MMA

Greg Hardy has been training his ass off as an MMA fighter -- linking up with one of the top gyms in the country where he's been living and sleeping while working under the tutelage of an ex-UFCer.

TMZ Sports has learned ... the 28-year-old ex-NFL star has been training with American Top Team in Florida -- which Dana White once hailed as one of the top 5 MMA teams in the country.

We spoke with one of Hardy's trainers, Mike Brown -- a former UFC fighter who actually fought and BEAT Urijah Faber TWICE in his MMA career.

Brown says Hardy has been living at the training facility -- "He's staying in the dorms we have upstairs. It's for guys who are really in intensive training."

While at ATT, Hardy has been working out with legit MMA studs like King Mo -- who seems to have taken a liking to the ex-Pro Bowler.

So, how does Hardy look?

"He seems to have the drive and desire," Brown says ... noting that Hardy has been taking classes in multiple disciplines to hone his skills.

"He took boxing last night, jiu-jitsu today. He was training with Steve Mocco, our wrestling coach, who was in the Olympics."

As far as taking a pro fight, Brown says there's a shot he could debut in 2017 taking a low-level pro fight or an amateur fight. Stay tuned ...

He's been a bodybuilding champion, a movie star, and the governor of California ... but Chael Sonnen still thinks Arnold Schwarzenegger missed his calling ... as a dominant MMA fighter.

We got Chael out in L.A. and asked how he thought Arnold would do in MMA ... being that CS had just told us he's expecting his 'Celebrity Apprentice' boss to be at his big fight in Inglewood next year.

Check out the clip -- it's clear Chael LOVES him some Arnold ... saying that the guy's never failed at anything ... and he thinks that would carry over into the combat arena.

Brooke Hogan says she's recruiting the BEST female athletes in the world to join her new female pro wrestling league -- and she's got her sights set on Ronda Rousey.

UFC superstar Michael Bisping has a message for Georges St-Pierre -- I'LL FIGHT YOU WITH ONE ARM!!!!

The middleweight champ was out in Burbank on Friday when he told us what really went down behind the scenes with GSP -- and why the two couldn't get a deal done for UFC 206 in Toronto.

But Bisping's past that now -- he wants a piece of Nick Diaz ... claiming the fight would be PERFECT for 206 and they could both make a ton of money in the process.

Nick ... thoughts????

Olympic judo superstar Kayla Harrison says Ronda Rousey has given her "a lot of help" when it comes to making the transition into MMA -- but the real question ... would she ever take a fight against her old friend?

TMZ Sports spoke with 26-year-old Harrison -- a 2-time Olympic gold medalist in judo -- who says she trained with Rousey every day for 7 years as they fought their way to the top of the sport.

Now, with Harrison signing a contract with the World Series of Fighting -- she says she'll reflect on the advice she got from her old friend as she begins her training.

UFC star Anthony Pettis says he's "shocked" and "confused" over the fire attack at his home in Milwaukee -- claiming he has "no idea" why anyone would want to harm him.

As we previously reported, someone went to Pettis' home in the middle of the night and set his cars on fire. Cops are on the hunt, but have not made any arrests.

Now, Pettis' rep, Lindsey Deierling of EAG Sports Management, tells TMZ Sports, "Anthony has no idea who could be responsible for this incident or why someone would damage his property in such a way."

"He is shocked and confused as to who would randomly commit such a hateful crime like this to his family."

"He has no ongoing issues with anyone in his community, and he is very well known in Milwaukee for the work and dedication he has put in to helping his city and creating jobs and resources for the local citizens."

"Anthony is disappointed that this person(s) would compromise the safety of his family and destroy his personal property."

WAS TITO ORTIZ'S ROLLS-ROYCE REALLY REPOSSESSED???

Depends who you ask.

Chael Sonnen insists it was ... and he claims to have rock solid proof.

