Fights

Former boxing champ Vinny Paz -- the inspiration for the Miles Teller movie "Bleed for This" -- says he's the real victim in a VERY violent incident in Rhode Island.

Here's what we know ... cops responded to a home in Providence early Tuesday morning -- where witnesses claimed the 55-year-old pummeled another man during a dispute over money.

Witnesses told police Paz had accused the other man of stealing $16,000 from him -- and that's what started the attack.

Paz, however, is calling BS on the allegations -- tweeting, "I'm the victim." He didn't go into any further detail.

The other man was hurt pretty bad though ... cops say he was hospitalized with broken teeth, a black eye and bite wounds.

Cops told the AP they're still looking to speak with Vinny directly to get his side of the story.

Paz was 50-10 as a pro boxer -- but he's most famously known for bouncing back after a bad car accident in the early '90s left him with a broken neck.

Holly Holm shocked the world when she KO'd Ronda Rousey, so you better believe she can slay Cris Cyborg -- so says UFC rising star Rose Namajunas.

"She's already proven that if she's the underdog, she can surprise people," Rose told TMZ Sports.

Namajunas would know ... she just starched Joanna Jedrzejczyk -- the most dominant fighter in the UFC since Rousey -- to win her first belt.

Wendell Pierce is happily closing out 2017 by officially -- and finally -- kissing a bizarre 2016 episode goodbye.

The Fulton County State Court tells TMZ ... the assault case against "The Wire" star is now closed after Wendell successfully completed a diversion program that included community service and counseling classes.

Keyshia Cole is gonna pay dearly for attacking a woman in Birdman's L.A. condo.

Sabrina Mercadel had sued Keyshia for the 2014 incident, where she had gone to Birdman's West L.A. condo in the middle of the night and accused the Cash Money CEO of cheating on her. Mercadel, who was in the unit, was on the receiving end of Keyshia's rage. She says Keyshia punched her in the face, yanked her hair and clawed her face and mouth with her nails.

Sabrina says she lost the use of a finger as a result of the attack.

The suit ended with a default judgment against Keyshia because she was a no-show in court. Sabrina was awarded $100,635 ... that's a lot of money, but nowhere near the $4 million Sabrina was after.

Prosecutors have dropped the assault charges against ex-NY Yankees infielder Pat Kelly and his GF stemming from an October arrest, TMZ Sports has learned.

We broke the story ... Kelly and Marina Cernova were arrested at the London Hotel in NYC on Oct. 1 after Marina called cops to report Pat had attacked her.

When cops arrived, they believed Marina also socked Pat in the face -- so they were both arrested and booked for misdemeanor assault.

Pat -- who played for the Yanks from '91 to '97 -- had denied all wrongdoing and claimed the incident was a giant misunderstanding.

Now, we're told the charges have been officially dropped -- mainly because both sides stopped cooperating with prosecutors.

This could be very interesting for Vince McMahon ... ex-NFL star Greg Hardy says he'd be down to join his XFL league if the WWE honcho really does bring it back.

Of course, 29-year-old Hardy is currently fighting his way into a pro MMA career (he's already 2-0) -- but tells TMZ Sports he still loves the game of football and would be open to giving it another go.

"If I get paid ... I'd probably be there, man."

Meanwhile, Hardy says he's still VERY focused on climbing the ladder in MMA -- and ultimately has his sights set on fighting in the UFC so he can compete against the best in the world.

Shannon Briggs has finally found his huckleberry, after years of trying to get a big named Heavyweight to fight him, Briggs tells TMZ Sports he's fighting Tyson Fury in 2018 ... for one round.

Fury hasn't fought since he beat Wladimir Klitschko in 2015 and shocked the boxing world, but recently said in an interview he's coming back, and wants to fight Briggs in his return.

We talked to Shannon, who told us he's been in talks with Fury for a little while and expects the fight to happen next year ... and to be really, really short.

"I'm calling it right now, I'm telling you first, round one. I will knock Tyson fury out in one round."

Manny Pacquiao's so set on fighting Conor McGregor, his people have been hitting up their UFC connects to make it happen -- including legendary Octagon announcer Bruce Buffer.

We got Bruce at LAX ... and he told us Team Pac-Man's been hounding him to help broker the deal for the past 6 MONTHS.

"I’ve had some of Manny’s friends call me and say, 'Can you talk to Conor’s management?'"

"I told 'em, 'You guys know who to call -- call the right people.'"

But even though he won't middle-man, Buff told us he seriously thinks the fight could get made if Pacquiao's willing to step inside the cage.

Bruce hinted that Manny's got experience beyond boxing, and McGregor told us he wants an MMA fight over the weekend ... so never say never.

The news reporter who went viral for trashing Diddy on the air is now challenging rapper Nipsey Hussle to a fist fight ... after Nipsy publicly declared he wanted to beat the guy's ass!!!!

The feud began when KRON4 reporter Henry Wofford mocked Diddy over a video the mogul made saying he wants to buy the Carolina Panthers. Wofford said he couldn't take Diddy seriously because he looked high and drunk.

The very next day, Nipsey told TMZ Sports he was going to find Wofford and "beat yo ass."

Well, Wofford saw the video ... and responded Friday morning with a message to Nipsey:

"I saw you on @TMZ saying you'll beat me down when you see me. Here's your opportunity. I'm old school and only fight for a cause."

