Fights

UFC star Aljamain Sterling -- the #2 ranked bantamweight in the world -- says he's sick and tired of shadowboxing during quarantine ... so he's turning his house into an MMA gym!

It's actually pretty dope ... Funk Master has a bunch of handy roommates and they're all teaming up to renovate their Long Island pad into a prime training center.

The 30-year-old busted out (and disinfected) a bunch of old mats and equipment -- and even installed insulation in the walls -- so they can get back to doing what they love to do ... fighting.

"MMA training and working out, it's my life, it's my sanity ... if we can have somewhere where it's the same training partners training and that would be our quarantine training partners, so be it."

Sterling also wants to set the record straight about rumors he accepted a fight with Cory Sandhagen in May -- saying it's absolutely NOT TRUE.

Alja says it all has to do with his limited training resources. In other words, he wants to make sure he's in the absolute best shape to fight a tough opponent like Cory ... and with the pandemic in full swing, it limits his ability to level up.

"For me to take a fight against a guy ranked #4 in the world and not have the proper training is like a guy going to work doing construction without all of his tools. Like, how do you expect to get the job done?"

He added, "I would love to fight ... but right now's not the time. I want a proper training camp so I can really f**k somebody up."

Boxing superstar Claressa Shields says Laila Ali is being RIDICULOUS in their fight negotiations -- saying Ali wants $5 MILLION despite the fact she "is not relevant in today's time!"

Remember, back in January ... 43-year-old Laila (24-0) went on 'Sway in the Morning' and said she would destroy Shields if they ever fought because Claressa isn't talented enough to hang with her.

Of course, undefeated Shields (10-0) -- the reigning WBO and WBC light middleweight champ -- disagrees ... and offered to settle things in the ring.

Now, 25-year-old Shields says she's still all the way down -- but it's Laila who's holding up the deal.

"I’ll do whatever to get a fight made with me and Laila Ali," Shields said on Twitter.

"She is the one asking for [$5 million] and also wants to be the A-side if we fight knowing damn well she is not relevant in today’s time!"

"I’m the current reigning world champion. So if she really wanted to fight, be Fair! Stop asking for insane split. It’s ridiculous."

Once wasn't enough for Alex Volkanovski ... the UFC champion wants to beat Max Holloway TWICE, and establish himself as the GREATEST featherweight fighter EVER!!

Volkanovski snatched Holloway's belt in a close fight back in December ... so when the new champ recently came by the TMZ office, we asked him who he wants to scrap with next.

Alex was crystal clear ... he wants to run it back with "Blessed," 'cause Holloway's the biggest threat and best fighter (besides himself, of course) in the 145 lb. division.

"I want that fight [with Max], cause there's no clear #1 contenders, and I just think that he's a great champion. And, for me, the biggest fight in my career right now to solidify myself as the best featherweight of all-time, and one of the greatest of all-time," Alex says.

"I go and take out Max twice in [his] prime, ya know, people are gonna give me the respect I deserve."

Volkanovski's already got a helluva resume ... he's got a pro record of 21-1 and hasn't lost since 2013 -- nearly 7 years ago.

As for when the rematch would go down ... Alex broke his hand during the Holloway fight, but says he was just cleared for combat, and he's ready to rock ... and he already has a date circled on the calendar.

"I don't want to sit on the sidelines too long, and I wanna defend my belt in Australia. That Perth card is June 6. We're gonna make it happen, I reckon."

Kamaru Usman tells TMZ Sports ... he was all set to fight Jorge Masvidal in July -- until the coronavirus killed those plans. But he's still ready to hand out another ass-whooping, stat!

So, while the UFC tries to line up the next fight for the UFC welterweight champ -- he's talking mad trash to Masvidal, Colby Covington and of course ... Conor McGregor.

First ... Masvidal.

"Honestly, if I'm being honest, do I believe that he deserves the fight next? No, I don't think that he deserves the fight. But at the same time, he's got the hype right now."

"He seriously thinks he's a superstar. He's talking about how I'm the most famous fighter, I'm more famous than Conor and this and that. You are drinking your own Kool-Aid right now. He forgets that literally less than a year ago or two years ago he was just 'Journeyman George.'"

