MMA

Former NFL star Greg Hardy is finally getting support from someone in the MMA community ... and it comes from one of the best trainers in the business ... Kenny Johnson.

Kenny's trained stars like B.J. Penn, Jose Aldo and Anderson Silva. So when TMZ Sports ran into him at Black House MMA Gym ... we asked if he'd be interested in bringing Hardy on board.

"I would not judge the past of a man if he's trying to better his present."

KJ went on to say, "With him wanting to make the transition over to MMA ... hey man, Black House, we're open. Call me ... we'll train."

This comes just days after Jay Glazer and Luke Rockhold bashed the troubled former Pro Bowler ... saying there's no room for Hardy in the sport.

Johnson clearly disagrees.

"A lot of people are being real harsh on the guy. They're choosing to focus on the past of a man, rather than the future."

Check out the clip.

UFC superstar Luke Rockhold is BLASTING Greg Hardy and anyone considering training the ex-NFL star ... saying, "it's crazy to think that someone would actually train this guy."

Rockhold joined the "TMZ Sports" TV show ... when he was asked about Hardy's plan to hang up his cleats and fight mixed martial arts.

Luke absolutely goes in on Hardy ... calling the domestic violence accusations against him "beyond anything of what a normal human is capable of."

FYI -- Hardy was convicted of domestic violence in '14 ... before the guilty verdict was dismissed after the accuser stopped cooperating with authorities.

Check out the clip ... it's clear Rockhold vehemently feels Hardy has no place in MMA.

UFC champ Amanda Nunes is GUARANTEEING VICTORY over Ronda Rousey -- telling TMZ Sports there's a "200% chance" she wins the fight.

We just spoke with the reigning bantamweight queen who says she's extremely grateful to Ronda for taking the fight -- but wants her to know ... she's about to get destroyed.

"This is the moment I've been waiting for," Nunes said.

"I've been training for Ronda Rousey since my first fight in UFC."

Nunes says she knows every single thing that Rousey will throw at her when they face off at UFC 207 on Dec. 30th ... and when it comes to judo, Amanda says she's the superior talent.

UFC rising star Sage Northcutt doesn't seem fazed by Mickey Gall's violent smack talk -- laughing off his bone-breaking threats as pure comedy ... while training with UFC champ Tyron Woodley.

As we previously reported, Gall threatened to "hurt [Sage] bad" when they face off at UFC on FOX 22 in December .. adding, "I'm gonna break his bones."

Since Tyron and Sage are friends, we hit up the champ to find out how Northcutt's preparing for the fight -- when Super Sage made a surprise appearance and reacted to Gall's comments personally.

Check out the clip ... it's clear Tyron thinks Mickey may have bitten off a little more than he can chew.

2:03 PM PT -- Here's video of Jay speaking to TMZ Sports about the situation ... and explaining why Hardy will NEVER be allowed to set foot inside of his gym.

Greg Hardy doesn't deserve "the privilege" of competing in MMA and should be BANNED from the sport ... so says Jay Glazer who's calling for his fellow MMA coaches to blackball the ex-NFL star.

"I would be incredibly disappointed in any of my fellow MMA coaches and any promoters if they took Greg Hardy in and taught him a shred of our incredible sport," Glazer tweeted.

"Competing in any sport is a privilege, Greg Hardy should not be granted the privilege."

Glazer makes it clear his beef stems from Hardy's 2014 domestic violence conviction -- when he was accused of beating the crap out of his ex-girlfriend and threatening to kill her.

Hardy appealed the conviction -- and the case was dismissed when his accuser stopped cooperating with prosecutors.

"Many of us train women in self defense specifically to help protect vs domestic violence," Glazer said ... "Me and all my coaches at @Unbreakable do and take great pride in that."

"There are many beautiful arts taught in our sport, none of which should be afforded to him."

Herschel Walker says the unearthed Trump Tapes have NOT scared him away from his former 'Celebrity Apprentice' boss -- telling TMZ Sports he stands firmly with The Donald.

Walker has been a staunch Trump supporter from the beginning -- but with G.O.P. heavyweights like Paul Ryan and John McCain running for the hills, we asked the ex-NFL star if his position has changed.

In a word, no -- in fact, he seems even MORE passionate about Trump.

UFC heavyweight champ Stipe Miocic has a warning for Greg Hardy -- MMA is tougher than you think ... "it's not just something you pick up off the street."

With the ex-NFL star announcing he's pursuing a career as a heavyweight MMA fighter, we went right to the top guy to get his take.

Long story short ... Miocic says he'd beat Hardy down if they ever faced off in the Octagon -- but says he's not counting Hardy out as a fighter.

