Fights

Just a month ago, Oscar De La Hoya told us Floyd Mayweather would get strangled unconscious in 10 SECONDS in a UFC fight.

But now, Oscar's pullin' a 180 -- telling us he truly believes Floyd "can do well" if he steps inside the Octagon.

Don't get it twisted -- Oscar hasn't forgotten about the Floyd-Conor McGregor "circus" pulling attention off the first Canelo vs. GGG fight ... but it seems like he's turned a new leaf with Canelo-GGG 2 taking center stage on May 5.

"I wish him all the best," De La Hoya told TMZ Sports. "If a boxer, and one of my colleagues, is gonna go inside the cage, I obviously have to go and support Floyd."

Epic news, gamers -- the best thing since "Mike Tyson's Punch-Out" is on the way ... 'cause Floyd Mayweather says he's following in Tyson's footsteps and creating HIS OWN video game!!

At his 41st birthday bash, Floyd told TMZ Sports he's already "working on" bringing TBE to video game consoles around the world ... and -- like all things Floyd -- he's gonna have "ownership" in it to make sure it comes out right.

FYI, the gaming community's been starved for a legit boxing game for years -- so this is a huge deal.

It's been rumored EA might be dropping a new "Fight Night" ... but Floyd told us he ain't gonna be in it if they do -- "Before I do anything, I have to have some ownership."

Bonus: In case you missed the Punch-Out craze, here's a tribute ft. Mayweather himself ...

Comedian Michael Blackson seriously wants to beat the crap outta Kevin Hart -- telling TMZ Sports he's bringing in 2 of the best boxers in the world so he can get the job done!!

Just last month, Blackson told us he wanted to fight Kev to settle their beef ... but we kinda figured he was joking since, you know, we're talking about Michael Blackson here.

But when we got him out at Argyle in Hollywood the other day -- MB claimed both Adrien Broner and Deontay Wilder have agreed to train him for the potential comedy superfight.

Michael says he tried hitting up Floyd, too, but got big-timed.

Cris Cyborg says there ain't a chance Ronda Rousey would come back to fight her in the UFC ... so, she's lettin' Ronda know she's 100% down to rumble in her new home -- WWE!!

We spoke to Cyborg before her upcoming fight with Yana Kunitskaya at UFC 222 ... and had to get her thoughts on Rousey -- Cris' ex-UFC rival who she literally wanted to "kill" back in the day.

Cyborg told TMZ Sports she's over the beef ... but would gladly accept an invite to toss her around in the ring.

The only problem -- "If she don't fight (me) in MMA, I don't think she gonna agree fight (me) in WWE."

But, Cris says she's got a plan to get Ronda's attention -- and it involves a STEEL CHAIR.

Before Ronda eats steel, Cyborg's gotta take out Yana -- a UFC newcomer who told us she's got the goods to pull off the MASSIVE upset.

We'll see ...

UFC rising star Brian Ortega lives by the warrior code -- anyone, anytime, anywhere -- and says those rules apply even if you're a 78-year-old woman!!

We got "T-City" and Bruce Buffer on the TMZ Sports TV show earlier this week ... and Buff told us Ortega's so game, he'd literally kick anyone's ass at a moment's notice.

Our guy, Van, countered with the freakshow fight of a lifetime -- a matchup with his own grandma!!

Brian's response -- "How much money we getting paid?"

SHUT IT DOOOWN.

Real talk, Ortega's got a huge scrap vs. ex-champ Frankie Edgar -- a fighter he considers "a legend" -- at UFC 222 this Saturday.

Guessing he'll be a tougher test than Van's grammy ... just by a little.

Columbus Short is going to jail for several months after pleading no contest to hitting his current wife ... TMZ has learned.

The ex-"Scandal" star entered his plea Friday in L.A. after getting arrested back in November. According to prosecutors he hit Aida Abramyan during an argument. Short was sentenced to 36 months probation and domestic violence education.

However, he was already on probation for a 2014 bar fight where he knocked out a guy. He got the year in jail for violating probation.

At least one big UFC star believes Jon Jones ... with Tyron Woodley saying he DOESN'T think the embattled MMA fighter intentionally took steroids before UFC 214.

Jones has suggested an enemy may have slipped anabolic steroids into his workout supplements in order to sabotage his career ... and while Tyron wouldn't go that far, he explains why he doubts Jon would ever knowingly 'roid up.

It all went down on "The Hollywood Beatdown" -- where Tyron also questioned why Jones' reputation is in shambles after his PED test ... but Brock Lesnar (who also tested positive) is still a huge fan favorite.

There's more ... Woodley also weighs in on Deontay Wilder's claim he could beat Mike Tyson in the prime of Mike's career and also breaks down Wilder's upcoming fight against Luis Ortiz!

Still think wrestling is fake?