"Now you lost some weight, did a little Spanish reality show and came back and now he thinks he's just Jacques Cousteau or something. My man, relax!"

Next ... Colby.

Remember, Kamaru beat Colby's ass back at UFC 245 in December. Covington wants a rematch.

"Colby I'll be more than happy to put another cannon to your face. Easy as that."

And Conor?

"I'd be crazy if I said I didn't want that fight because Conor is one of those guys that's transcended the sport."

"And of course, I think people would love to see me go in there and spank him any way that I want. So, that's a fight that I always want."

"So, if Conor's feeling froggy that fight could happen anytime. So, that's a wild card right there, that could happen any time. If he's feeling froggy, if he wakes up on the right side of the bed and is like 'You know what? I want to get my ass beat today!' ... that fight could happen any time."

Mike Tyson isn't scared of dying -- not even a little bit -- explaining, "living might be more complicated than dying to me."

Yeah ... Mike opened up about life and death during a very candid interview with "The Sportsman" -- where the boxing legend was asked if he was afraid of dying in the ring.

"I knew there was a possibility that I could die during training, during a fight. I knew that. But I wasn’t scared, because I thought if anybody was going to die, I would do the killing."

TERRIFIED YET!?

There's more ... 53-year-old Tyson got super deep about the concept of life and death -- and explained why he's not worried about what happens after his time on Earth runs out.

"Life is pretty interesting. We’re born not knowing, we die not knowing where we came from. But our life prepares us for our death. We still don’t know sh*t about it, but when we get to a certain age, we’re not scared of dying no more, like it was when we were young."

In fact, when Tyson was asked if he looks forward to death -- here's what he said.

"Yeah. I don’t fear it. Living might be more complicated than dying to me. The belief of it. I don’t know if it’s true. Because living takes a lot of courage. Without the courage, you can’t handle living."

Khabib Nurmagomedov's manager, Ali Abdelaziz, says the UFC is considering moving the Khabib vs. Tony Ferguson fight to another country ... and if that happens, Khabib is IN!!

As we previously reported, Dana White is adamant UFC 249 will take place come hell or high water on April 18 ... and they're currently on the hunt for a venue.

Ali tells us Khabib is currently training at AKA in San Jose, CA  along with other fighters on that UFC 249 card -- and he's down to travel to any location to brawl with Tony.

"I talked to Dana White white last night. He said there's a possibility the fight is gonna be out of the country. We discussed about going to Zaire or Manila or some distant places. I said hey, Muhammad Ali did it, I'm sure Dana White can do it."

Ali says Khabib isn't worried about coronavirus -- but he IS worried that "this dumb motherf**ker" Tony Ferguson could hurt himself before the fight and ruin the whole thing.

Tony has an unusual training style -- and recently posted video throwing heavy bags around a gym while wearing denim jeans. Khabib and Ali think it's not just weird, it's dangerous.

WELCOME TO FIGHT SCHOOL!!

Paige VanZant welcomes UFC superstars like Yoel Romero, Henry Cejudo, Brian Ortega, Dominick Reyes and more into the secret MMA gym at the TMZ office where they're teaching legendary moves to our TMZ Sports producer, Lucas.

We're talking everything from flying knees to crazy chokes -- and even a human pretzel!!

Of course, the point of the show is to educate fight fans on the art behind these complex moves. But, it's also entertaining as hell to watch.

Episode 1 drops today on Snapchat and it's awesome!!

TMZ Sports has obtained new footage of Gervonta Davis' attack on his ex-girlfriend ... and it appears to show the boxing superstar taking a swing at the woman.

As we previously reported, Davis was arrested last month ... after a woman told cops she was roughed up by the 25-year-old at a celeb basketball event on Feb. 1 in Coral Gables, FL.

Now, we've obtained new footage from the altercation ... and you can see, Davis CLEARLY gets violent with the woman.

Davis walks the baseline at the Watsco Center, immediately puts his hands on the woman's shoulder and neck area ... and pulls and pushes her into the arena's locker room area.

While in there, new footage shows Davis cocking back his left hand and appearing to fire it at the woman. You can see moments later, the woman charges right back at the boxer.

