David Haye: 'I’d like to challenge number one mma fighter'

Mr Boogaloo · Post by **Mr Boogaloo** » 31 Mar 2008, 19:20

David Haye confirmed today that he would be interested taking a fight in the cage once his professional boxing career is over.

He also discusses his move to heavyweight and thoughts on the current Heavyweight division, as well as his fights with Enzo Maccarinelli, Jean-Marc Mormeck and Carl Thompson.

Haye: In an ideal world, this is what my plan would be - I’ve accomplished one part of my plan, which was to be undisputed cruiserweight champion of the world, once I’m at heavyweight, I’m not going to box into my 31st year. You know, I’ve been boxing since the age of 10 years old, 20 years in the game is enough for me. But what I’d like to do then, I’d like to challenge whoever’s regarded as the number one mixed martial arts fighter.

I’d probably have to train for a year...

http://www.ironlife.com/forum/showthrea ... ost1400125

Max Molyneux · Post by **Max Molyneux** » 31 Mar 2008, 19:27

I hope Haye does well at HW and he's an excellent Cruiserweight, but I hope he doesn't get too over confident and carried away with things/ His attitude has overconfidence a little In It.

Poncey · Post by **Poncey** » 01 Apr 2008, 03:15

I thought this was a precursor for April Fools.

Asterix · Post by **Asterix** » 01 Apr 2008, 03:20

I really like David Haye. He talks a lot of sense. I have no doubt that he will be a force at Heavyweight.

Haye showed complete discipline in his training for the Maccarinelli fight. He turned up in amazing condition, and that took away the only advantage Macca could have, which was Haye's weight draining.

Autobarn · Post by **Autobarn** » 01 Apr 2008, 04:25

I'm glad Braithwaite KIO'd Hernandez. Because now Haye is starting to get some more credt for knocking out Mac. And now ppl are acknowledging that Mac is world class. But still, Mac backe dup in straight lines vs Braithwaite, something only Haye was good enough to take adv of.

Ppl will be going overboard on the very decent IBF champ Cunningham once Haye moves up to heavy. But I think if Cunningham ever has to face Alexander Alexeev, we'll see the next big thing. IMO AA wins a title & makes at least 10 defences.

STP · Post by **STP** » 01 Apr 2008, 05:42

This seriously isn't an April Fools. Haye was talking about this in private last week.

nickd · Post by **nickd** » 01 Apr 2008, 08:27

Haye is crazy if he thinks he can just walk in and compete in MMA let alone against the best guy in the world. He'd get taken down and smashed in seconds.

Before all the anti MMA brigade pipe up yes Haye would smoke the MMA guy in seconds in a boxing ring.

Tony Lumb · Post by **Tony Lumb** » 01 Apr 2008, 08:57

nickd wrote:Haye is crazy if he thinks he can just walk in and compete in MMA let alone against the best guy in the world. He'd get taken down and smashed in seconds.

Before all the anti MMA brigade pipe up yes Haye would smoke the MMA guy in seconds in a boxing ring.

Yup. Strikers need great wrestling/takedown defence and amateur wrestling just barely exists in this country and its something most British MMA fighters lack.

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 01 Apr 2008, 09:05

A year, it would take more than a year. These guys have spent a lifetime practicing various martial arts.

nickd · Post by **nickd** » 01 Apr 2008, 11:37

Well the best guy in the world at Heavyweight Fedor Emelianenko would throw him around like a rag doll. Before near snapping his arm with a trademark armbar.

E · Post by E » 01 Apr 2008, 11:55

jamesmcdonnell wrote:A year, it would take more than a year. These guys have spent a lifetime practicing various martial arts.

No it wouldn't. It is a young sport and David has 20 years in boxing - noone would even come close in MMA to how hard he hits, how fast. With those little gloves; he would knock people out with a jab.

Yes, he would bet submitted a few times - but less so with a year's training. Look how far those relative novices in Ultimate fighter not to mention raw novices like Kimbo and that huge but useless bastard Bob Sapp have come.

David is athletic, hits fuggin hard, and one year to get used to the sport and the wrestling aspect would be more than enough to see him compete with the best.

Not saying he would win every fight, but if he touches anyone with his fists, with 4 oz gloves, they're going over

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 01 Apr 2008, 11:57

If he hit that hard with those 4 oz gloves, he would also most likely shatter his hands. Remember, gloves were introduced to protect punchers, not the people they hit.

nickd · Post by **nickd** » 01 Apr 2008, 11:58

E wrote:
jamesmcdonnell wrote:A year, it would take more than a year. These guys have spent a lifetime practicing various martial arts.
No it wouldn't. It is a young sport and David has 20 years in boxing - noone would even come close in MMA to how hard he hits, how fast. With those little gloves; he would knock people out with a jab.

Yes, he would bet submitted a few times - but less so with a year's training. Look how far those relative novices in Ultimate fighter not to mention raw novices like Kimbo and that huge but useless bastard Bob Sapp have come.