Here's Impact Wrestling star Eddie Edwards -- after he was bashed in the eye with a baseball bat in the ring ... which resulted in a REAL broken face.

Edwards was wrestling against Sami Callihan in Orlando -- when Sami was supposed to use a baseball bat to smash a folding chair down on Edwards.

But the bat ricocheted off the chair and accidentally struck Edwards over his right eye.

Edwards was taken to a nearby hospital where he was treated for a broken orbital bone and a broken nose. There was A LOT of blood.

Impact Wrestling says doctors told Edwards he's lucky his vision wasn't permanently impaired as a result of the injury.

Edwards joined the guys on the "TMZ Sports" TV show (airs weeknights on FS1) and told us what the bat to the face felt like, and how his recovery is comin' along.

As for Callihan, we're told he felt terrible about the accident and was very emotional about the situation behind the scenes.

Get well soon, bro.

'The Ultimate Fighter' vet who went viral for his "let me bang, bro" explosion on 'TUF' won't be bangin' for a bit ... 'cause he's gotta spend 30 days in jail after being arrested for DWI.

Julian Lane -- a cast member on seasons 16 and 25 of the UFC's reality show competition -- was arrested back in October after cops found him asleep at the wheel at an intersection in Mansfield, Ohio.

Cops said Lane was "lethargic and slurring his speech" ... and noted several beer cans and weed in the passenger side of his car.

Julian was transported to the Mansfield police dept., where he blew a .10 ... and charged with 3 misdemeanors -- DWI, driving with a suspended license and possession of marijuana.

The DWI was later reduced to a lesser charge because Lane wasn't physically driving his car when he was rolled on ... and his suspended license charge was dismissed.

But, he'll still have to spend 30 days in the slammer -- starting on April 4.

Lane's scheduled main event fight at Ring of Combat 62 tonight was cancelled ... likely as a result of his arrest.

Daniel Cormier ain't about to throw a pity party for Jon Jones ... saying his rival got what's coming to him with his steroids suspension.

"He put himself in all these situations -- these were not forced on you. That's his reality now," Cormier told TMZ Sports.

FYI, Jones got slapped a 1-year ban from the California Athletic Commission earlier this week ... and is still facing a max 4-YEAR ban from the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency for failing a drug test before his UFC 214 fight vs. DC.

But Daniel says he ain't getting hung up on Jon's PED saga ... 'cause he's got bigger and better things to worry about.

"I've moved on," Cormier said. "I've disconnected myself from that man and his issues."

DC says all he cares about now is becoming a 2-weight champ by beating Stipe Miocic -- who he just finished filming 'TUF 27' with -- at UFC 226.

But, ya gotta wonder ... could Daniel possibly fight Jones after that scrap?

Cormier confirmed his retirement timeline with us, and things ain't looking great for Jon ...

Jacksonville Jaguars star Dante Fowler copped a plea in his parking lot beatdown case -- but he ain't going to jail.

As we previously reported, the 23-year-old was charged with battery, criminal mischief and petty theft -- all misdemeanors -- after he allegedly roughed a dude up in an apartment parking lot in Florida back in July.

Officials say Fowler got upset with a man after he criticized his driving -- and proceeded to hit the guy, knock off his glasses, stepped on them ... and then grabbed the man's bag of newly purchased liquor and threw it in a nearby lake.

Fowler was facing about a year in jail -- but instead cut a deal in which he pled no contest to all 3 counts and in exchange he got 12 months probation, 75 hours of community service and more than $1,000 in fines.

He was also ordered to stay away from the victim, according to court docs obtained by TMZ Sports.

Fowler previously apologized for the incident -- telling Jaguars fans, "I'm a better person than that."

UFC newcomer Mackenzie Dern is flattered by all the Ronda Rousey comparisons, but says she's her own woman ... and wants to accomplish EVEN MORE than Ronda in MMA!!

We talked to the jiu-jitsu phenom before her debut at UFC 222 ... and she laid out why labeling her Rousey 2.0 ain't right -- even though both women are known for ripping their opponents' arms off.

"It's nice that people think that, but I'm not the next Ronda Rousey," Dern told TMZ Sports. "We are two different people, different personalities, different histories, different obstacles ... it's a new era."

That said, Mackenzie told us she's gunnin' for it all -- and hopes to achieve "at least as much, if not more" than the UFC's first female trailblazer.

Gonna have to tune in Saturday to see if she passes her first test, 'TUF' alum Ashley Yoder, but one thing's for sure ... she's got the look.

LeBron better start knucklin' up ... 'cause the baller he's been beefin' with is getting boxing lessons from a UFC superstar!!

That superstar is former middleweight champ Chris Weidman -- who came through Knicks practice on Wednesday to chill with his hometown hoops squad ... including Bron's trash-talkin' rival, Enes Kanter.

