Fights

There's a huge log jam at the top of the UFC welterweight division, with no less than five fighters in the mix for a title fight against champ Islam Makhachev ... a complicated situation that Ian Machado Garry says will be settled after he kicks Belal Muhammad's ass!

TMZ Sports spoke to the 28-year-old, 6th-ranked challenger ahead of his Fight Night co-main event scrap with 37-year-old Muhammad ... and we asked about the weight class.

"It's the most exciting division in the UFC right now. It's probably the most exciting a division has ever been, full stop. It's an exciting time for my division, and I'm at the forefront of it," Garry told us.

Jake Paul's heading into his Anthony Joshua fight locked and loaded ... El Gallo just commissioned one of the most amazing chains you'll ever lay your eyes on, made with a whopping 364 carats of diamonds!

TMZ Sports has learned the 12-1 pro boxer copped the insanely bling-y piece from famed jeweler, Vobara, ahead of his highly anticipated December 19th matchup.

This chain's composition is wild ... we're told each "round" is loaded with 5 carats of high-quality, oval VS1 diamonds, all mounted with one kilo of 8-karat rose gold.

Ja Rule was involved in an altercation last night at Barclays Center during Brandy & Monica's "The Boy Is Mine" tour stop, and turns out ... that was the height of it. Rumors of him receiving any beatdown are completely false!!!

Ja cleared up all the internet rumors with TMZ Hip Hop ...  “I don’t call police… I didn’t get jumped, they tried tho 🤣." When asked who the guys were trying to put blood in his eye, he simply said, "No clue."

Tasha K -- who's been ordered to pay Cardi B over $1 million in a past defamation, false reporting case -- jumped out on the Ja rumors, claiming the rap star had been turned to orange juice pulp ... and he clapped back at her!!!

Arman Tsarukyan is taking his fight against Dan Hooker head-on -- literally -- 'cause he butted his opponent right in the noggin during a tense weigh-in altercation.

There's some serious beef between these two guys leading up to UFC Fight Night in Qatar -- Tsarukyan wasted no time going after Hooker after joining the promotion ... and it only intensified in the days leading up to the bout.

The two came face-to-face on Friday ... and as they approached each other on the stage, Tsarukyan (22-3) jolted forward and made contact with Hooker's face.

Dillion Danis better keep his head on a swivel ... 'cause the beef with Team Islam Makhachev is anything but squashed, according to the newly crowned welterweight champ's manager, Ali Abdelaziz.

"This is not over. This is not over," Abdelaziz told TMZ Sports on Monday.

"This guy is not safe. Whole Foods, the airport at a terminal, if people catch this guy, he's gonna have problems. He's not done, these people are not done with him. For the rest of his life. [Dillon] or Conor, they're not safe. Or they have to come out and say, 'Know what, we're sorry, we give up. We're done.' Then after that you'll get mercy."

Dillon Danis just got himself blacklisted from the UFC ... because Dana White says the fighter is banned forever after igniting a wild brawl cageside at UFC 322.

The chaos exploded Saturday night inside Madison Square Garden in NYC ... moments before the main card kicked off when Danis got into it with several members of Islam Makhachev's squad.

Videos captured the scene ... showing Danis mixing it up with Abubakar Nurmagomedov and Magomed Zaynukov as security rushed in to break things up.

Dana addressed the melee during the post-fight presser and didn't mince words ... telling reporters he won't press charges, but Danis will never step foot at another UFC event again.

"I was on the other side of the Octagon and go, 'F---, I know exactly what this is,'" White said. "You will never see Dillon Danis at a UFC fight ever again."

Danis, of course, isn't a stranger to Nurmagomedov drama. He was in Conor McGregor's corner during their infamous 2018 title fight in Las Vegas ... the same night Khabib Nurmagomedov choked out McGregor and then leapt out of the cage to attack Conor's corner.

"So You Think You Can Dance" star Joshua Allen's girlfriend is sharing her side of the fight that broke out at his funeral last weekend ... telling TMZ she was invited by family before his aunt allegedly attacked her.

We told you all about it -- Dy'Zetta Brown had just placed a note on Allen's chest and was kissing him goodbye for the final time when she was grabbed from behind by a woman, who Brown says is an aunt on his mom's side of the family, in a now-infamous video.

Police were called to Allen's funeral twice that day ... and, Brown tells TMZ the viral altercation happened after the first incident -- when Allen's maternal side of the family told cops she had a restraining order against him.