Eventually, the two are separated ... but the drama doesn't end there -- because Davis appears to get in ANOTHER altercation with another man.

The footage shows Davis confronting a man who appeared to be filming the incident ... and at one point, it looked like they were going to square off for a fight.

Ultimately, everyone was separated ... and Davis was locked up 3 days later on a charge of simple battery/domestic violence.

Davis has denied ever hitting the woman, saying in a statement, "I never once hit her ... yeah I was aggressive and told her come on. That's the mother of my child. I would never hurt her."

Cops say the woman suffered injuries to her lip and left jaw in the altercation.

Bellator star Ryan Bader says he wants to avenge his loss to Jon Jones -- the guy he calls the GREATEST MMA fighter ever -- 'cause he's got what it takes to beat Bones' ass.

TMZ Sports talked to the Light Heavyweight and Heavyweight champ at a Bellator media event in NYC this week ... and the 36-year-old star says he'd LOVE another crack at fighting Jones.

"That's one fight I'd love to get back," Bader tells us.

"It was 2011 when that happened. I've grown and changed so much since then. Physically, mentally. We'd love to be able to do some cross-promotion deal."

Remember, Jones submitted Bader via a guillotine choke at UFC 126 in February 2011. It was Bader's first loss of his career.

Fast forward to current day ... RB's a double champ, and hasn't taken an L since 2016.

So, Ryan's got revenge on his mind ... and he's dead serious about getting payback.

DaBaby is vehemently denying a woman's claim she was on the receiving end of his vicious slap -- the rapper admits hitting someone, but says alleged victims are coming outta the woodwork.

We broke the story ... DaBaby brutally assaulted a fan before his Saturday night gig in Tampa while walking through the crowd. Tyronesha Laws claims she's the one DaBaby slapped, but his legal team says not so fast.

DaBaby's attorney, Drew Findling, tells TMZ ... enhanced video shows DaBaby slapping an individual who struck his left eye with what appears to be a phone with the flashlight on -- NOT the person standing to the left or the right of the individual shoving the phone in his face.

That's interesting because Tyronesha told us she was standing next to a young lady who reached with a phone -- flashlight activated -- toward DaBaby right before he allegedly smacked her in the face.

Findling says his law firm has been contacted by multiple people claiming to be the victim, but they haven't been able to establish the real identity.

DaBaby's already apologized to the woman he struck, saying he thought he was hitting a guy and couldn't tell the difference because of the light in his face.

Clearly not the greatest explanation for the violence

Claressa Shields' brother has just been sentenced to 1 year behind bars for attacking a man at the boxing superstar's weigh-in event back in October.

As you'll recall ... the scene was wild at the Shields-Ivana Habazin pre-fight ceremony in Flint, Mi. -- with Habazin's trainer needing to be rushed to the hospital after witnesses say he was sucker-punched.

The guy -- 68-year-old James Ali Bashir -- was seriously hurt in the attack ... with his face and mouth both swollen and bloodied.

Authorities eventually said the attacker was Artis Mack -- Shields' 28-year-old brother -- and charged him with felony assault with intent to do great bodily harm.

The charge, if convicted, carried a maximum of 10 YEARS in prison.

But, Mack cut a deal with prosecutors last month to avoid that fate ... agreeing to plea to a lesser charge of misdemeanor aggravated assault in the case.

And, according to court docs obtained by TMZ Sports, a judge ordered Mack on Tuesday to serve 365 days behind bars ... but gave him 158 days credit for time served.

We reached out to Mack's attorney for comment ... but so far, no word back yet.

Joe Biden's fighting for every vote in Michigan ... even if it means going toe-to-toe in a heated exchange with a Detroit autoworker accusing him of trying to violate the 2nd Amendment.

The current Democratic frontrunner met with employees at an auto plant -- as Michigan and 5 other states are holding primaries Tuesday -- and at least one of Biden's meet and greets didn't go as planned. Surrounded by workers in hardhats, Biden ended up telling one of 'em ... he's "full of s**t!"