David is athletic, hits fuggin hard, and one year to get used to the sport and the wrestling aspect would be more than enough to see him compete with the best.

Not saying he would win every fight, but if he touches anyone with his fists, with 4 oz gloves, they're going over

Bollocks. Most of the relative novices you talk about from TUF have been training MMA or martial arts for a while. They don't just drag them in off the street.

There is no way he could compete with the best guys in MMA with a years training. The likes of Minotauro, Fedor & Couture are no pushover.

E · Post by E » 01 Apr 2008, 12:05

nickd wrote:
E wrote:
jamesmcdonnell wrote:A year, it would take more than a year. These guys have spent a lifetime practicing various martial arts.
No it wouldn't. It is a young sport and David has 20 years in boxing - noone would even come close in MMA to how hard he hits, how fast. With those little gloves; he would knock people out with a jab.

Yes, he would bet submitted a few times - but less so with a year's training. Look how far those relative novices in Ultimate fighter not to mention raw novices like Kimbo and that huge but useless bastard Bob Sapp have come.

David is athletic, hits fuggin hard, and one year to get used to the sport and the wrestling aspect would be more than enough to see him compete with the best.

Not saying he would win every fight, but if he touches anyone with his fists, with 4 oz gloves, they're going over
Bollocks. Most of the relative novices you talk about from TUF have been training MMA or martial arts for a while. They don't just drag them in off the street.

There is no way he could compete with the best guys in MMA with a years training. The likes of Minotauro, Fedor & Couture are no pushover.

I agree with the latter statement to some extent. But there are plenty of guys who do well with no specific mma training.

Even fuggin Brock Lesnar (some WWE guy) has won a couple, though he lost easily in his last.

But after seeing standup guys like Tim Sylvia do well, I just imagine if the punches were coming from Haye/Lewis/Klitschko.....heads would be severed.

nickd · Post by **nickd** » 01 Apr 2008, 12:16

E wrote:
nickd wrote:
E wrote: No it wouldn't. It is a young sport and David has 20 years in boxing - noone would even come close in MMA to how hard he hits, how fast. With those little gloves; he would knock people out with a jab.

Yes, he would bet submitted a few times - but less so with a year's training. Look how far those relative novices in Ultimate fighter not to mention raw novices like Kimbo and that huge but useless bastard Bob Sapp have come.

David is athletic, hits fuggin hard, and one year to get used to the sport and the wrestling aspect would be more than enough to see him compete with the best.

Not saying he would win every fight, but if he touches anyone with his fists, with 4 oz gloves, they're going over
Bollocks. Most of the relative novices you talk about from TUF have been training MMA or martial arts for a while. They don't just drag them in off the street.

There is no way he could compete with the best guys in MMA with a years training. The likes of Minotauro, Fedor & Couture are no pushover.
I agree with the latter statement to some extent. But there are plenty of guys who do well with no specific mma training.

Even fuggin Brock Lesnar (some WWE guy) has won a couple, though he lost easily in his last.

But after seeing standup guys like Tim Sylvia do well, I just imagine if the punches were coming from Haye/Lewis/Klitschko.....heads would be severed.

Totally different I am afraid. Lesnar has an outstanding wrestling pedigree. He was a NCAA wrestling champion with over 100 wins. That's a great base to start from, and he's already been training MMA for 2 years. And look how Mir submitted him and Mir isn't a top Heavyweight anymore. Haye with a years training and no wrestling background would be like a fish out of water on the ground.

ebeneezer · Post by **ebeneezer** » 01 Apr 2008, 13:05

E wrote: Even fuggin Brock Lesnar (some WWE guy) has won a couple, though he lost easily in his last.

He only had one fight before fighting Frank Mir in the UFC.

ebeneezer · Post by **ebeneezer** » 01 Apr 2008, 13:16

E wrote: No it wouldn't. It is a young sport and David has 20 years in boxing - noone would even come close in MMA to how hard he hits, how fast. With those little gloves; he would knock people out with a jab.

Yes, he would bet submitted a few times - but less so with a year's training. Look how far those relative novices in Ultimate fighter not to mention raw novices like Kimbo and that huge but useless bastard Bob Sapp have come.

Sapp and Kimbo are hardly good examples :

Kimbo has three mma fights, an ancient Ray Mercer, an nobody called Bo Cantrell and an even more ancient Tank Abbott. That is not coming far.

He is being totally protected and would be annhilated by any top 20 heavyweight. Even an out of shape cop gave him a terrible hiding in a bare knuckle match.

Sapp was a media freak show in Japan and most of his wins in K-1 over Hoost and Kimo Leopoldo amongst others came due to some icredibly dodgy refereeing.
Against opponents like Mirko Crop Cop, Nogueria and even Jan Nortje he was totally exposed.

David is athletic, hits fuggin hard, and one year to get used to the sport and the wrestling aspect would be more than enough to see him compete with the best.

