When Justin Bieber challenged Tom Cruise to a mixed martial arts (MMA) fight earlier this month, there was a lot of excitement over it among the fans. The challenge was later revealed to be a joke. However, a new report suggested that the “Love Yourself” singer was serious about the fight.

“I wanna challenge Tom Cruise to fight in the octagon,” Bieber previously wrote on Twitter.

The singer challenged the “Mission Impossible” actor by saying that if he refused the match, it would mean that he is “scared” and that he will “never live it down.”

“Who is willing to put on the fight?” Bieber asked and tagged Dana White in his post.

Although this challenge was said to be a joke, TMZ has shared details about a “secret phone call” where the possibility of this fight was discussed, which means the singer was actually serious about fighting the veteran actor.

The phone call reportedly happened between Bieber’s manager Scooter Braun and Ari Emanuel, the co-CEO of William Morris Endeavor. The MMA fights are conducted by Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), which is owned by William Morris Endeavor.

Emanuel and Braun discussed the possibility of a fight between Bieber and Cruise, and they got White in the call too. Braun apparently made it clear that the singer was “100 percent” ready for the fight if the veteran actor is. Emanuel on the other hand said that he believed that the actor too would be ready for the fight.

White is eager about the fight, especially since both parties appear to be keen on it. He previously told TMZ that the fight would be the “easiest” to promote in his career. Although Bieber has said that it was a joke, people are not ready to rule it out just yet.

Meanwhile, Bieber is focused on his mind and body, dealing with his mental health issues and continuing his work as a singer. A few weeks back he shared a serene picture of him with arms wide open, and he also announced a new collaboration with Schmidt’s Naturals, a company that makes natural deodorants.

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Justin Bieber and wife Hailey Baldwin spotted out in West Hollywood together. Justin Bieber and Hailey Baldwin seen on the streets of Brooklyn on September 14, 2018 in New York City. Getty Images/James Devaney