Sports

Amir Khan eager to step in UFC’s Octagon

The Brit believes he has enough time left in his career to train in Mixed Martial Arts (MMA)

Sports Desk July 21, 2016

Amir Khan believes he has enough time left in his career to train in Mixed Martial Arts (MMA). PHOTO COURTESY: Twitter/ @amirkingkhan

British boxer Amir Khan said on Tuesday that he would be willing to fight Ireland’s Conor McGregor in an Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) match.

The 29-year-old, who lost to Mexico’s Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez in May, said he has enough time left in his career to train in Mixed Martial Arts (MMA). “I’m at that age where I’m still learning, adapting and getting better,” he told Flocombat.com. “So I still have time under me as well. I’m still a young lad and got loads left in me.”

With the UFC world title. UFC training has started 😎 pic.twitter.com/5DIKkQlm5R
— Amir Khan (@amirkingkhan) July 20, 2016

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For Khan, the prospect of fighting McGregor is something that would generate a lot of hype and media attention as the boxing and MMA worlds collide. “McGregor is a massive name in MMA and I’m a big name in boxing, so, globally, I think it would be a massive fight,” he said.

Retired boxer Floyd Mayweather was rumoured to be facing McGregor, however, the Brit believes it was just a ‘publicity stunt’. “I don’t think Mayweather would want to fight under MMA rules,” he said. “I look at it more as a publicity stunt. People were talking about it. It worked while it lasted, and they brought the hype up.”

Good to see Tam khan at his new MMA & fitness gym in Dubai. Pic taken - After a tough Mma session pic.twitter.com/9T6254nsSH
— Amir Khan (@amirkingkhan) July 20, 2016

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Nevertheless, the former Olympics silver medallist insisted that he would be happy to switch sports. “I’m a little different in that sense, where I would get into a cage and I would fight in MMA rules, so that’s the difference between me and Mayweather,” he said.

Earlier this year, Khan became a financial stakeholder in Super Fight League, a MMA promotion that will be launching a team-based MMA league series in India this year. The league will feature eight teams located across India, and will run from August 26 until October 1, 2016.

COMMENTS (1)

Factnotfiction | 7 years ago | Reply Khans saying a lot of this to promote the SFL (an Indian MMA organization in which he's a part owner in). To succeed in MMA you need a solid ground game, a base in something like Wrestling or BJJ, without that, it'd be highly difficult for Khan.

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