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Rory O'Callaghan
Michael Bisping claims he will be able to obtain a licence to fight Jake Paul despite having a glass eye.
Bisping has been engaged with a war of words with Paul after the YouTuber-turned-boxer named the former UFC middleweight champion in his six-man 'hit-list' of potential opponents for his next fight.
UFC Hall of Famer Bisping is blind in one eye and retired from combat sports in 2018 after consecutive defeats to Georges St-Pierre and Kelvin Gastelum in the octagon.
But the British fighter says he’s been in contact with a commission in Canada that would allow him fight Paul in the boxing ring.
"He says that if I can get licensed, he will fight me," Bisping said of Paul on his podcast Believe You Me.
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"I don't want to fight Jake Paul. I don’t. But guess what? I know a few people. I haven’t been around this fight game this long to not have contacts…
"I'm talking about the Grey Eagle Resort & Casino, the 7 Chiefs Sportsplex & Chief Jim Starlight Centre, Alberta Travel Tourism board.
"The Tsuut'ina Combat Sports Commission have messaged me and said 100 per cent that they would host that fight and they would commission me with one eye.
"So, Mr. Jake Paul… the ball is in your court."
The 7 Chiefs Sportsplex is a venue which falls under the jurisdiction of the Tsuut'ina Nation in the western Canadian province of Alberta.
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It can hold up to 2,000 spectators, significantly less than the venues for Paul's last two fights against another former UFC champion, Tyron Woodley.
Bisping had previously scoffed at the idea of facing Paul, who now holds a 5-0 record in professional boxing after beating Woodley in a rematch in December.
“Come on [Paul], you do know I’m about your size? Surely that excludes me from your ‘hit list,” Bisping wrote on Twitter.
Paul hit back at Bisping by referencing his memorable knockout defeat to Dan Henderson at UFC 100.
"I would knock you out worse than Hendo. You’re an easy fight," Paul tweeted.
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"But show me you can get licensed and I will show you $1M plus PPV…"
Paul then posted the eyes emoji, alongside the caption: "(using this emoji because Bisping can’t use it lololololol)"
Paul has confirmed he will return to the ring in August but his opponent is yet to be decided.
In addition to Bisping, Paul has called out boxing icons Floyd Mayweather and Oscar de la Hoya, UFC legend Anderson Silva, former New Zealand rugby international Sonny Bill Williams and Love Island star Tommy Fury.