"Stranger things have happened," Stipe said when asked if he thinks Hardy could be a contender.

Ex-NFL star Greg Hardy says he's transitioning from football to MMA -- and plans to take a REAL heavyweight fight in 2017.

Hardy spoke with MMAFighting.com and said, "I'm very focused and excited to start my MMA career."

"I'm going to do this the right way, I can assure you of that."

The 28-year-old was regarded as one of the best defensive players in the NFL before a series of off the field issues derailed his career ... including a domestic violence conviction (which was eventually dismissed) and a drug arrest.

Hardy's camp says he currently weighs around 285 lbs and should fight as a heavyweight in 2017.

Conor McGregor was just hit with a $150k FINE and 50 hours of community service for firing water bottles at Nate Diaz during the UFC 202 press conference.

UFC honcho Dana White joined "TMZ Sports" the day after all hell broke loose at the presser and said "they're both getting punished."

Today was the day ... 'cause the Nevada State Athletic Commission met this morning in Las Vegas to determine what punishment McGregor would face.

The outcome? Conor has to pay a $150,000 fine (5% of his UFC 202 purse) ... and do 50 hours of community service. He also agreed to participate in an anti-bullying PSA.

Nate Diaz -- who also faces punishment -- had his hearing postponed.

Stay tuned ...

Demi Lovato ain't just getting a cardio workout during her MMA training, she can REALLY SCRAP -- and has inquired about taking a real fight ... so says Jay Glazer.

UFC star Mickey Gall says he's gonna destroy Sage Northcutt WORSE THAN CM PUNK -- vowing to break the guy's bones and hurt him real bad.

Gall and Northcutt are fighting at UFC Fight Night on Dec. 17th -- and the smack talk is already in full swing.

Gall says he actually likes Sage -- but says he's corny, a "silly boy" and "kind of a dork."

The clip is great -- Gall is a huge star in the making -- and he also reflects on his famous beatdown of CM Punk and whether he should get another shot in the UFC.

He was a helluva boxer ... but as a UFC fighter Rocky Balboa "would have been a water boy" -- so says Sylvester Stallone.

Now that Sly's a part owner of the UFC -- we were asking him all about the sport Wednesday night as he was leaving Catch in West Hollywood ... and he revealed the best perks of UFC ownership.

But as far as Rocky in the UFC goes -- we think he's underestimating the guy ... remember, HE CHOKED OUT THUNDERLIPS IN "ROCKY III."

Not all UFC fighters hate Conor McGregor -- despite what Cowboy Cerrone said this week -- but there ARE a bunch of guys jealous of Conor's huge paychecks ... so says Dominick Cruz.

Cerrone told SI Now that "all" of the UFC fighters hate McGregor -- "He's not one of the fellas. He's not a good dude."

So, we reached to Cruz -- who knows just about everyone in the UFC -- and asked for his take.

"I think what they're upset at is the fact of how much money he's made, how quickly and on his own," Cruz said.

"But that doesn't make ME hate him. That makes me try to understand the situation and make a better situation for myself."

"And to me, hating somebody, being bitter at them for making more money than me, that's only going to hold me back from doing what I want to do personally."

Smart dude -- watch the clip.

Don't expect Dan Henderson and Conor McGregor to catch a beer together any time soon.

The UFC legend joined the guys on the "TMZ Sports" TV show (airs Thursday night on FS1) -- and told us why McGregor just rubs him the wrong way.

Don't get it twisted, Hendo says he respects McGregor as a fighter -- but his personality ... let's just say the two don't click.

Michael Bisping is channeling his inner-Nostradamus -- and predicting the exact round he plans to end Dan Henderson's career at UFC 204 this weekend.

TMZ Sports spoke with the reigning UFC middleweight champ -- who says he respects Hendo ... but wants to make him pay BADLY for their fight at UFC 100 when Dan KO'd him in the 2nd round.

Bisping says Henderson had an unfair advantage in that fight -- even though Hendo's testosterone replacement therapy was approved by the athletic commission back then (it has since been banned).

Watch the clip ... Bisping means business.

Well, this is gross ...

Luke Rockhold's body is covered in some weird red, blotchy rash ... and he tried to rub it all over Daniel Cormier.

The UFC superstar SWEARS he got the skin condition thanks to "wet cupping" therapy -- where suction cups are placed on parts of the body and then lanced with a special needle.

It's essentially a controlled bloodletting that leaves nasty skin marks. It allegedly helps to relieve pain.

Even though it looks like some sort of infectious disease, Rockhold insists it's not contagious (it's not) -- though that didn't stop him from freaking out D.C. in the gym Monday.