Latest news with #ex-UFC
Scottish Sun
12 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
I'm Muhammad Ali's grandson but kept it a secret when I walked into the gym… I took beatings like everyone else
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) BIAGGIO ALI WALSH is related to the most famous fighter of all time but he hid it - because he wanted to take beatings just like everyone else. The 26-year-old is the grandson to boxing icon Muhammad Ali and now finds himself making his own way in MMA. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 Biaggio Ali Walsh with his grandad Muhammad Ali Credit: Instagram @biaggioaliwalsh 4 Biaggio Ali Walsh is 2-0 as a pro MMA fighter Credit: Getty Biaggio once had aspirations of going to the NFL but swapped American football for MMA - where he is now 2-0. The lightweight trains at Extreme Couture - the Las Vegas gym headed up by Eric Nicksick - trainer to Francis Ngannou. When Biaggio first walked into the gym he kept his identity a secret - and it took ex-UFC champion Sean Strickland FOUR YEARS to catch on. Biaggio told SunSport: "I never walked into Extreme Couture and I would tell people, 'Oh, I'm Muhammad Ali's grandson.' READ MORE IN boxing RUMBLING ON Ali still teased Foreman about Rumble in the Jungle 40yrs on despite being pals "That's actually the last thing I want is for people to know as soon as they get to a gym. "So yeah, I think just word of mouth, people started to find out who I was. Apparently Sean Strickland didn't know till like a couple of weeks ago. "He came up to me and he's like, 'Bro, you're Muhammad Ali's grandson?' I was like, 'Yes Sean, you didn't know this? I thought like Eric or someone would have told you or something. "He's like, 'No. I didn't know, that's so cool. Like, how was he? Was he cool?' I was like, 'Yeah, he was cool, he was funny. Does the boxing make sense now?'" CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS Biaggio - who shares his Islamic faith with his grandad - had seven amateur fights - winning six - before turning professional in 2024. But that came after years of learning the ropes in the gym and taking his licks in the gym - just like everyone else. EXCL Muhammad Ali would still tease George Foreman about Rumble in Jungle win 40 years on as legends became best friends Biaggio said: "In a combat sport, who you're related to means nothing, Where you come from means nothing. "You could come from a silver spoon in your mouth, your dad could be a billionaire, but when you get in that cage and it's locked, even for sparring, that's not gonna help you. "It's you that's gonna be fighting for you. When I first got to Extreme, you know, a lot of ass whoopings, a lot of ass whoopings. You pay your dues, dude. That's how it is in the sport." Biaggio - signed to the Professional Fighters League - returns to the cage on June 27 in Chicago against 2-0 Ronnie Gibbs after nearly one year out. And he said: "I think in this sport, a break like that is good because you can sharpen so many tools and get your mind right and it gives you plenty of time to just get better in everything, physically and mentally. "And that's where I feel like I am. I feel like I've gotten so much better as a fighter and I've gotten so much better in my mental too, so super excited for this fight. I'd like to get a couple more fights at the end of this year." 4 Bob Walsh, with sons Nico and Biaggio and wife Rasheda, Muhammad Ali's daughter Credit: rashedaali1/instagram
The Irish Sun
12 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
I'm Muhammad Ali's grandson but kept it a secret when I walked into the gym… I took beatings like everyone else
BIAGGIO ALI WALSH is related to the most famous fighter of all time but he hid it - because he wanted to take beatings just like everyone else. The 26-year-old is the grandson to boxing icon Muhammad Ali and 4 Biaggio Ali Walsh with his grandad Muhammad Ali Credit: Instagram @biaggioaliwalsh 4 Biaggio Ali Walsh is 2-0 as a pro MMA fighter Credit: Getty The lightweight trains at Extreme Couture - the Las Vegas gym headed up by Eric Nicksick - trainer to Francis Ngannou. When Biaggio first walked into the gym he kept his identity a secret - and it took ex-UFC champion Sean Strickland FOUR YEARS to catch on. Biaggio told SunSport: "I never walked into Extreme Couture and I would tell people, 'Oh, I'm Muhammad Ali's grandson.' READ MORE IN boxing "That's actually the last thing I want is for people to know as soon as they get to a gym. "So yeah, I think just word of mouth, people