MMA

Bautista's very first professional MMA fight was nearly scrapped this week when his opponent was arrested for a probation violation ... but TMZ has learned organizers have dug up a replacement fighter just in the nick of time.

The fight has been in the works for months ... the ex-WWE champ was slated to get in the ring with Rashid Evans (not the one from the UFC) at a CES MMA event in Providence, Rhode Island.

But a rep for the event tells us ... Evans was scratched from the fight card when he was arrested for violating his probation some time last week ... and once again, it seemed like fate was going to prevent Bautista's MMA career from ever getting started.

Event organizers scrambled to find a replacement fighter -- a guy named Vince Lucero stepped up ... which could be a HUUUUGE problem for Bautista because Lucero has been in more than 40 pro fights.

In fact, Lucero has gone toe-to-toe with a bunch of legitimate MMA studs ... including former UFC Heavyweight champ Tim Sylvia (Sylvia won that fight).

The fight is still scheduled to go down Saturday at 8pm ET.

MMA fighter Muhammed Lawal -- known as King Mo -- wants to kick some serious ass this summer when he joins TNA wrestling ... so much so he's reaching out to some MAJOR ring legends for advice.

The former Strikeforce champion tells TMZ ... as a lifelong wrestling supporter, he doesn't want to disappoint any fans when he steps into the ring. So in order to prepare ... he called wrestling stars Hulk Hogan and Sting for some pointers.

We're told Hulk and Sting imparted their wisdom by telling Mo "just to learn and have fun" with it.

For those unfamiliar with the world of wrestling ... Mo is breaking barriers by fighting with two different companies -- Bellator (which is MMA) and TNA Wrestling -- simultaneously in a joint deal.

Icing on the cake ... Mo tells us several other MMA fighters have reached out to him with interest in crossing over as well.

MMA legend Fedor Emelianenko ... SUCKS ... and he SUCKS HARD ... this according to UFC president Dana White.

White and Fedor have been at each other's throats for months ... a feud which reportedly began after the legendary Russian fighter -- who many claim to be the greatest mixed martial artist who ever lived -- refused to sign a deal to fight in the UFC.

Fedor's manager reignited the war just last month ... when he compared White to a greedy "dog" who runs the UFC like a prison.

But White fired back last night on his way out of Mastro's in L.A. -- telling photogs, "Fedor sucks man ... you guys need to get with the facts, deal with it ... he sucks. Get over the Fedor thing."

UFC fighter Jason "Mayhem" Miller was arrested last week for assault ... TMZ has learned -- after the fighter allegedly put his sister into a headlock and refused to let her go.

Law enforcement tells TMZ, Miller and his sis were at some house party in North Carolina -- when his sister decided she wanted to take off.

According to law enforcement, Jason's sister claims he wouldn't let her leave -- and put her into a headlock.

We're told Jason's sister managed to escape and notified the Chatham County Sheriff -- who had Jason arrested later that evening for simple assault and false imprisonment.

Last night, the UFC badass hit the L.A. bar scene -- hard -- and on his way out, dude startin' jokin' around with some cops outside one of the watering holes. Josh thought it would be funny to "borrow" one of their helmets ... but they weren't laughing.