"Let's raise money for the Black Community. We can box or go MMA style in a celebrity fight. Hug when it's over. Let me know time and place!"

Nipsy saw the tweet and fired back with a 4-point message:

"1st: I’ll beat yo white washed Samuel L Jackson in DJANGO ass.

2nd: We rejected you from the black community after you COON’d you own people to try to fit in on mainstream TV.

3rd: I don’t hug Uncle Toms.

4th: You ain’t hard enough ... & yo knuckles ain’t scared enough."

Nipsy followed up a few minutes later saying he'll agree to fight Wofford, but there are terms ...

"Make the prize at least 5 mill and I’ll do it in between my album promo ... teach this bitch a lesson and when I knock cuz out he gotta play the story of OJ by Jay Z any time he on air."

Stay tuned ...

Manny Pacquaio's team is publicly shutting down any talks of a Conor McGregor boxing match -- with Pacman's trainer Freddie Roach telling TMZ Sports it just ain't happening.

Freddie told us he's personally spoken to Bob Arum (Manny's promoter) -- who'd have to sign off on the match along with Dana White -- and Bob shot down the rumors.

"I talked to Arum and Arum says it's not true," Roach said outside Craig's in L.A.

Freddie did tell us the 1 guy he'd like to see Pacquiao scrap with ... and also DESTROYED Manny's old rival, Floyd Mayweather, for even considering a UFC fight.

"He's gonna get his ass kicked ... he's a f**kin' old man."

FYI, Conor told us he wants to return to MMA last week.

Floyd Mayweather moving over to MMA just got the thumbs-up from Holly Holm -- who says she could see TBE knucklin' up for the UFC ... and goin' after it with all he's got.

"I'm sure he won't mind putting in the work if he decides to do something with MMA," Holm told the guys on "TMZ Live."

If anyone would know, it'd be Holly -- who won 18 TITLE FIGHTS in boxing before she became a UFC superstar.

But HH -- who's fighting Cris Cyborg at UFC 219 -- ain't saying it's gonna be easy ... in fact, she told us one area where Mayweather's REALLY gotta work if he doesn't wanna get wrecked.

FYI, Floyd shot down fighting for the UFC on Wednesday after Dana White said they were in talks ... but, in the same breath, said the door's always open.

If Floyd Mayweather's serious about stepping inside the Octagon -- there's a UFC champion, not named Conor McGregor, who says he'll (respectfully) kick his ass!

We spoke with T.J. Dillashaw after Dana White said he was "talking to Floyd" about a UFC deal ... and the bantamweight champ threw down the gauntlet on Mayweather.

"Floyd, bring it," T.J. said to TMZ Sports. "Let’s find out what real fighting’s all about."

But as much as Dillashaw would "love" to welcome TBE to MMA ... he's not giving Floyd a chance in hell of surviving.

"Not against me, that's for sure ... he's toast."

Cardi B is worth fighting for ... just ask 2 middle-aged women who were vying for a prized autograph.

We got the rapper leaving 'The Tonight Show' Thursday and the scene cements her position as the hottest female rapper around ... and that's why a John Hancock is so precious.

Cardi only signed for a lucky few, and the 2 women wanted desperately to be in that exclusive club. They go at it fiercely as Cardi hops in an SUV and speeds away.

BTW ... check out her interview with Jimmy Fallon ... it's great.

The Game's been holding out on 40 Glocc ... who says it's time to pay the hell up.

40 Glocc just filed a lawsuit against Game, seeking more than $200k he says he's owed. In the docs, obtained by TMZ, 40 says he won the dough back in November 2016 in a previous lawsuit he'd filed over a 2012 beatdown Game handed him. TMZ got a video of the fight.

40 says the original judgment was for $196,335.15 -- however, because Game's been dragging his feet ... with interest, he now owes $216,775.52.

If Floyd Mayweather is serious about taking a UFC fight, he's already got a WORLD CHAMP offering to train him -- Tyron Woodley!

"Let me know when you need me to slide through -- we'll get you trained, get you ready," Tyron said on "The Hollywood Beatdown."

Tyron and Floyd are friends -- and during the show (full ep drops Friday on the TMZ Sports YouTube channel) Woodley says he REALLY hopes Mayweather's first UFC opponent is Conor McGregor.

"Conor is the only option for him," Woodley says ... noting McGregor is "really a stand-up fighter" and doesn't pose as big of a threat as other UFC stars who specialize in wrestling or jiu-jitsu.

Tyron says he's excited for his pal -- and wants to walk him into the Octagon once the ink is dry on the contract!

Make sure to catch Tyron EVERY WEEK on "The Hollywood Beatdown."

The UFC is talking to Floyd Mayweather about a REAL fight in the octagon ... with Dana White saying it's a "realistic possibility."

"We're talking to Floyd about doing a UFC deal," White told ESPN.

"It's real. He was talking about [boxing] Conor McGregor. Was that real? Have you heard Floyd talk about many things that aren't real? He usually tips his hand when he's in the media and then that sh*t ends up happening."

White added, "We're interested in doing something with Floyd. Everything is a realistic possibility. Mayweather vs. McGregor f*cking happened. Anything is possible."

Stay tuned ...