started to find out who I was. Apparently Sean Strickland didn't know till like a couple of weeks ago. "He came up to me and he's like, 'Bro, you're Muhammad Ali's grandson?' I was like, 'Yes Sean, you didn't know this? I thought like Eric or someone would have told you or something. "He's like, 'No. I didn't know, that's so cool. Like, how was he? Was he cool?' I was like, 'Yeah, he was cool, he was funny. Does the boxing make sense now?'" Most read in Boxing CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS Biaggio - who shares his Islamic faith with his grandad - had seven amateur fights - winning six - But that came after years of learning the ropes in the gym and taking his licks in the gym - just like everyone else. EXCL Muhammad Ali would still tease George Foreman about Rumble in Jungle win 40 years on as legends became best friends Biaggio said: "In a combat sport, who you're related to means nothing, Where you come from means nothing. "You could come from a silver spoon in your mouth, your dad could be a billionaire, but when you get in that cage and it's locked, even for sparring, that's not gonna help you. "It's you that's gonna be fighting for you. When I first got to Extreme, you know, a lot of ass whoopings, a lot of ass whoopings. You pay your dues, dude. That's how it is in the sport." Biaggio - signed to the Professional Fighters League - returns to the cage on June 27 in Chicago against 2-0 Ronnie Gibbs after nearly one year out. And he said: "I think in this sport, a break like that is good because you can sharpen so many tools and get your mind right and it gives you plenty of time to just get better in everything, physically and mentally. "And that's where I feel like I am. I feel like I've gotten so much better as a fighter and I've gotten so much better in my mental too, so super excited for this fight. I'd like to get a couple more fights at the end of this year." 4 Bob Walsh, with sons Nico and Biaggio and wife Rasheda, Muhammad Ali's daughter Credit: rashedaali1/instagram 4 Biaggio speals in As-Sabur Mosque in Las Vegas to celebrate his faith
USA Today
14 hours ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Joaquin Buckley ramps up beef with 'ho' and 'pretty boy' ex-UFC champ Israel Adesanya
Joaquin Buckley ramps up beef with 'ho' and 'pretty boy' ex-UFC champ Israel Adesanya Joaquin Buckley went off on Israel Adesanya for hating on him. Adesanya watched his friend Kamaru Usman beat Buckley by unanimous decision in this past Saturday's UFC on ESPN 69 headliner. While giving his breakdown on his YouTube channel, Adesanya couldn't help but give his true feelings towards Buckley and how much he dislikes him. "I hate this n*gga, bro," Adesanya said. "I don't even use the word hate lightly, but I hate this n*gga, bro. Something about him just f*cking annoys me. Coolest thing he's ever done is that kick, and I respect that. Literally, I'm just trying to chill, talk. 'Hey man, we've got to get this going, you and me.' "Like he's rapping to me. Every single time. He's just so f*cking annoying. At one point I literally walked away while as he was talking, and I think he didn't like that, so then he went against me since then. But f*ck the dude. Maybe I'm a hater, bro. Maybe I'm just a hater." Buckley (21-7 MMA, 11-5 UFC) fired back at former champion Adesanya (24-5 MMA, 13-5 UFC) for trying to bring him down. "Tell me how you feel to my face though, instead of being like a ho," Buckley responded on his YouTube channel. "You all underneath the covers and sh*t. Like, 'Mmm I hate that n*gga.' Sweet motherf*cker because I don't know why you on my d*ck anyway. You done your thing, you been at your spot, I'm working towards mine. You ain't no real fighter. You want to be a little pretty boy. I would give you a sample, but I don't like boy p*ssy. "You can get this work any given time. I can give it to you, but I just hate fighters like you because you tryna downplay on somebody that's trying to work towards something. What you hating on me for? You did what you did, but look at another brother trying to make it up and you want to clown him. Oh, but I forgot n*gga, you're Chinese. You ain't another brother. The real African that runs that spot is (Dricus Du Plessis)." Buckley, who started out his UFC career at middleweight, is willing to settle things with Adesanya inside or outside the octagon. "We can really get busy if you want to," Buckley said. "And guess what? It ain't got to be competition with the UFC setting this up. We can get busy if you want to."