Tito Ortiz says it's a total lie -- and he's willing to give Chael a lift to the hospital in it after he beats his face in at Bellator 170.

Watch both videos. You decide who's really telling the truth.

She destroyed everyone at the Olympics -- in 2012 AND 2016 -- and now 2-time judo gold medalist Kayla Harrison has announced she's making the jump to MMA.

The 26-year-old just signed a deal with World Series of Fighting (WSOF) to not only fight ... but also be a part of the announcing team.

There are already comparisons being made to Ronda Rousey -- not just because Ronda was an Olympic medalist in judo -- but because the two used to train together.

So, how's she been preparing?

"I’ve been boxing and doing jiu-jitsu and all that, and the biggest thing for me, really, is that I miss competing,” Harrison told USA Today (via MMA Junkie).

"I miss fighting on the highest stages of the world, and the World Series of Fighting really gave me a great opportunity."

No word on when she'll make her fighting debut.

Don't put him out to pasture just yet ... UFC stud Urijah Faber says he's not 100% sure his next fight is his last -- telling TMZ Sports he's consider coming back if someone really pissed him off.

The California Kid is slated to take on Brad Pickett at UFC Fight Night in December -- and had said it would be his last fight ever ... culminating a solid 13 year career.

But when we pressed ... Faber told us he's definitely not slamming the door on the possibility of getting in the Octagon again.

"I'd never put extreme limits on myself. I would never say, 'this is it, this is it.' I mean, somebody might really piss me off and there might be a golden opportunity. You never know."

"But my mentality right now is I'm gonna have this fight. I'm gonna go out with a bang and make it a meaningful and heartfelt one."

Bobby Lashley wants a piece of Brock Lesnar -- not as a pro wrestler -- he wants a REAL DEAL MMA FIGHT ... and tells TMZ Sports it's a fight he knows he can win.

Lashley got famous as a pro wrestler ... racking up titles in WWE and TNA -- but now he's killing it in MMA, with a 5-0 record in Bellator's heavyweight division.

The 40-year-old brawler says he knows the biggest fight of his life would be against Brock -- and now he wants to make it happen.

Lesnar has hinted that he ain't done fighting yet ... so ... superfight???

Tito Ortiz says he's been DREAMING about revenge on Chael Sonnen for roughly 20 years ... ever since Chael "ruined" him during a college wrestling match ... and the time for payback is now.

Tito tells TMZ Sports ... back before they became MMA superstars, the two faced off when Tito was wrestling for Cal State Bakersfield and Chael was an Oregon Duck.

Tito says Chael caught him in a headlock and pinned him, and it "ruined me" -- leaving him wondering if he'd ever get a shot at redemption.

Well, now the time has come ... because the two are facing off at Bellator 170 in January and Tito says he's simply going to bash Sonnen's face in.

UFC fighter Josh Samman's official cause of death has been listed as "probable drug overdose" ... this according to the Broward County Medical Examiner.

Antonio Brown's tribute to the late Kimbo Slice just got the stamp of approval from Kimbo's son ... who says he's proud to see his father honored in such an awesome way.

TMZ Sports spoke with Kevin Ferguson Jr. -- a.k.a. Baby Slice -- about the kicks ... and what it means to him to have one of the NFL's best show love to his pops.

"It feels good, man ... it lets me know that my dad touched a lot of people."

The clip's pretty cool ... Kevin has a message for Brown. He also previews his pro MMA debut at Bellator 162 next week ... and it doesn't sound promising for the dude steppin' into the cage with Baby Slice.

Greg Hardy's already getting his hands up-to-date for a career in mixed martial arts -- despite the backlash against the ex-Cowboys defensive lineman joining the sport.

Hardy posted a pic of himself working the mitts with a sparring partner. Word is he's training somewhere in the Dallas area.

As we've reported ... there's been a big push from several people in the MMA world to have Hardy blackballed from the sport, due to his domestic violence conviction.

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.