Bernard Hopkins Changes Stance on MMA, Says "This is the Real Deal"

WBC light-heavyweight boxing champion Bernard Hopkins changed his previous stance on MMA as being "two grown men with panties on" to "this is the real deal" in a recent video interview with MMAfighting.com's Ariel Helwani.

"These guys are legit, and they are very, very serious," said Hopkins, 46, who recently became the oldest boxer to ever win a major world title when he beat Jean Pascal. "This is the real deal so anybody that was like me that think the UFC or MMA is great acting. Trust me, these guys are really putting themselves out there in their own way and in their own sport."

"I think both sports should be respected as their own style in their own way," he continued. "Any UFC fighter and any fighter going into the boxing ring and can do what they do in the UFC, nine out of 10 won't be victorious and vice-versa with a boxer coming from, even myself, coming over to that field will be a fish trying to be in a jungle and survive. It's not going to happen."

Hopkins also mentioned he will be attending this weekend's UFC event, which goes down in Philadelphia, PA. It features a main event between Tito Ortiz and Rashad Evans.

When interviewed about changes boxing could take from MMA and use to enhance the current state of the sport, Hopkins stated "make the matches that people are interested in." He is referring to the Manny Pacquiao vs. Floyd Mayweather Jr bout, which would be considered the biggest match in modern boxing history but hasn't been made since it was announced over two years ago.

"The Executioner" was also asked about entertaining a Boxing vs. MMA super-fight if offered one by Dana White.

"Yes, as a fan," Hopkins answered. "No, my insurance won't cover it."

"I'm out of my element and I know my element. To try to, no matter how many trinkets I got in the game, it's a different world when you in the MMA and UFC world."

"These guys have more than one weapon. Yes, I have more than one weapon but all my weapons is on my two feet that I have to operate from that offense, but when you have to operate from the ground up, it's a different ball game. It's a different ball game so I respect that."

Hopkins will be in action again on October 15 when he takes on "Bad" Chad Dawson on HBO PPV.