The Irish Sun
17 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Wayne Lineker reveals victim of Conor McGregor nightclub attack who ‘took punches like a champ' as he slams UFC brute
THE man punched by Conor McGregor in a 6am nightclub brawl has been unmasked as Wayne Lineker's close pal who has 'the most special heart'. Joe Gomez was whacked twice by the ex-UFC fighter, 36, in the 11 Joe Gomez was whacked twice by Conor McGregor in the legendary Pacha nightclub 11 Wayne Lineker posted about the shocking moment on his Instagram Credit: Instagram 11 Lineker with Conor McGregor earlier in the evening 11 McGregor was seen in snaps alongside glamour model Katie Price earlier in the evening 11 Footage obtained by The Sun shows McGregor striking a man in the infamous Pacha nightclub His identity was revealed in a now-deleted Instagram post by club mogul MMA legend Wayne's post, to his one million followers, said: 'Thought about this post a lot. 'This is my very close friend who has worked at Ocean for eight years, he has the most special heart and in all of the years that I've known him he has never raised his voice once. 'He took two punches from Conor McGregor in Pacha for absolutely no reason. Read more on Sport 'Let me introduce you to Joe Gooomez (sic). He took the punches like a champion. 'I've since deleted my post of 'We at Ocean Beach One of Joe's pals, who was in the club during the bust-up, told The Sun: "He has worked with Wayne for a long time and Wayne is very loyal to his staff. Most read in MMA "Conor had a great deal at Ocean - he got a table and drinks for free. Now that benefit may well be taken away. "If you were around Conor in the club and you took your phone out, you'd be told to put it away. Love Island star sparks feud with Wayne Linekar calling him him an 'insecure grandad' "I don't know how Joe got that close to begin with. "Joe's not said anything about pressing charges or making a formal complaint to the police. "He had some time off booked after the incident anyway, but Wayne has been very good at handling it. "Joe's fine and there was no injury from the punches. It was obviously a shock, and he feels he was in the wrong place at the wrong time." Earlier in the evening, the combat sports legend was pictured with glamour model Taking to Instagram, he was seen puffing on a cigar while wearing red shorts, a sun hat and sunglasses while playing up to the crowd. Price, 47, reshared the story to her own Instagram page with the caption: "You legend," after McGregor tagged her in his own story and said: "Forever". Spurs ace Kevin Danso also shared a snap of himself with the MMA fighter. The Sun's exclusive footage first showed how McGregor was talking to a man on the exclusive club's dancefloor before putting his arm around his shoulders from a platform above. After the pair chat for less than ten seconds, McGregor strikes the man, who appears to be Mr Gomez, next to his pal with his left hand. The first punch failed to cleanly connect, but less than a second later, the "Notorious" lands a clean left hook as the startled party-goer falls to the floor. McGregor, wearing a black and white shirt and tight white trousers, is then shielded from other club-goers by his own friends, who stormed the booth he was standing in. Revellers in the nightclub revealed that after the bizarre scrap, the man punched by McGregor was thrown out, while the Irish fighter kept drinking. One told The Sun: 'Clearly something's been said to annoy him and he's reacted very badly. 'The guy seemed to fall to the floor, and his mates came to pick him up and get him away. 'There [didn't appear to be any] consequences for Conor, but the guy he punched was taken away and I didn't see him again.' 11 Conor McGregor is no stranger to the Ibiza party scene 11 After the bizarre scrap, the man punched by McGregor was thrown out Credit: The Sun 11 The brawl happened just before 6am Credit: The Sun The short but violent scrap unfolded at 5:53am after McGregor, who hasn't fought since 2021, had spent the night partying with his huge entourage. Another club-goer said: "He had his arm around someone who looked like his mate. 'Someone came up to them and when Conor hit him, about five people fell to the floor as the guy stumbled back. "It was a bit like bowling pins, but the guy was really shaken by the hits. "About a minute later, the bouncers came and got him on the back and took him out of the club, because he had annoyed Conor. "It was right before close anyway. There was no messing around, they just removed him. "Conor left through the garden a bit later, he didn't look very happy that they got into a fight." Wayne Lineker and McGregor's representative were asked to comment. 11 Joe Gomez was whacked twice by the ex-UFC fighter 11 McGregor during the 75th annual Cannes film festival in 2022 11 Conor McGregor of Ireland reacts to his loss to Nate Diaz during the UFC 196 event inside MGM Grand Garden Arena in 2016
Scottish Sun
17 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Wayne Lineker reveals victim of Conor McGregor nightclub attack who ‘took punches like a champ' as he slams UFC brute