The worker claimed Joe's against the right to bear arms, but the former VP didn't let the statement go unchecked. He also quickly shushed an aide who tried to pull him away from the confrontation.

Biden told the autoworker he supports the 2nd Amendment and owns many guns himself, but points out that gun rights don't equate to owning any weapon you want ... like assault rifles.

The worker fired back saying there's a "viral video" proving him right, but Biden said it's a lie.

The exchange didn't end on a friendly note either -- the worker told Biden he works for him, but Biden shot that down ... then it sounded like he told him to stop being a "horse's ass."

Evander Holyfield's son is proving he's also "The Real Deal" -- scoring another decisive victory in the boxing ring ... while his dad watched from the stands.

22-year-old Evan Holyfield -- aka "Young Holy" -- took on Dylan Carlson at the Ring of Hope fundraiser at the Toyota Music Factory in Irving, Texas over the weekend ... and he looks good!

Holyfield opened up the fight by throwing some effective combos -- and essentially landed at will for the rest of the fight.

Ultimately, Evan won by unanimous decision ... and his Hall Of Fame dad was super-proud.

Evan is now 4-0 as a pro, with 3 KOs on his record. When we spoke with him recently, Young Holy told us the goal was to become a better fighter than his father.

Of course, Evander is one of the all-time greats ... he's the only boxer in history to be the undisputed champion in TWO weight classes.

He also famously beat legends like Mike Tyson, George Foreman, Michael Moorer, Buster Douglas, Riddick Bowe, Ray Mercer and more.

Great news for Stipe Miocic ... the UFC heavyweight champ says his injured eye is healing up really well ... and he expects to fight Daniel Cormier in just a few months!

"Eye is really good actually," Stipe told us in NYC while promoting his Fire Dept. Coffee brand ... "Getting healed up. Getting better every day. Getting back in the gym slowly."

Remember, 37-year-old Miocic suffered a torn retina in his August 2019 victory over Cormier -- and while both Stipe and DC are down to run it back, everyone's waiting on the eye to heal up first.

Stipe says he's still battling some issues with the eye -- he sometimes sees "spots" -- but overall, Miocic says the injury has "not really messed with my vision, so I'm happy about that."

As for the 3rd fight between the two heavyweight stars, Stipe says it's "looking like summer" ... since the UFC is already booked up with a bunch of sick PPV fights in April and May.

Stipe definitely ain't lacking confidence -- telling us when the guys do face-off, it'll "suck" for Cormier because "he's gonna lose again!"

Cormier beat Stipe the first time they fought back in 2018 -- but Miocic got his belt back when they clashed in the rematch at UFC 241.

DC says the rubber match with Stipe will be the last fight of his UFC career -- win or lose.

As for Stipe, seems he'll keep fighting as long as he's healthy. And, then it's likely to the UFC Hall of Fame for both guys.

Sean O'Malley beat the hell outta Jose Quinonez this weekend ... dropping him with a devastating head-kick that Suga compares to being SMASHED in the dome with a solid wood bat.

TMZ Sports talked to O'Malley -- fresh off a 1st round TKO at UFC 248 -- and the 25-year-old star walked us through the combination that left Quinonez in the fetal position on the Octagon floor.

"That head-kick ... that was a powerful and heavy head-kick! It's pretty much like if I had a baseball bat. I swung as hard as I could at him. Kind of lifted him off, threw him to the back of the cage."

The finish was super impressive ... not only did Sean land the heavy head-kick, he also crushed Jose with an uppercut ... before raining down a flurry of hammer fists -- before the fight was stopped.

It was O'Malley's first fight in over 2 years ... so while the MMA world mighta been shocked at how quick he took Quinonez out, Suga wasn't.

"I knew going into any of my fights, the 1st round finish is always an option. Especially that first five minutes. I mean, I feel superhuman in there. I'm so fast, I'm so accurate. I put on some size, ya know, so I'm just more powerful," Sean says.

"So, I knew a first-round finish, I knew that could happen and honestly I kinda saw it going like that."

That's not all, as we previously reported, O'Malley told us the post-fight celly was gonna include a lot of medicine (the green kind) ... and Suga, who says he hadn't smoked in 3 weeks, had a bad case of the munchies.