight.

Bisping is looking to get back on track after suffering his first professional loss in 16 fights, a split-decision to Rashad Evans in a light-heavyweight clash at UFC 78 in November.

The fight will be in Liverpool's brand new waterfront arena, close to Bisping's Wolfslair Gym in Widnes.

UNIFICATION BOUT CONFIRMED

The UFC have turned to Dan Henderson in their latest bid to provide competition for the rampaging Anderson Silva; the pair will contest only the second-ever UFC-Pride title unification bout at UFC 82 on March 1.

The American Grego-Roman wrestler against the Brazilian ju-jitsu black-belt should be a classic match-up, with the organisation hoping Henderson - fighting at his natural weight of 185 pounds after a spell at light-heavy - can inject some life in to the division after "The Spider's" awesome cleaning-up job over the last 12 months.

ACE CROCKED - AGAIN...

Rich Franklin has been forced to pull out of a potential clash against Travis Lutter at UFC 82 after tearing a meniscus in his right knee.

"Ace" had been slated to fight in his home state of Ohio in the first of a new six-fight deal, but is now expected to be out until around June after undergoing surgery.

Frankin has recently been one of the most unlucky fighters around in regards to injury; he suffered severely broken hands and a bust ankle in November 2005 in a fight against David Loiseau, and broke his nose in his first title loss to Silva last year. The most recent injury is thought to be a repeat of the knee tear he suffered a number of years ago.

CAGE RAGE CARD TAKES SHAPE

Cage Rage 25 might still be over three months away, but the British organisation are already slating fights to wet the public's appetite for the March 8 event at Wembley Arena.

With a big-name bill-topper still in the pipeline following the partnership with Elite XC, Cage Rage have announced three of the 11 fights - with up-and-coming heavyweight star Neil "Goliath" Grove handed his toughest test yet in former Cage Rage British Heavyweight Champion Rob Broughton.

Meanwhile, Roman Webber gets the chance for a measure of revenge on Ivan Serati in a light-heavyweight bout - the Italian beat Webber's SSJ Studios training partner Lee Hadsell last time out at Cage Rage 24.

MR INTERNATIONAL PAYS FOR OUTBURST

Motor-mouth Shonie Carter has been released from his UFC contract after the organisation took exception to an interview he gave where he said the UFC were messing him around - except, of course, in more colourful language...

However, the veteran has already had several offers to fight again, and could be set to take on quality lightweight Drew Fickett, who was last seen in Cage Rage 24, beating Mark Weir with a first-round rear naked choke.

"I want all of those alphabets put together, HDNet, Elite XC, Strikeforce and M-1," a typically modest Carter said, "and I will win all of their titles and come lay them with the other thirteen I have here."

MMA round-up: Mayweather moving? - Yahoo! Eurosport UK

Think he should stick to boxing.