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THE man punched by Conor McGregor in a 6am nightclub brawl has been unmasked as Wayne Lineker's close pal who has 'the most special heart'. Joe Gomez was whacked twice by the ex-UFC fighter, 36, in the legendary Pacha nightclub 'for absolutely no reason' on Tuesday morning. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 11 Joe Gomez was whacked twice by Conor McGregor in the legendary Pacha nightclub 11 Wayne Lineker posted about the shocking moment on his Instagram Credit: Instagram 11 Lineker with Conor McGregor earlier in the evening 11 McGregor was seen in snaps alongside glamour model Katie Price earlier in the evening 11 Footage obtained by The Sun shows McGregor striking a man in the infamous Pacha nightclub His identity was revealed in a now-deleted Instagram post by club mogul Wayne, 63, who said he was 'disappointed' with McGregor for attacking his employee. MMA legend Conor had been partying in Lineker's Ocean Beach club earlier in the night before moving to the VIP section of Pacha. Wayne's post, to his one million followers, said: 'Thought about this post a lot. 'This is my very close friend who has worked at Ocean for eight years, he has the most special heart and in all of the years that I've known him he has never raised his voice once. 'He took two punches from Conor McGregor in Pacha for absolutely no reason. 'Let me introduce you to Joe Gooomez (sic). He took the punches like a champion. 'I've since deleted my post of Conor at Ocean on Sunday. To say I'm disappointed is an understatement. 'We at Ocean Beach Ibiza will always put our family first #wearefamily.' One of Joe's pals, who was in the club during the bust-up, told The Sun: "He has worked with Wayne for a long time and Wayne is very loyal to his staff. "Conor had a great deal at Ocean - he got a table and drinks for free. Now that benefit may well be taken away. "If you were around Conor in the club and you took your phone out, you'd be told to put it away. Love Island star sparks feud with Wayne Linekar calling him him an 'insecure grandad' "I don't know how Joe got that close to begin with. "Joe's not said anything about pressing charges or making a formal complaint to the police. "He had some time off booked after the incident anyway, but Wayne has been very good at handling it. "Joe's fine and there was no injury from the punches. It was obviously a shock, and he feels he was in the wrong place at the wrong time." Earlier in the evening, the combat sports legend was pictured with glamour model Katie Price at Lineker's club. Taking to Instagram, he was seen puffing on a cigar while wearing red shorts, a sun hat and sunglasses while playing up to the crowd. Price, 47, reshared the story to her own Instagram page with the caption: "You legend," after McGregor tagged her in his own story and said: "Forever". Spurs ace Kevin Danso also shared a snap of himself with the MMA fighter. The Sun's exclusive footage first showed how McGregor was talking to a man on the exclusive club's dancefloor before putting his arm around his shoulders from a platform above. After the pair chat for less than ten seconds, McGregor strikes the man, who appears to be Mr Gomez, next to his pal with his left hand. The first punch failed to cleanly connect, but less than a second later, the "Notorious" lands a clean left hook as the startled party-goer falls to the floor. McGregor, wearing a black and white shirt and tight white trousers, is then shielded from other club-goers by his own friends, who stormed the booth he was standing in. Revellers in the nightclub revealed that after the bizarre scrap, the man punched by McGregor was thrown out, while the Irish fighter kept drinking. One told The Sun: 'Clearly something's been said to annoy him and he's reacted very badly. 'The guy seemed to fall to the floor, and his mates came to pick him up and get him away. 'There [didn't appear to be any] consequences for Conor, but the guy he punched was taken away and I didn't see him again.' 11 Conor McGregor is no stranger to the Ibiza party scene 11 After the bizarre scrap, the man punched by McGregor was thrown out Credit: The Sun 11 The brawl happened just before 6am Credit: The Sun The short but violent scrap unfolded at 5:53am after McGregor, who hasn't fought since 2021, had spent the night partying with his huge entourage. Another club-goer said: "He had his arm around someone who looked like his mate. 'Someone came up to them and when Conor hit him, about five people fell to the floor as the guy stumbled back. "It was a bit like bowling pins, but the guy was really shaken by the hits. "About a minute later, the bouncers came and got him on the back and took him out of the club, because he had annoyed Conor. "It was right before close anyway. There was no messing around, they just removed him. "Conor left through the garden a bit later, he didn't look very happy that they got into a fight." Wayne Lineker and McGregor's representative were asked to comment. 11 Joe Gomez was whacked twice by the ex-UFC fighter 11 McGregor during the 75th annual Cannes film festival in 2022
