After a crossover fight between Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor, the idea of MMA fighters fighting in a boxing ring has become very popular. A lot of MMA fighters and pro-boxers have expressed interest in facing each other under boxing rules. A few days ago, DAZN made the headlines for considering Khabib Nurmagomedov and Jorge Masvidal as premium opponents for Canelo Alvarez.

Legendary boxing coach, Teddy Atlas, isn’t too fond of the idea. When asked about his thoughts on UFC fighters like Khabib Nurmagomedov and Jorge Masvidal being potential opponents for boxer Canelo Alvarez, he said:

“You know what it’s like when you start doing this stuff? When you start mix-matching with different sports like this with such different rules? That is almost like saying I’m gonna pay x amount of money to see the guy go in the cage with a lion.

“But I’m gonna pay to see him go in the cage with a lion, but the lion’s got no teeth, and we’re gonna remove his claws. Well, what am I paying then? If you put him with a lion, alright, there’s little interest here. How is he gonna do this?”

Teddy Atlas feels Khabib Nurmagomedov and Jorge Masvidal will have their claws taken away

Furthermore, he added, “You guys, do we really wanna see an MMA guy, great, great fighters that they are, handicapped? We wanna see their teeth taken away and their claws?

“Because that’s what you’re doing! Because you’re saying you can’t kick, you can’t grapple, you can’t choke just so. You can’t do any of the things that make you a lion. You can’t do those things.”

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Teddy Atlas has a point here. No matter how much money such an event will bring or how much the competing fighters will make, these matchups make little sense. Putting an MMA fighter against a boxer, who has been doing this at the top level his entire career, is stupid.

There is no doubt that Khabib and Jorge are good. But with 90% of their tools restricted, they are as good as amateurs inside the ring with someone like Canelo Alvarez.

Although it will be a huge payday for both fighters, especially for the MMA fighter, the whole idea of it still seems absurd.

What do you think? Should Jorge Masvidal and Khabib Nurmagomedov consider fighting inside the boxing ring?