UFC's Anderson Silva Blames Steroids Test On Tainted Supplements
2/20/18
UFC legend Anderson Silva is still adamant he never knowingly used steroids -- but says if the positive test results are accurate, the only explanation is "contaminated supplements."
Silva tested positive for two banned substances in a U.S. Anti-Doping Agency drug test conducted back in October. Silva is now facing a maximum 4-year suspension from fighting.
But, "The Spider" tells TMZ Sports he would NEVER knowingly juice up -- saying it would be a "stupid" thing to do at the tail end of his career.
His explanation -- "Maybe the supplements I'm using are contaminated."
Silva says his lawyers are still fighting to clear his name -- and he's confident he'll fight again.
In fact, he's still focused on getting a fight with boxing legend Roy Jones Jr.
And get this ... if 42-year-old Silva IS banned for 4 years -- he does NOT plan on retiring ... insisting he'll still take a fight even in his late 40s because he loves the sport so much.
"This is my heart. This is my life."
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Tito Ortiz 'A Lot of Interest' in Chuck Liddell ... Only Fight I'd Take!
Tito Ortiz is doubling down on his Chuck Liddell call-out ... telling TMZ Sports straight-up that he's down for a 3rd fight with the Iceman!
"I don't need to fight, but if Chuck needs to ... I'll be a good friend like he was once and give him a payday," Ortiz said ... adding that ONLY Chuck could pull him outta retirement.
The bad news -- Tito says he proposed Ortiz vs. Liddell 3 to a UFC matchmaker on New Year's ... and got shot down HARD 'cause they're worried about Chuck's health.
"He kinda looked at me and laughed and said, 'Chuck couldn't fight again! He's been knocked out unconscious 5 times! I guarantee you the doctor won't give him a license."
But that ain't stoppin' Chuck -- who tells us he's still training his ass off.
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UFC's Cat Zingano Crushes Black Bikini ... Before UFC Return
Here's UFC killer Cat Zingano SLAYING a black spaghetti string bikini -- proving she's coming back to the cage jacked and ready to rock at UFC 222.
"Strong. Motivated. Focused. Mean. Ready," Zingano captioned the photo ... a selfie with inspirational messages scribbled across her mirror.
But this ain't just any mirror selfie -- it speaks volumes for Cat, a single mom who lost her husband to suicide in 2014. Since then, she's struggled with staying in shape and finding the motivation to fight.
Now, after nearly 20 months off, it's pretty clear she's ready to get after it again.
Cat's comeback ain't gonna be a cakewalk -- she's fighting undefeated Ketlen Vieira on March 3 in Vegas ... the same card with Cyborg vs. Yana Kunitskaya.
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WWE's Randy Orton Rousey's Gotta Wrestle ... To Prove She's Special
Ronda Rousey's UFC resume kicks ass, but we gotta pump the brakes on calling her the next big thing in wrestling -- so says WWE superstar Randy Orton.
With all the buzz Ronda's gotten since her Royal Rumble appearance, our guy asked Randy if he thinks she's on the fast track to the Mount Rushmore of Pro Wrestling.
The 13-time champ wasn't having it -- telling TMZ Sports it's way too soon to make those kinds of comparisons. After all, Rousey hasn't even had A SINGLE MATCH.
"She has a good chance of being one of the top female wrestlers eventually, but she’s got a long way to go," Orton told TMZ Sports outside LAX.
"The Legend Killer" would know, right?
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UFC's Khabib Nurmagomedov Dishes on Meeting Cristiano Ronaldo He LOVES the UFC (and Me)
How big of an MMA fan is Cristiano Ronaldo?
So massive, that Real Madrid brought UFC star Khabib Nurmagomedov to meet him in Spain so the 2 could bro down ... this according to Khabib himself.
"He know everything about the UFC," Nurmagomedov told TMZ Sports outside Jay Glazer's Unbreakable Performance Center in Hollywood.
FYI, the meet-up went down at Real's training center in Madrid ... where the two Euro-sport mega-stars talked fighting and exchanged gifts (Khabib got a signed ball and jersey).
If this feels familiar, it's probably 'cause Conor McGregor -- Khabib's arch-nemesis -- also kicked it with Cristiano. Ronaldo visited Conor before his first Nate Diaz fight ... facing off with McGregor at his private gym in Vegas.
No way of knowing which fighter Cristiano likes more -- Ali and Khabib claim it's Khabib, of course -- but Ronaldo did look pretty pumped wearing Khabib's signature papakha hat.
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UFC's Jeremy Stephens Chuck Liddell Is Done ... 'Stay Retired!'
Jeremy Stephens loves Chuck Liddell -- saying he's an MMA legend and a guy he looked up to when he was a young buck in the UFC.
But when it comes to the Iceman's desire to return to the cage ... Jeremy's begging him to reconsider.
