Mayweather considering move to MMA

Mayweather's interest in participating in an Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) event reportedly was sparked after he struck up a friendship with Cuban during their participation on the ABC reality series "Dancing with the Stars".

Cuban was Mayweather's guest at his December 8 fight and even carried two of his championship belts into the ring before he knocked out England's Ricky Hatton to retain the welterweight world championship in Las Vegas.

Mayweather, 30, and Cuban were together again Thursday in Las Vegas, according to the report, where they met to discuss various business ventures, including Mayweather participating in an MMA event.

Leonard Ellerbe, Mayweather's adviser and best friend, told ESPN.com Friday night that the five-division world champion came away from a Thursday meeting with Cuban giving serious thought to taking his game and considerable drawing power to MMA.

Mayweather's two bouts in 2007, against Hatton and Oscar de la Hoya, generated 3.25 million pay-per-view buys and more than $200 million in revenue. Mayweather personally earned about $50 million for the two fights.

Ellerbe also told the web site that Mayweather is currently on vacation, but will discuss the prospect of an MMA bout in more detail when he returns.

Among Cuban's business interests is ownership of HDNet Fights, a fledgling mixed martial arts promotional company whose bouts are aired on Cuban's HDNet. Cuban promoted his second event December 15 in Dallas.

"Floyd is considering fighting with HDNet Fights," Cuban told ESPN.com. "We are going to let him visit some gyms to talk to some folks about what it would take to learn. He knows it won't be easy. But he is getting involved with MMA and HDNet Fights one way or another."

Former heavyweight contenders Ray Mercer and Frans Botha both attempted to make the jump from boxing to mixed martial arts with little success.