MMA

UFC honcho Dana White does NOT think there's a shot in hell Conor McGregor will fight Floyd Mayweather -- saying they're more interested in the money than actually trading blows.

White was out in L.A. the other day when we asked for updates -- since both Conor and Floyd had resurrected talk about a possible superfight between the boxer and the MMA stud.

But it's clear Dana doesn't think it's gonna happen and he explains why.

However, if Floyd does want to make a deal -- Dana lays out the ground rules and says it will NOT be a pure boxing match ... but rather an MMA-style fight.

Slim chance is better than no chance.

MMA legend Ken Shamrock is also a celebrity bodyguard -- and he says if he woulda been on Kim's team, she NEVER would have gotten robbed.

FYI, Shamrock has been working in personal security for years and protected big stars like 50 Cent, Fergie and Kristin Cavallari.

So, with Kim getting robbed in Paris this week -- Shamrock says there were a TON of mistakes made that he would have never let happen.

Shawne Merriman could be the the next NFL star to get in the cage -- telling TMZ Sports he's actually had talks with Bellator about a real MMA fight ... and he's dead serious.

The former NFL star has been training with MMA fighters for almost a decade -- and says he'd be down to do it, if the conditions were right.

In fact, Shawne says he's jokingly talked to Bellator president Scott Coker about it -- but says, "there's always some seriousness behind every joke."

We asked Coker about the possibility of S.M. steppin' into the cage. He told us, "Shawne is a great friend to Bellator with some serious martial arts skills. I have no doubt that he could find success in this sport and when he's ready for his first fight, we'll be here to promote it."

Here we go again ...

Conor McGregor sounds like he's still VERY serious about squaring off with Floyd Mayweather -- telling TMZ Sports, "I told you I'm ready for that fight!"

UFC fighter Jeremy Stephens vows REVENGE against Conor McGregor for trashing him at the UFC 205 media event -- telling TMZ Sports he'll "mop the floor" with the Irish superstar.

Conor dissed the hell out of Stephens during the event -- when he turned to the UFC veteran and shouted, "Who the fuck is that guy?!"

The clip went viral -- but now, Stephens is firing back in a scathing statement in which he refers to Conor as "McClown" -- and blasts him as a "bully" who can't hold his own against real fighters.

"Media and UFC like to fuel this guy's fictional character to always bully and disrespect other fighters like it's funny," Stephens says.

"I can't accept that and will mop the floor with him."

He adds, "I've been humbling bullies and disrespectful guys like him since grade school."

There's a lot more in the full statement (see below) -- Stephens clearly hopes to settle the score with Conor inside the Octagon.

By the way, Stephens ain't no bitch -- he's been fighting in the UFC since 2007 and is currently the #7 ranked featherweight.

She might be the best ever ... but Ronda Rousey would LOSE if she does get in the Octagon with Cris "Cyborg" Justino ... so says UFC star Stephen "Wonderboy" Thompson.

TMZ Sports broke the story ... Rousey told Dana White she WANTS to square off with Cyborg -- in what could be the biggest female MMA fight of all-time.

But Thompson says Rousey should think twice -- because Cyborg is no punk ... and when it comes down to it, he thinks she would crush Ronda.

Thompson explains why -- check out the clip.

Eddie Alvarez shouldn't worry about his cash flow in his UFC 205 matchup with Conor McGregor -- 'cause if he beats the Irishman, HE'LL BE RICH ... so says Jay Glazer.

Conor ripped into Alvarez at the UFC 205 media event Tuesday -- clowning the guy for not renegotiating his UFC contract after he was tapped for the biggest fight of his life.

But Glazer says it's not that big of a deal ... because a victory over Conor will seal some big paychecks moving forward.

Question is ... does Eddie have a shot? We asked Jay. Check out the clip.

Conor McGregor just went off on Eddie Alvarez -- claiming the guy's an idiot for agreeing to fight him at UFC 205 without signing a fat ass new contract.

You gotta watch the video ... McGregor goes off about how everyone in the UFC is trying to be like him these days -- but there's one huge difference ... no one's cashing checks as big as him.

During the media event, Conor also bragged that he expects to make roughly $40 MILLION this year ... which will help him achieve his goal of dethroning Cristiano Ronaldo on the top of the Forbes list.

Good luck.

Also ... check out the fan who decided to directly talk trash to Alvarez by posing as a reporter ... the reaction is hilarious!

The biggest fight in women's MMA could actually happen -- because Dana White tells TMZ Sports ... Ronda Rousey "absolutely, positively" wants to fight Cris "Cyborg" Justino.