"His time has come and gone," Jeremy told TMZ Sports. "Stay retired, Chuck."
Stephens says the fight game ain't like other professions ... and when it's clear you're done, you should stay done.
FYI, Chuck's 48, hasn't fought in 8 YEARS and lost 5 outta his last 6 UFC fights -- 4 of 'em by KO. But Liddell told us he's still down to scrap if the right offer comes along.
Bonus: Wanna know how Jeremy's quest to bang Conor McGregor's mom is going?
Of course you do.
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WWE's Mark Henry Hulk Can Come Back If He Apologizes To Black Wrestlers
Mark Henry has a way for Hulk Hogan to make a complete return to the WWE ... one that he says will allow everyone in the organization to forgive Hogan for good.
Hulk has to apologize, again, but this time to all the existing black talent currently wrestling for the organization.
Mark dropped this knowledge when we got him out in NYC and asked what he thought of Hogan's chances of getting back into fold are, since Hogan's been angling for a comeback.
Although there are many in the wrestling world -- including Ric Flair -- that think it's high time Hogan is let back in, Henry's opinion matters, because he's now a producer for the WWE, and a prominent black voice.
Question is, if that's what it took, would Hogan be willing to do it?
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UFC's Sage Northcutt Gunning For Lead Movie Role FaceTime Acting Lessons!
UFC star Sage Northcutt's using his "Creed 2" snub as the ultimate motivation to kick-start a massively successful acting career ... telling TMZ Sports he's gunning to land lead movie roles!!
ICYMI -- Sage campaigned on social media to play Ivan Drago's son in the next installment of the Stallone/Michael B. Jordan flick. He didn't get the role, though ... and now he's out for revenge.
Northcutt says he's gonna put in the same amount of effort he's put into all his interests ... and he's already been doing acting lessons with coaches via FaceTime!!
Not only does Sage say he wants to be in movies ... but he wants to land a lead role in a project.
After all ... he's got the looks.
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Khabib Nurmagomedov Conor McGregor's UFC Career Is Over '100%' Getting Stripped!!
Conor McGregor hasn't stepped inside the Octagon in over 15 MONTHS ... and UFC star Khabib Nurmagomedov says that's proof he ain't fighting EVER again.
At least, not in MMA.
"I don’t think he gonna come back," Khabib told TMZ Sports outside Jay Glazer's MMA gym in Hollywood.
"When is Conor compete last time in MMA? Long time. He's boxing guy."
Khabib says McGregor's team is focused on a rematch with Floyd Mayweather ... instead of a real fight against him or Tony Ferguson -- who he's facing at UFC 223 in April.
Khabib also told us his contract for the Ferguson scrap explicitly states they're fighting for the "real belt" -- which means the UFC is "100%" stripping Conor of his lightweight title.
FYI, Dana White still hasn't made an official decision on Conor's championship status or his future with the UFC.
Stay tuned ...
JANUARY 2018
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UFC's Cowboy Cerrone After I Fight Yancy Medeiros We're Smokin' Weed in Hawaii!!
Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone says he's slammin' beers and puffin' pot with Yancy Medeiros after they get done scrappin' at UFC Fight Night: Austin ... and he's 100% serious.
You see, unlike some brutes in the fight game, Cowboy tells TMZ Sports he doesn't hold grudges against the guys he goes to war with.
In fact, he does the opposite -- he bros out with 'em!
So after they throw down in Sunday's main event ... Donald says he's trippin' out to Yancy's home state of Hawaii to try some of that sweet, sweet island ganj.
Bonus: Cerrone gives us proof that he's a real-life Cowboy -- showin' off an entire fleet of Harleys he brought out to Austin for the fight!
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Tito Ortiz Calls BS on Chuck Liddell: I Asked to Fight You, UFC Said No!
If Chuck Liddell wants an opponent, it looks like he's got one -- 'cause Tito Ortiz says the Iceman's claim that he's ducking him is pure crap.
"Funny thing is, I told UFC to put the fight together and they said you were incapable to fight again," Ortiz tweeted. "Maybe you can twist Dana White's arm."
Remember -- TMZ Sports spoke with Chuck about his MMA comeback a few days ago ... and he told us his old rival was running scared.
"Tito would be great if he'd even consider fighting me. I hear he doesn't wanna fight me at all," Liddell said.
Now, Tito's calling Iceman's bluff -- asking Chuck to hit up his old buddy, Dana, so they can complete their trilogy.
The problem -- Dana pushed Chuck into retirement back in 2010, saying he'd never let him fight in the UFC again 'cause he cared too much about his friend's health. FYI, Liddell had lost by KO in 3-straight fights.
Guessing the UFC prez still feels the same way, but ya never know ...
