Following last night’s massive announcement that the boxing match between UFC lightweight champion Conor McGregor and boxing great Floyd Mayweather will go ahead, many UFC fighters were keen to get in on the act and campaign for a money fight of their own including UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic.
Cleveland native Miocic, who’s on a five-fight win streak in the UFC, took to Twitter after the news to call out unified heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua and suggested they could fight on the undercard. He even offered post-fight snacks to the Brit, who holds the IBF, WBA and IBO heavyweight titles, to try to tempt him to step between the ropes.
Hey @anthonyfjoshua let's have a proper tussle and still have time for tea and crumpets before the main event! #MayweatherMcGregor
— Stipe Miocic (@stipemiocicufc) June 14, 2017
Another UFC star to get in on the act was featherweight contender Cub Swanson. The Californian fighter has enjoyed a career resurgence in the last six months on the heels of his “Fight of the Year” win in 2016 over “Korean Superboy” Doo Ho Choi and with his profile as high as it’s ever been, Swanson took aim at former welterweight champion and recently retired commentator Paulie Malignaggi.
Hey @PaulMalignaggi talk to @FloydMayweather and his people. I've already let the @ufc know I'm down to scrap
— Cub Swanson (@CubSwanson) June 15, 2017
Malignaggi was quick to shoot down the 33-year-old’s offer as he claimed the deal could have been done a few weeks back but would not be completed now that the event has been finalised.
Meanwhile, Brazilian fighters Wilson Reis and Cris Cyborg have chipped in with their own unrealistic call outs as both chose to target undefeated boxing champions. Reis would issue a challenge to Mayweather protegé and IBF junior lightweight champion Gervonta Davis while Cyborg set her sights on Norwegian boxer Cecilia Brækhus who holds multiple female boxing titles at welterweight.
#MayweatherMcGregor is set so let do it same card @wilsonreis7 vs @Gervontaa #ufc #boxing @ufc @ufc_brasil
— Wilson Reis (@wilsonreis7) June 15, 2017
Imagine @FloydMayweather vs @TheNotoriousMMA #MayweatherMcGregor with @criscyborg vs @1LadyCecilia on the #lasvegas event! @MayweatherPromo https://t.co/HLq18LYhDR
— #UFC214 #LetsGoChamp (@criscyborg) June 14, 2017
With so many MMA fighters now eager to insert themselves into the McGregor vs. Mayweather narrative, it’s sure to be a long summer of speculation ahead for all MMA and boxing fans.
