MMA

Anderson Silva just got one helluva compliment from Dana White -- who says the MMA legend is the "Tom Brady of the UFC."

Dana White is currently in Houston.

Floyd Mayweather is also currently in Houston.

Coincidence?

Yes ... says Dana White who says there's been ZERO progress made in the Floyd Mayweather vs. Conor McGregor negotiations.

"I think the odds of this happening are like the odds of me being the backup QB for Brady on Sunday."

Somewhere in heaven (or Jamaica) Tupac is smiling ... 'cause Conor McGregor is keeping his name alive by using a classic Pac line to swag up his $750 shoes.

The Notorious one posted a video to his snap of some adoring fans trying to get in his ride while he keeps the focus on his feet ... which happen to be adorned in $750 Jimmy Choo "John" slippers.

How do we know they're JC's? Because Conor shouts it out saying, "The shoes are Jimmy Choo, and if you're not down with Jimmy Choo, F*** YOU TOO."

Of course, that's a take on the classic line from "Hit 'Em Up" where Pac gives the same option to those who want to be down with Bad Boy.

BTW ... the fans love it, but who probably won't is the guy who's gonna have to detail the leather in Conor's Rolls, which he's DESTROYING with his shoes. Gotta love him.

Dana White tells TMZ Sports it's pretty obvious what happened to Ronda Rousey -- "One day you show up and you don't have it anymore."

The UFC honcho appeared on the "TMZ Sports" TV show (airs Tuesday night on FS1) and said Ronda's career has gone the way of MOST great professional athletes.

"It's no different than any other sport. When you're a professional athlete and you're competing at a certain level, the day comes when you don't anymore. It happened to Ronda."

White says, even though he thinks Ronda is turning the page on her fighting career, she'll always be connected with the UFC.

It's likely over for Ronda Rousey ... so says UFC honcho Dana White who says when it comes to fighting, "I think she's probably done."

White appeared on the "UFC Unfiltered" podcast and was asked straight-up about the chances of Ronda getting back in the Octagon after she got destroyed by Amanda Nunes at UFC 207.

"In the conversation I had with her, if I had to say right here right now -- again I don't like saying right here right now because it's up to her -- but I wouldn't say she fights again," White said.

"I think she's probably done ... She's going to ride off into the sunset and start living her life outside of fighting."

Ronda's been busy since the fight ... protesting the Dakota Access Pipeline and working on getting her concealed weapons license in Nevada.

If she is done fighting forever ... salute to Ronda. She's a legend.

Ronda Rousey is not a complete fighter -- and will never be able to keep up with the new crop of women competing in the UFC ... so says Daniel Cormier.

The lightweight champ says he really likes Ronda, but had to keep it real when talking about her fight career -- explaining why her days of pure domination are over.

Cormier also has a message for his UFC 210 opponent, Rumble Johnson -- saying he plans to STAND UP BOX the brawler when they face off in the Octagon on April 8.

And after that ... Cormier says he needs to fulfill his destiny and finally get that rematch with Jon Jones.

A professional MMA fighter -- who fought in a Bellator event in 2015 -- was arrested Friday for allegedly killing two people in what cops believe was a robbery gone bad.

The suspect is Roshaun Jones -- a 5'8" 135 pound fighter from Oklahoma who racked up a 2-6 record as a pro.

He last fought in Kansas back in November and lost in a 1st round armbar.

But officials believe he's not just a bad fighter, but a bad person -- who shot two people to death in an armed robbery at a laundromat in Oklahoma on Monday. One of the victims was a female laundromat employee. Officials say the other victim was a male customer who tried to stop the robbery.

Officials launched a manhunt with help from the U.S. Marshal service and he was arrested today on two counts of 1st degree murder.

Daniel Cormier is definitely NOT ashamed of the comments he made about Gina Carano -- in fact, he's glad she's upset ... telling TMZ Sports, "Maybe I'll piss her off enough that she'll fight again!"

The backstory ... Carano was a stud MMA fighter who left the cage for a Hollywood career after losing her last fight to Cris "Cyborg" Justino in 2009.

Carano recently offered up some career advice to Ronda Rousey -- telling her to consider Hollywood so she can "express herself as an artist."

Cormier didn't like that and ripped her on TV ... trashing Carano's acting career and saying she made bad career choices.

Carano fired back saying D.C. should be "ashamed" of his attack.

We spoke with Cormier who's definitely NOT backing down -- in fact, he told TMZ Sports he thinks Gina left fighting because she was damaged by Cyborg ... and should've continued to fight.

