Conor McGregor has issued a public challenge to Paulie Malignaggi…
Out of all the potential next bouts for Conor McGregor, this one seems the least likely to occur. As we’ve come to expect in this current era of combat sports, however, sometimes the craziest fights are the ones we get.
While potential bouts with Tony Ferguson and Nate Diaz also hang in the balance, neither Conor McGregor or Paulie Malignaggi can stop talking about facing each other.
Conor McGregor vs. Paulie Malignaggi
Conor McGregor was in Ireland over the weekend and took part in a fan Q&A session. The 29-year-old has kept quiet since his bout with Floyd “Money” Mayweather earlier this year. It’s currently rumored that Conor’s next fight will be scheduled for UFC 219 on December 30th.
During the Q&A, Conor commented on possibly facing Malignaggi. While Malignaggi might be pleased to hear Conor is willing to face him, he won’t like the one condition the UFC lightweight champion is placing on the bout: that it takes place under MMA rules as opposed to boxing.
McGregor tells Paulie Malignaggi to bring his balls and come to MMA
— Chisanga Malata (@Chisanga_Malata) September 29, 2017
Conor reportedly made a statement directed towards Paulie that the only way they are facing each other is in an MMA cage.
Artem Lobov to Face Paulie Malignaggi?
After taking a loss to Andre “Touchy” Fili in Poland over the weekend, SBG Ireland’s Artem Lobov has hinted at transitioning to boxing. Should he do so, the Russian/Irish hammer believes Paulie provides an interesting match-up for him.
Lobov’s trash-talking isn’t quite as intense as some of his teammate’s but here is what he had to say about facing Paulie in a boxing ring:
“I wouldn’t mind chancing my arm in boxing,” Lobov said. “I do know I have a contract with the UFC. I’ll talk to them. I’ll ask them, would they release me maybe, and allow me to take a few boxing fights?”
“Paulie wouldn’t be a bad fight. I know he’s after big paydays. He’s retired, so he might not be interested in a fight against me, but if he was I would be all for it.”
Paulie Comments on Facing Conor and Lobov
Paulie didn’t take long to respond to either Conor’s challenge from the Q&A or Lobov’s comments about facing him in a boxing ring:
I tell you what we could do just so we at least even the stakes, I fight he and Conor in the same night. I'm not even kidding either lol. https://t.co/u9IEivj1Ua
— Paul Malignaggi (@PaulMalignaggi) October 24, 2017
Even the old UFC tournaments gave you time between fights when fighting multiple times in a night. Same platform I stop them both #Boxing https://t.co/JCuNfQb6cx
— Paul Malignaggi (@PaulMalignaggi) October 24, 2017
Seemingly, Paulie is asking for a set-up similar to what Bellator does for their joint MMA/Kickboxing shows. A ring is set up on the arena floor and next to it an MMA cage. Paulie, according to his own comments, is suggesting he would simply outbox Lobov in the boxing ring and then saunter over to the MMA cage to fight Conor.
This scenario becoming reality seems too far-fetched to ever become reality but then again, that’s what many people said about Mayweather vs. Conor.
According to Paulie, negotiations are already underway to create a red-panty night in the Malignaggi household.
‘I know Al Haymon’s talking to Dana White,’ Malignaggi told reporters recently. ‘I know they’re speaking, so if they want the fight they’ll make it.’