With Cyborg coming off ANOTHER dominating performance this weekend, we had to ask White if UFC's fastest rising superstar will finally get her wish ... a shot at Rousey.

Check out the clip ... White -- who was outside Stand Up NY -- says he's still gunning to get Ronda back in the Octagon this year -- and then focus on setting up the superfight with Cyborg.

The good news for Rousey fans -- "She's getting nasty again and her head's in the right place."

BONUS -- White is also a HUUUUUGE New England Patriots fan ... and gave his team all sorts of dap for crushing people without the use of Tom Brady.

Rampage Jackson would kick the ever-living crap outta Brock Lesnar ... at least according to Rampage ... who says, huge weight difference or not, he'd win the fight.

TMZ Sports saw Jackson outside of 1 OAK in L.A. this week ... when a potential Brock Lesnar vs. Rampage Jackson super fight came up.

FYI -- Rampage is a legendary MMA fighter ... with a 37-11 record. Brock has a lot less experience (he's 6-3) ... but outweighs R.J. by 60+ pounds.

So, who'd win? Rampage has zero doubt he'd be victorious.

Question is, how would he take out Lesnar?

Michael Bisping is SPITTIN' FIRE ... takin' aim at Luke Rockhold and Demi Lovato's relationship ... saying Rockhold could never get a girl with "intelligence" ... and it's all on video!!

TMZ Sports talked to Bisping outside the UFC Gym in Torrance ... and he absolutely went off.

Rockhold and Lovato weren't the only ones in his crosshair ... he also takes on Dan Henderson ("I'm going to embarrass him") and Conor McGregor's fashion sense ... or lack of.

UFC fighter Nick Diaz just lived out every stoner's biggest dream ... by takin' part in a smoking sesh with the Weed King himself ... Tommy Chong.

It shouldn't come as a surprise ... Diaz is notoriously 420 friendly. He was suspended for testing positive for pot last year ... and Chong is, well ... Tommy freakin' Chong.

Check out the clip ... fighter Joe Schilling also joins in on the fun.

The Brangelina breakup ain't fazing Anastasia Yankova ... 'cause the Bellator fighter and model says she goes for guys a lot tougher than Brad Pitt.

TMZ Sports spoke to Anastasia about being a rising star in MMA (she's currently 4-0) ... as well as how it affects her dating life.

"Do you see me? My nose is broken. My ear is broken," Yankova says. "Guys like Brad Pitt don't understand what happened because I'm crazy (to) a normal guy."

FYI -- Anastasia just handled Veta Arteaga at Bellator 161 last week, which explains the black eye.

Your loss, Brad.

Anthony Bourdain has split with Ottavia Busia, his wife of 9 years ... but the two are still on pretty good terms, all things considered.

Sources close to the celebrity chef say the relationship hasn't been hot for quite some time now ... but they remain close. They married in 2007. They have a 9-year-old daughter together.

Ottavia -- a trained jiu-jitsu fighter -- implied Anthony's demanding travel schedule for his show 'Parts Unknown' played a role in the split.

"Because of professional decisions we both have made, my husband and I have been for years in an unconventional relationship. Nothing has changed. We love each other," she said in a statement to Page Six.

"We respect the decisions the other has made. And we’ll always consider ourselves a family."

As for Anthony -- who also trains in MMA -- he isn't talking about the split, but was out with Nate and Nick Diaz over the weekend.

How bad do skateboarding injuries hurt? Bad enough to willingly go a round with an MMA superstar in the Octagon ... 'cause Ryan Sheckler says he'd rather take a punch from Conor McGregor than relive his worst encounter with concrete.

Sheckler -- who has had his fair share of skating injuries -- says the temporary pain from getting KO'd wouldn't even come close to what he's gone through.

"You gotta feel like I'd be knocked down in 10 seconds," Sheckler says. "The skateboarding injuries suck. The concrete sucks. So if I can get hit real quick and out, I'll take that."

"It just seems a lot simpler ... and no recovery time at the end."

Canelo Alvarez and Gennady Golovkin are gonna fight ... 'cause there's too much damn cash at stake not to ... so says one of the best MMA fighters of all time.

TMZ Sports talked to Tito Ortiz in L.A. Thursday night ... and asked the UFC legend whether the fight every boxing fan wants to see ... Alvarez vs. GGG ... will ever go down.

FYI -- people in the boxing world have accused Canelo of ducking Golovkin.

Tito's adamant the fighters WILL square off ... and explains why money -- not fear -- is why the men haven't thrown down.

Check out the clip!