Excerpt of an interview with Haye: You mentioned Chuck Liddell just before and Ive got an interest in mma, I cant lie to you do you follow the sport at all? Yeah, I do. Im a big fan, when I was out in Miami, I went to the EliteXC fight with Kimbo, I saw that show out there. I enjoyed the show, I go to Cage Rage whenever Im in the UK. Im a big fan of mixed martial arts, Im a big fan of combat sports in general. I definitely love watching it. I actually believe that Id like to get involved in it once my boxing career is over. Seriously? Youd be interested in competing yourself? In an ideal world, this is what my plan would be - Ive accomplished one part of my plan, which was to be undisputed cruiserweight champion of the world, once Im at heavyweight, Im not going to box into my 31st year. You know, Ive been boxing since the age of 10 years old, 20 years in the game is enough for me. But what Id like to do then, Id like to challenge whoevers regarded as the number one mixed martial arts fighter. Id probably have to train for a year and try and make that fight because I definitely feel that my reactions are good enough and if I can get my ground game to a reasonable level Obviously, Im not going to be able to catch up with these guys who have been doing jiu-jitsu their whole lives. Believe it or not, I come from a martial arts background, my father was a karate teacher, so Ive got good legs. Ive done judo, so I know what Im doing. I train at a gym called the Third Space in Piccadilly which has a jiu-jitsu dojo and I get in there from time to time and have a roll around with the guys. They tell me Im at a decent level, if I put some focus into it and put some time and effort into it Im a natural athlete, I can do anything that I want to do and I think that it would be definitely worth my while getting in to do it. Its just another challenge, I like to set myself goals and tasks and definitely fighting for the UFC heavyweight championship would be a real big thing for me and Id do whatever was required to get that win. Im a fighter, through and through any kind of competition. Id be a big underdog, and Id actually like that. I like people writing me off. I used to fight in the street, I used to be a street fighter, so Im not a traditional boxer, Ive done martial arts since the age of 3. I might surprise a few people with my ground game.
I'm a big mma fan but haye wins this one quickly. Kimbo is a stand up fighter. His ground game sucks balls and his chin is china. Haye by KO rd 1. Plus Kimbo's stand up is class C at best. Haye vs GSP? GSP wins by choke rd 1 Haye vs Fedor? We bury Haye at 2pm on thursday. :yep
Haye is not Mercer. Mercer is an old man who's two famous fights in MMA have simply shown that sometimes the boxer will be taken down and sometimes the MMA will get sparked. Hayes talent is elite level. His hands are devastating. Kimbo is the same man who has been ko'd by a jab and I must say versus Nelson he had zero intelligence. If Haye really has legs via Karate and grappling via Judo and BJJ then he has a much better chance than your average boxer. Haye is incredibly strategic. Watch him break down his fight v Mercer. He wouldn't fight Kimbo without a decent strategy.
:good. David Haye is a tremendous athlete and very explosive. He does have a rather suspect chin, but hell he's floored almost everyone he has fought and he rocked Valuev (who may be as mobile as continental drift, but he has always been considered durable). With 4oz gloves, one shot to Kimbo is all it would probably take! Haye wins by 1st round ko.
2-3 years SERIOUS training and a few MMA fights and he may win over the legions of doubters but, unless he is in "Secret training" NOW (And he is a friend of Bisping's) all this kind of talk is gonna do is leave him open to ridicule (But then again, David is a a master of self-promotion and he just LOVES to wind people up!).
If David IS serious (And you never can tell!) his elite level of boxing, if combined with excellent grappling (ALL aspects!) and muay thai training (Epsecially kicks and knees) could make him a (Potentially) formidable opponent!! When you consider David's interview, we are not talking about "Todays" David Haye (Although I do feel that 2-3 years SERIOUS mma training would be essential).
I've only watched a few of Kimbo's street-fights, but the ones I saw were basically bare-knuckle boxing matches. Kimbo is obviously much improved since the fights I watched, but David Haye is a different league than any of the guys I saw Kimbo fight. If you look past the internet hype (And I am a fan of Kimbo's, he comes across as a humble and really cool guy) then it's hard to see Kimbo beating David (Who loved a street "Tear-up") "On the cobbles".
Haye is not stupid. He won't just look to put hands on his opponent. He knows that makes the fight too even. He is a strategic man and has been ever since he got done over by Thompson. In 4oz gloves his speed to power ratio would border on stupid. He already says he has experience in Karate, Judo and BJJ which would be a solid foundation. It would give him at the very least a knowledge of kicks, throws, takedowns and subs. Sure he might not be black belt in each but at least he'll know about the skills involved. Mercer wouldn't know a gogoplata if his life depended on it.
I guess, I mean, Kimbo has only had a few years of serious training right? If we were talking a top 10 HW or LHW I would agree that his chances would be remote but it doesn't take a great fighter to beat Kimbo.
Haye vs Kimbo??? This is a joke right.. A pro fighter who has worked hard for many years and still in his prime vs a guy who beat guys like me up in a back yard and now is working to become a fight?? If Haye breaks his leg or falls down laughing this is a joke. Haye too fast and hits too hard..first shot Kimbo into the night.
