Tyson Fury says he would fight Cain Velasquez in the UFC – for the right price

Tyson Fury said he would compete once in the octagon to beat UFC heavyweight champ Cain Velasquez, then go back to boxing. 

“I’m definitely interested but the money would have to be right,” Fury told U.K.-based tabloid The Daily Star. 

The unbeaten pugilist was responding to a challenge issued earlier this month by UFC President Dana White, who said he would put the matchup together. 

“We’ll make a deal,” White said this past month. “You want to fight Cain? Come on over here. You will get smashed.”

Fury has dogged Velasquez in the press during his rise to prominence. He’s called the UFC fighter “a midget” that had turned down several challenges to fight him.

Velasquez has deflected Fury’s words and said the boxer must work his way up the MMA ladder like everyone else. 

“I didn’t even know who he was until this and I think he’s using my name to gain publicity, which he has done,” he told The Star.

White, though, accepted the challenge on Velasquez’s behalf and added that Fury was just the latest boxer to take aim at MMA.

“These guys keep calling out and saying all this stuff,” he said during a media event for UFC 159. “Boxing is a game that you use here, this is a fight. If they want a fight, the door is open. Any one of them can come in here and fight. Anytime they want.”

Velasquez (11-1 MMA, 9-1 UFC), a two-time champ who won back his belt at UFC 155, won’t be fighting Fury any time soon. First, the champ is set to rematch Antonio Silva (18-4 MMA, 2-1 UFC) at UFC 160, which takes place May 25 at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

After beating Steve Cunningham in an IBF title eliminator, Fury is currently unbooked, and recently has sparred with fellow heavyweight David Haye in the press.

For the latest on UFC 160, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.

(Pictured: Cain Velasquez)