Cuban: Mayweather is serious about MMA but won't rush into it

In exclusive comments to ProElite.com (SamCaplan.ProElite.com), HDNet Fights founder and Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban responded to questions in regards to whether recent reports that Floyd Mayweather is investigating the possibility of competing in MMA are merely an attempt to gain headlines.

"He is serious," Cuban responded in an e-mail. "He isn't going to rush into it. Bottom line is that Floyd is a great businessperson. He sees the money in MMA and knows there are many opportunities there. We are exploring all of them, including getting in the cage. Again, he won't rush into it. He knows MMA and boxing are two different sports and he respects MMA athletes. He doesn't take the best lightly."

Cuban believes that Mayweather's work ethic will lend itself well when it comes to learning the multiple fighting disciplines needed to excel in MMA.

"He respects all the MMA disciplines," Cuban responded when asked about how he felt Mayweather would handle the grappling element of MMA. "He knows he can excel at standup but would have to learn the other disciplines. I'm going to bring him to some of our gyms to spend time and to talk to some folks. The one thing about Floyd, he knows how to work hard and prepare. This won't happen quickly, but I think there is a good chance that it could happen."

The most pressing question that we posed to Cuban was in regard to a statement he made to renowned ESPN.com boxing writer Dan Rafael, in which Cuban was quoted as saying that if there was a guaranteed $30 million payday in MMA, that Mayweather "would be lacing them up." To date, no fighter in MMA has received anywhere near that amount for a single fight. Not even close.

"There hasn't been yet," Cuban acknowledged. "(But) there will be."

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Sam Caplan

Lead Writer/Editor - ProElite.com

SamCaplan.ProElite.com