Cormier admits Gina has a decent acting career -- but says it would have been WAY bigger if she would have continued kicking ass in the cage.

MMA legend Gina Carano is firing back at Daniel Cormier after D.C. went on TV and blasted her for giving career advice to Ronda Rousey ... saying the UFC star should be "ashamed."

It all started when Carano -- an MMA superstar who quit fighting to become a movie actress -- was asked about Ronda's career during an interview to Fight Hub TV.

"I think Ronda should do whatever she wants to do. She’s only 29,” Carano said ... "She’s an amazing athlete but she needs to express herself as an artist, too."

Cormier took exception and blasted Carano on FS1's "UFC Tonight" -- saying, "Gina Carano. Who are you to tell Ronda Rousey what to do?"

He continued, "If I’ve got to look back on your career and you choosing to act over fighting and continuing to fight, I don’t feel as though, guys -- and you can disagree if you want -- that the career has not been what it would have been if she stayed fighting."

He proceeded to take shots at Carano's role in the movie, "Haywire" -- where her voice was altered in post-production.

Now, Carano is lashing back at Cormier ... saying, "If you knew me and what I've been through to get to where I am. I genuinely think you'd be ashamed of your words. All the best."

Boom.

By the way, Carano's career is nothing to scoff at -- she's had roles in "Deadpool," "Fast & Furious 6" and the upcoming 'Kickboxer' flick.

Conor McGregor hooked up with badass gold medal winning wrestler Helen Maroulis in Ireland ... and spent hours training with the Olympian.

Maroulis -- the first American female wrestler to take gold in the Olympics -- posted a picture with Conor on Instagram ... leading people to wonder why the wrestler and fighter were together.

Helen gave us the answer ... it was all about working up a lather!

"It was awesome. We rolled around for a good while. Play wrestling, sparring," Maroulis told TMZ Sports. "He kinda showed me the differences when you're wrestling against the cage which is obviously very different than regular wrestling."

Helen says the lessons from Conor didn't end on the mats ... he also schooled her on handling the media.

As for when we'll see her fight, Helen insists she still hasn't made up her mind on the move to MMA ... but all signs seems to be pointing to a foray into the combat sport.

UFC star Khabib Nurmagomedov says he's the Floyd Mayweather of MMA -- and if the boxer wants a REAL fight ... he'll happily meet him in the street!!!

TMZ Sports spoke with the 28-year-old Russian who says he's ready to BREAK Tony Ferguson when they face off at UFC 209 in March ... and then he'll smash Conor McGregor.

In fact, Khabib warned Conor and Floyd Mayweather that he's a force to be reckoned with ... and if either one gets in his way, he'll destroy them.

He eats sleeps and breathes MMA -- and refuses to even THINK about any other sport.

MMA legend Chael Sonnen says he CAN'T WAIT to beat Tito Ortiz into retirement at Bellator 170 this weekend ... and predicts it'll be a VERY quick asswhoopin'.

TMZ Sports spoke with the People's Champ who fired off all sorts of hilarious Tito insults (big, dumb, terrible at fighting) and then talked about why it'll be fun punching Tito's enormous head.

Jason "Mayhem" Miller's domestic violence case just took a weird turn -- his lawyer brought up his penchant for "golden showers" and freaky sex acts in open court.

Tyron Woodley says he's beaten some of the best fighters in the world ... and tells TMZ Sports the way his career's going, he's a lock for the Hall of Fame.

The UFC's reigning welterweight champ is clearly upset he isn't getting the respect he believes he deserves and told ESPN on Wednesday his race is a factor.

"Let's put the cards on the table ... real is real. If I was a different complexion, I think people and fans would treat me a different way."

Despite his reception, Woodley says you can't argue with his record ... with huge wins over guys like Carlos Condit, Robbie Lawler and Josh Koscheck.

MMA legend Chael Sonnen says Ronda Rousey should DEFINITELY take Floyd Mayweather's offer and work with the boxing legend on her striking ... cause hey, she might actually learn something!

As we previously reported, Mayweather says he's down to help Ronda out if she'd give him a chance ... despite the fact they've publicly feuded for years.

Sonnen joined the guys on the "TMZ Sports" TV show (airs Tuesday night on FS1) and explained why Ronda should forget the war and get in the ring with Floyd.

He does issue this warning ... just because Floyd's a great boxer doesn't mean he'll be a great coach.

But hell, at this point it couldn't hurt.

Bob Arum is calling major BS on Floyd Mayweather, Dana White, and Conor McGregor ... saying all this talk about boxing vs MMA superfight is "absolute nonsense."