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'L&HH' Star Tommie Lee Accused of Mall Smackdown ... Cops Investigating
"Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta" star Tommie Lee allegedly punched an employee in a super fancy jewelry store, and cops are now looking into the matter ... TMZ has learned.
According to the police report ... Tommie and an unknown man visited the Henri Bendel store in Atlanta's Lenox Square mall on February 1. An employee named Daniella was helping Tommie when a nasty argument started. Police say store surveillance cams captured Tommie yelling at Daniella, and then coming around the display case to "slap and punch her repeatedly."
Sources at the store tell us ... Tommie became increasingly rude while shopping, and Daniella decided to confront her about her attitude. We're told that's what set off Tommie. The store manager eventually broke up the altercation before Tommie and her companion bolted.
According to cops ... the store manager claimed Lee and her guy friend frequent the store, and have tried to steal items in the past.
The employee told cops she suffered bruising on the left side of her face and eye. She wants to press charges, and we're told she's lawyered up and might sue Tommie as well.
We reached out to reps for Tommie ... no word back yet.
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UFC's Devin Powell I Broke My Balls 'Felt Like a Sack of Worms'
UFC fighter Devin Powell is one bro who won't be getting lucky on Valentine's Day -- 'cause he's in the hospital nursing a surgically-repaired nut.
No, we aren't making this up ... and Devin gave TMZ Sports the cringy play-by-play of the accident.
Devin told us he was training his ground game with UFC vet Joe Lauzon ... and it was business as usual until Joe's knee sandwiched one of his testicles and "exploded it."
"The top of it felt like a big sack of worms -- all the veins had swelled," Powell said.
The worst part -- Powell says he waited A DAY AND A HALF before getting his ruptured ball checked out.
Lucky for him, it wasn't too late. Devin says the scrotal surgery was a success ... and he's already asking Dana White to book him on an upcoming UFC card!
Seriously, the balls on this guy ...
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John Cena Slams Ford In $500k Supercar War ... You Suck at Paperwork!
John Cena is giving Ford a little attitude adjustment of his own -- telling the car company to take their lawsuit over his old $500,000 supercar and shove it.
We broke the story ... Ford claims it sold Cena a super rare "limited edition" Ford GT supercar -- 647 horsepower, 3.5L EcoBoost V6 engine with an MSRP of $450,000.
Ford claims they only selected a few people for the privilege of buying the car -- and Cena was one of the lucky ones (Justin Verlander and Joey Logano also own the whip).
The caveat, according to Ford, owners CANNOT resell the car during the initial 24 months of ownership. Ford claims Cena broke the rules and flipped his ride for a profit. They're suing Cena for every penny he got from the sale.
But in new court docs filed in district court in Michigan, John says he did nothing wrong -- because the final contract he signed said nothing about a 24-month no-resale clause.
Cena says Ford screwed up by not putting the sale restriction in the final binding contract -- and he shouldn't be punished because they suck at paperwork.
Now, he's asking the judge to throw out the case against him.
Stay tuned ...
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Ric Flair Calls Out Ronda Rousey Fight My Daughter!
Ric Flair has some WWE matchmaking advice for Vince McMahon -- set Ronda Rousey vs. Charlotte Flair, ASAP!!
Ric's daughter is the current "SmackDown" Women's Champion -- and Ric tells TMZ Sports he knows his daughter wants a shot at the newest star on the roster.
Charlotte has previously told TMZ Sports when it comes to Rousey -- "She knows where to find me."
SEPTEMBER 2017
The good news for Rousey ... Ric and his pal Hulk Hogan are big fans. They love the fact she's a TRUE wrestling fan and were impressed with her tribute to Rowdy Roddy Piper.
Speaking of legends ... we also asked Hulk and Ric to name the 4 people who belong on the Mount Rushmore of Pro Wrestling.
Spoiler alert: here are some names that DIDN'T make the cut:
The Rock, Ultimate Warrior, Randy Savage, Undertaker, John Cena, Triple H, Shawn Michaels and Sting.
Discuss ...
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Chuck Liddell Training for MMA Comeback ... Even In 'Big Brother' House
Chuck Liddell says he's still VERY serious about taking another MMA fight -- he's even naming names -- and kept up his training regimen inside the "Celebrity Big Brother" house ... just in case.
For the record, Chuck's 48 years old -- and hasn't had a pro fight since UFC 115 in 2010.
But he trains like a maniac -- and made it a point to keep up his workouts during "Celebrity Big Brother" because, "I didn't want to get too far out of shape."
So, who does he want to fight? He's got some ideas in mind ... but adds, "Depends on who they offer. I'm down for just about anything."
Chuck's record is 21-8 and he's widely considered one of the most iconic UFC fighters of all time ... beating legends like Randy Couture and Tito Ortiz in their primes.
Unfortunately, he was the first celeb booted from the 'Big Brother' house.
Silver lining? More time to train ...