"I spoke to [President Trump] about it. He said he'd put in a good word for me, and I think that will probably go a long way."

That's what Bo Nickal told TMZ Sports this week -- just days before the UFC star is set to return to the Octagon following his first defeat in an otherwise blemish-free MMA career -- when asked about next year's highly anticipated fights at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

"I would love to be on that card. It would be a big honor for me. Something that would be very special," the 29-year-old told us, adding, "take care of business, one thing at a time, but it's looking good for the White House card."

For the first time, Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy has revealed how the rise of political violence has affected his life ... he now has 24/7 security at his home.

He told Tony Dokoupil in an interview on "CBS News Sunday Morning" he's concerned "yahoos" mentioning him on social media could "open the floodgates" for "lunatics" who may wish to do him harm.

He cautioned, "It only takes one."

10:45 AM PT -- The Berkeley Police Dept. tells TMZ … the two men seen fighting in the video were initially arrested on suspicion of fighting in public at about 5 PM Monday.

After further investigation, BPD says 25-year-old Oakland resident Jihad Dphrepaulezz allegedly stole a chain from around the neck of the man in the red shirt. Dphrepaulezz was arrested on suspicion of robbery and battery resulting in injury … the other man, who police did not identify, was released.

Things got wild at UC Berkeley Monday when a brawl erupted at a Turning Point USA event, with fists flying and blood flowing on camera.

Check out one clip making the rounds -- a keffiyeh-clad protester went toe-to-toe with a man selling merchandise at a tour stop held by Charlie Kirk’s Turning Point USA last night. The guy hawking "Freedom" memorial tees ended up with blood gushing from his nose like a busted faucet.

Eddie Griffin has stories for days about running with both Tupac and Biggie when they were still alive -- and he recently told a couple ... including one which ended with him having to strongarm some of Diddy's merchandise!!!

The tenured comedian was signing autographs following a recent stand-up set in Atlanta when he was asked to travel down memory lane about hanging with the late great rap legends.

Eddie recalls rolling with Pac in the ATL area -- circa the time when the wild block party Freaknik was still a thing -- but it wasn't all fun and games ... Pac was hanging out the window double-fisted with both middle fingers out!!!

Bass Pro Shops brawlers got into a stink over a guy allegedly taking too long in the bathroom ... leading to the the s*** hitting the fan!

The rumble went down this past Saturday in Odessa, Texas ... and according to the police report -- obtained by TMZ -- the clash was caused by one guy accusing another guy of hogging the restroom.

The man told cops his wife and child were waiting to use the bathroom ... and when the guy finally came out, he told him he'd been taking too long and there were people waiting.

DDG landed Blueface's first post-prison interview on his live stream, and the "Thotiana" rapper apparently has a new lease on life ... no smoking or drinking, but YES to a Jake Paul fight!!!

Blueface was released this week after serving 21 months and relays to DDG that his noticeable chunkier appearance from his prison photos was actually intentional -- he binged on mashed potatoes and oatmeal with his own commissary money until he barfed!!!

Blueface says he had fights and fades to give out, and the extra weight helped him deliver KOs -- and not the other way around!!!

Whoever said fishing is relaxing hasn't been to the new Bass Pro Shops in Odessa, Texas ... where a huge brawl broke out to christen the opening ... all caught on video.

The Odessa Police Department tells TMZ ... they responded to the disturbance Saturday at approximately 2:52 PM. Cops said two men started arguing while waiting in line for the restroom. The incident then turned physical.

It's unclear what exactly started the argument ... but in the video, you can see 4 men paired off in separate tussles, and then more guys start running in.

Offset is being sued over an alleged altercation at a dispensary ... with a security guard claiming the rapper attacked him.

Jim Sanchez is suing the rapper ... saying he's a security guard who was working at MedMen LAX back in March when Offset and his friends allegedly came to the store.

In the lawsuit, Sanchez claims he asked Offset to show identification which he says set off the rapper. Sanchez claims Offset "became hostile, verbally confrontational, and physically attacked Plaintiff by striking him in the face."

Chase DeMoor is looking to wipe the floor with Andrew Tate on December 20 ... not only for boxing respect -- but also to satisfy all the people who hate his opponent's guts.

TMZ Sports caught up with the reality TV star and Misfits Heavyweight champ outside Brickhouse Boxing Club on Friday ... and chopped it up about going up against the polarizing personality/former kickboxing champ.

Long story short ... DeMoor wants to make him pay.