World and national caliber wrestlers like Mark Coleman, Matt Hughes, Josh Koschek and Sean Sherk to name a few have been training in wrestling nearly their entire lives and still get taken down.

Look at Koscheck's fight with St.Pierre last year - a undeafeated division 1 wrestler getting taken down repeatedly. If you honestly think a bit of wrestling training would see Haye "compete with the best" you are beyond deluded.

knockout · Post by **knockout** » 01 Apr 2008, 15:23

To commit to a take down against someone who hits as hard and as accurate as Haye requires some serious balls....

Haye is friends and training partner (occasional) with James Zikic, UKs number one (IMO) 91kg fighter.... When i spoke to him last Zikic had no doubt that someone like Haye could convert to a great MMA figher.....like Haye himself says it would require a year or so to learn how to block low kicks and get a half decent take down defence.

Hayes variety, speed, accuracy and athleticism would provide a great base....

He could certainly beat a few decent guys if it did actually happen.... why he would want to do it on the other hand i dont know... just for the buzz I guess....

Better off taking a few million wrestling the BIG SHOW

ebeneezer · Post by **ebeneezer** » 03 Apr 2008, 13:39

knockout wrote:To commit to a take down against someone who hits as hard and as accurate as Haye requires some serious balls....

You can shoot for a takedown from further away than someone can punch. And if you've ever actually watched mma you'll know that nobody has ever been knocked out from a punch while shooting in. Knees yes. Punches no.

like Haye himself says it would require a year or so to learn how to block low kicks and get a half decent take down defence.

Read my earlier post about it taking far more than a year to learn takedown defence.

charlieb · Post by **charlieb** » 03 Apr 2008, 13:57

Anyone else get a sinking feeling reading this?

Haye's a talented fighter, but the last time he was over confident he paid for it with his '0'.

I hope those around him are reality checking the shit out of him, he needs fear in his veins for the task at hand, let alone after his boxing career is over.

fist · Post by **fist** » 03 Apr 2008, 14:17

Im no fan of Haye's but I disagree with those that say he would get smashed to pieces. I think he'd hold his own and show up just how untalented some of the MMA jokes are.

nickd · Post by **nickd** » 03 Apr 2008, 15:33

fist wrote:Im no fan of Haye's but I disagree with those that say he would get smashed to pieces. I think he'd hold his own and show up just how untalented some of the MMA jokes are.

Ignorance is bliss.

There are plenty of great athletes in MMA.

Poncey · Post by **Poncey** » 03 Apr 2008, 15:52

E wrote:
jamesmcdonnell wrote:A year, it would take more than a year. These guys have spent a lifetime practicing various martial arts.
No it wouldn't. It is a young sport and David has 20 years in boxing - noone would even come close in MMA to how hard he hits, how fast. With those little gloves; he would knock people out with a jab.

Yes, he would bet submitted a few times - but less so with a year's training. Look how far those relative novices in Ultimate fighter not to mention raw novices like Kimbo and that huge but useless bastard Bob Sapp have come.

David is athletic, hits fuggin hard, and one year to get used to the sport and the wrestling aspect would be more than enough to see him compete with the best.

Not saying he would win every fight, but if he touches anyone with his fists, with 4 oz gloves, they're going over

It took Brock Lesnar 3 years and his ground game was poor against Frank Mir. It's easy to strike, but it takes years and years and years to master the other aspects.

DG. · Post by **DG.** » 03 Apr 2008, 15:57

nickd wrote:
fist wrote:Im no fan of Haye's but I disagree with those that say he would get smashed to pieces. I think he'd hold his own and show up just how untalented some of the MMA jokes are.
Ignorance is bliss.

There are plenty of great athletes in MMA.

Very true.

Maybe the purest athelte I have seen in all combat sports is George St Pierre.

As mentioned earlier, he repeatedly took down Josh Koscheck(?) and JK was meant to be as FANTASTIC a wrestler as you can get.
GSP is very gifted.

Apparenty he is ALREADY good enough to deal with Olympic wrestlers using just wrestling and he has not been wrestling that long.

A Natural.

(Witter knocks out Hatton!)

Poncey · Post by **Poncey** » 03 Apr 2008, 15:58

DG. wrote:
nickd wrote:
fist wrote:Im no fan of Haye's but I disagree with those that say he would get smashed to pieces. I think he'd hold his own and show up just how untalented some of the MMA jokes are.
Ignorance is bliss.

There are plenty of great athletes in MMA.
Very true.

Maybe the purest athelte I have seen in all combat sports is George St Pierre.

As mentioned earlier, he repeatedly took down Josh Koscheck(?) and JK was meant to be as FANTASTIC a wrestler as you can get.
GSP is very gifted.

Apparenty he is ALREADY good enough to deal with Olympic wrestlers using just wrestling and he has not been wrestling that long.

A Natural.

(Witter knocks out Hatton!)

Try and catch Penn's fight with Sherk, Dennis. This guy is the most naturally talented MMA fighter I've ever seen. His ground game is frightening.