Floyd Mayweather Jr mulling move to MMA in deal with Mark Cuban

Mayweather mulling move to MMA in deal with Cuban
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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."
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Looks like we will see Floyd KTFO:doh:

 

I doubt it,most likely he'll get taken down and caught in a submission.I hope somebody talk some since in this fool.

 

Seriously, he should just fight Cotto for another 15 million and call it a day. 30 milion to compete in a new combat sport (to him) is retarded. It's not like he really needs the 30 more million.


I bet he just works with Mark Cuban as a promoter.

 

There is no way he fights in MMA without it becoming laughable or a circus.

Takes years of wrestling, grappling Brazilian style, Thai to be a COMPLETE MMA fighter.

He could get READY for an EVENT. Will he be completely ready? Depends on the opposition.

If he goes in tough, which I highly doubt, he would succumb to KICKS. That's what he has to be concerned with the most and submissions.

Fun debate but highly unrealistic.

 

It doesn't really surprise me. Floyd obviously sees alot of bums in MMA that he can beat easily. Thats even without being able to do anything on the ground.

 

Actually Floyd already made his MMA debut December 8. Floyd just knocked out a wrestler. He is 1-0 in MMA .

 

LOL your such a nuthugger.As he is now he wouldn't last very long against any MMA fighter.

 

True first punch Floyd lands they will be knocked out. None of them guys can take anything.

 

Boxing skills alone will get you murdered in an MMA match,he'll need more than that to win.

 

Against the right competition, Fraud would go well, but that shoulder roll shit won't work against low-kicks, and or especially against grapplers, he'd be picked up and slammed on the back of his neck.

 

This reminds me of the Lennox Lewis-Brock Lesnar talk some years ago.

 

Complete and utter BS :shit:

 

Unfortunately it ain't..........:(

 

Don't get me wrong bro- I don't doubt the validity of the story, I just don't think, for a single second, that Floyd is EVER going to be fighting any MMA match.

EVER

 

Floyd will never fight in MMA.

All this is, is a shameless, yet brilliant, attempt to keep Mayweather's name in the head of MMA fans, in hopes that they'll buy his PPV's.

TFK

 

Would be the WORST mistake ever.

Mayweather may get killed.

 

I hope so...and yes it is brilliant.

 

Exactly,boxers/kickboxer with no wrestling background or submission experience have done poorly in MMA.

 

All BS aside, I'd love to see it.....Floyd is a GREAT athlete, and one of the very best fighters in the history of combat sports....

I honestly think that with very little training he could be in the upper echelon of 145 lb MMA fighters.....He'd have to learn some grappling of course, but all fights start on the feet....And on his feet he is far surperior to 99% of the other proffesional STRIKERS in the world, think how big an advantage he would hold against guys who have been taking rudementary boxing lessons for 2 years.....

I'm telling you, with that athletisism, and a little training, he could avoid some takedowns and really do some damage in MMA....


maybe

 

what boxers anywhere remotely CLOSE to Floyd have tried their hand in MMA???

 

and, yeah, Cro Cop, Mark Hunt, and Cung Le have all done poorly in MMA

 

It's all f*cking bullsh*t, man! Get real! That f*cking clown Mark Cuban talks so much sh*t, he acts like he knows MMA. The dude doesn't know sh*t. All he's done is seen the success of the UFC and now thinks it's a market he can tap into despite the fact that no other MMA brand or league out there has made any profit outside of the UFC.
And what is M1? They haven't even put on a single show yet, they have no fighters signed other than some reject bums and a Fedor who seems to no longer care about the sport other than to make money which likely may lead to disastrous results if you've seen the shape he's in lately.
M1 will be a bust and Cuban will f*ck off and go try some other business venture of the next hot thing on the market.

 

I don't see it happening.

Even if it were true, Mayweather does not have a great style to fight in MMA. His brilliant defense doesn't protect against wrestlers, and he doesn't have one punch ko power to take out guys shooting in.

He might be able to beat someone who's like a smaller version of Chuck Liddell but that's about it. Mayweather wouldn't be able to avoid a clinch of any skilled MMA fighter.

 

He definitely has the power to to KO guys with one shot in mma....without question

 

Maybe some smaller guys who'd lunge with their chin in the air. Anyone who's smart enough to tuck their chin, look to cut off the ring and get close to Floyd would be able to finish him.

 

actually mayweather does have a wrestling background.

 

Cuban has nothing to do with M1,he's just putting on a show with them,he's the owner of HDNet Fights and just because Fedor is not with the UFC doesn't mean he doesn't care about the sport,he did what was best for him(and so did the UFC) and if you think any of those UFC fighters under contract wouldn't take Fedors deal then your insane.If you want to point fingers about someone who doesn't care about the sport look no further than ZUFFA,they could care less about MMA,all they care about is the UFC which is why they won't work with other promotions to make fights fans want to see happen,that's one of the advantages boxing has right now.