Weidman shot around with Enes -- but it looks like they had more fun strappin' on the gloves to get the Turkish big man ready for a potential throwdown with the King.

"Hey @kingjames, I've been training my guy @eneskanter11. Best think twice before messing with the Orange and Blue again," Chris tweeted at LeBron.

FYI, Kanter called LBJ a "queen" and a "princess" after they got in each other's faces in November ... and trolled him after a game last month, too.

Stipe Miocic is from Cleveland, Bron -- might be time to reach out.

Canelo Alvarez says he wouldn't be caught dead in an MMA cage 'cause he's got too much love and respect for boxing ... unlike Floyd Mayweather.

With all the buzz about Floyd possibly taking a UFC fight, we had to ask Canelo if he'd consider crossing over, too.

Canelo shut that down quick -- and shaded his former rival in the process.

"I respect boxing. Boxing's my sport. That's what I love. The other sport, that's something we'll never know," he told TMZ Sports.

As for Floyd -- "With him you never know ... but you know what? Whatever he does doesn't interest me."

Of course, Canelo's focus is on his May 5 rematch vs. GGG ... and both guys let us know why this one's a way bigger deal than their first matchup.

12:42 PM PT -- Andy Foster is recommending a $205,000 fine -- 40-percent of Jones’ purse and $5,000 in additional fines ... and recommends his license is revoked until USADA determines its punishment.

12:06 PM PT -- Jon says he never completed USADA anti-doping tutorials ... despite the fact he signed paperwork saying he did.

Jones says his management team took the tutorials for him and then forged his signature.

11:53 AM PT -- When asked about his use of sex enhancement supplements, Jones said, "I've had quite a bit of experience with Cialis and Viagra over the years."

11:49 AM PT -- Jones was asked what assurances he can give the commission that this won't happen again. Jones says he doesn't know how to answer the question because he didn't intentionally cheat in the first place.

Jones says, "My luck has been terrible when it comes to USADA."

11:48 AM PT -- Jon says he still wants to fight Daniel Cormier again. "I want to get that belt from Cormier."

11:44 AM PT -- "I've really tried everything in my power to get my life together."

Jon also says he's not a "screw up" and understands he's a role model for kids. He says he might be a knucklehead, but he's NOT a cheater.

11:41 AM PT -- "I have no clue how this happened."

11:40 AM PT -- Jon says he thought about who could have intentionally contaminated his supplements ... suggesting an enemy may have tried to take him down.

11:38 AM PT -- Jon says his nutritionist worked hard to make sure everything he took was clean and USADA approved.

11:34 AM PT -- Jon is testifying. He says he was very confused by the positive steroid test. Says he had to take a close look at the people around him to see if anyone would have contaminated his workout supplements.

10:24 AM PT -- Jon's attorney says the UFC fighter is not fighting the positive test, but he thinks the heavy $200,000 fine and revocation of his license is too harsh of a penalty.

Jon's attorney said, "He did not knowingly take the substance. He does not know where it came from."

The revocation would essentially last 1 year -- with Jones being able to reapply after 1 year has passed. The CA Athletic Commission would then decide to continue the suspension for another year or lift it.

Jon Jones is about to find out if he'll be SUSPENDED from fighting in the state of California over a failed UFC 214 steroid test.

He's about to face the California State Athletic Commission ... and we're livestreaming the whole thing.

TMZ Sports broke the news ... Jones tested positive for the anabolic steroid Turinabol in a test administered in July -- the day before he beat Daniel Cormier in Anaheim to reclaim the UFC light heavyweight championship.

Of course, Jones was stripped of his title -- and now he's facing up to $200,000 in fines (40% of his fight purse) and a possible suspension from the CSAC.

If the CSAC suspends Jones' license, he can't reapply until one year has passed from the date of revocation.

Jones is also facing punishment from another agency -- USADA -- which could hit him with a possible 4-year suspension. Jones is expected to meet with USADA later this year. There's no guarantee USADA's punishment will match the CSAC punishment.

The complication for Jones ... this is his 2nd offense. He tested positive for 2 banned substances prior to UFC 200 in Las Vegas in 2016 ... resulting in a 1-year suspension from USADA and the Nevada State Athletic Commission.

Oscar De La Hoya has a challenge for President Trump -- he's "daring" POTUS to come to the Canelo Alvarez vs. GGG fight on May 5 ... to prove he doesn't really hate Mexican people.

"I always have binoculars ready for Donald Trump because I'm not gonna sit him ringside," Oscar tells TMZ Sports ... "I'm gonna sit him way up there in the stands with all the Mexicans and all the fight fans from Kazakhstan!"

"I dare him to come! It'll be great!"

Oscar says he knows Trump is a fight fan -- but tells us he's probably rooting for Gennady Golovkin because "I don't think Trump is a Mexican supporter. He's more of a European supporter."