MMA

Conor McGregor is apologizing for storming the cage and getting violent with MMA officials during Bellator 187 in Dublin last week ... but he's still trashing the referee.

"I sincerely apologize for my behavior at last weekends fight event in Dublin," McGregor said ... adding he let his emotions get the best of him after watching his training partner Charlie Ward win the fight.

"As a multiple weight UFC champion, executive producer, role model and public figure, I must hold myself to a higher standard."

But Conor refuses to back off his criticism of referee Marc Goddard -- saying the ref made a "horrendous decision" trying to allow the losing fighter to continue into the second round.

McGregor says he's personally witnessed an MMA fighter die from injuries suffered in the cage during a fight in Dublin -- and he was afraid it could happen again.

FYI, the fatal incident McGregor is referring to occurred in 2016 -- and the man who died happened to be fighting Charlie Ward.

Conor says he has learned from his "mistakes" and vows to be better moving forward.

The guy who got KO'd in the cage right before Conor McGregor LOST HIS DAMN MIND feels pretty much how we all do about the situation ...

"You can't f**kin' jump out of a crowd in a sporting contest and do all that type of stuff," John Redmond told TMZ Sports. "In no place in life is that really tolerated."

John's being pretty cool to Conor, all things considered ... saying he's got no plans of taking legal action even though McGregor's outburst almost got him trampled.

That said, Redmond tells us there's only 1 way Conor can make it right -- A REMATCH (with his teammate, Charlie Ward).

"Tell your boy to bleedin' gear up again and get in and fight me!"

Doesn't seem like McGregor's in the mood to make amends with anyone ... but maybe for a fellow countryman??

Conor McGregor just went NUCLEAR at an MMA event in Dublin ... slapping a regulatory official and pushing veteran UFC referee Marc Goddard for breaking up his post-fight celebration with training partner Charlie Ward.

It all went down after Ward won by 1st-round KO at Bellator 187 -- which prompted McGregor to jump into the cage to show his SBG Ireland teammate some love.

One problem -- Conor wasn't allowed in the cage since he wasn't a licensed cornerman for Charlie ... so Goddard and several fight officials stepped in to interrupt their bro moment.

McGregor was PISSED -- pushing Goddard from behind and getting in his face ... before the officials and BFF Artem Lobov escorted him from the cage.

But Conor wasn't done. He came back, climbed back on top of the cage and straight slapped one of the officials upside the head.

FYI, Goddard ordered McGregor to leave cageside last time Lobov fought in the UFC ... so that's probably what set Conor off.

Georges St-Pierre says a superfight vs. Conor McGregor is possible ... but not until after he fights Robert Whitaker.

Fresh off his victory at UFC 217, GSP joined the guys on the "TMZ Sports" TV show (airs tonight on FS1) and talked about his fighting future.

Earlier this week, Dana White told us he wouldn't rule out a St-Pierre and McGregor superfight -- saying Conor is down to fight anyone.

Now, with GSP saying he's up for it too, it seems it's all about making the money work.

Conor McGregor's chances of fighting in the UFC this year just got exponentially higher ... 'cause is he really gonna let down a ridiculously attractive fan who wants him back inside the Octagon??

We got Octagon girl Brittney Palmer out in L.A. -- and, turns out, she loves Conor just like the rest of us.

Brittney told TMZ Sports she doesn't know when he's gonna come back ... but she hopes it's soon -- "please come back!"

Palmer also told us she's super down for McGregor vs. GSP -- and even said she'd talk to Dana White to try and make it happen.

Bonus: Brittney's a double-threat -- painting original works for BIG money -- and told us all about a huge art show she's putting on at Art Basel.

Greg Hardy's got a message for Dana White on the heels of his 32-second KO debut -- "keep an eye on me" ... "'cause you're gonna want me in the UFC eventually."

"I'm here to prove whatever I need to prove," Hardy told TMZ Sports.

"I'm trying to work on being the best me that I can be -- being the best athlete, being the best complete fighter, being the best person."

Pretty good pitch for the embattled ex-NFL star -- who Dana says is gonna have to conduct himself like a pro in and out of the cage before he gets a UFC opportunity.

Hardy told us he's up for the task -- and already has a timeline set for his next fight!!

Another super fight for Conor McGregor??? Dana White says he won't rule out a throwdown with Georges St. Pierre.

Look, it ain't happening anytime soon ... White says he's got specific opponents in mind for Conor and GSP to fight next before they would meet up in the octagon.

But when it comes to Conor vs. GSP -- "Listen, I'll never say never but [GSP] weighs 185 and Conor weighs 155."

However White says he's convinced Conor would take that fight ... or ANY fight.

But for now, White says ...he's trying to lock up Conor vs. Tony Ferguson for UFC 219 on Dec. 30 -- but Conor's massive asking price seems to be holding up the deal.

For all that trash she talked before the fight, Joanna Jedrzejczyk was humble in defeat ... privately congratulating Rose Namajunas after losing at UFC 217.

"She came up and congratulated me afterwards and said, 'All the best,'" Rose tells TMZ Sports.

Before the fight, the former undefeated strawweight champ told Namajunas she was gonna snatch her soul from her body. Seriously. It was frightening.

But Rose says Joanna was a total pro backstage ... "just humbled and respectful."

So, what's next for "Thug" Rose? Don't expect an immediate rematch ... Namajunas says Joanna might still need some time to "process" everything after that brutal beatdown.

There's some truth to the rumors ... with UFC Hall of Famer Urijah Faber saying he'd consider coming out of retirement to fight T.J. Dillashaw -- but there are some serious caveats.

"First off, the fight for T.J. is Cody [Garbrandt]," Faber tells TMZ Sports ... insisting he doesn't want to "jump the line" and block his good friend from getting a chance to avenge his loss from UFC 217.

But if situation was right ... and the money was right ... 38-year-old Faber says he's all the way down.

And if that fight doesn't happen ... Faber says he'd considering getting back in the Octagon to fight someone else -- but it can't be a nobody.

UFC honcho Dana White ain't exactly slamming the door shut on Greg Hardy -- telling TMZ Sports there IS a chance the ex-NFL star could fight in the octagon one day ... despite his issues in the past.

Hardy was found guilty of domestic violence by a judge in 2014 -- but the conviction was thrown out when he appealed in 2015 to have the case go in front of a jury ... and his accuser stopped cooperating with prosecutors.

He later signed with the Dallas Cowboys -- but after a less than stellar season, they cut ties and he wasn't able to catch on with another NFL team.

Hardy pivoted to MMA and has been training with American Top Team. His first amateur fight is Nov. 4 -- and he told TMZ Sports his ultimate goal is to become a UFC champ.

So, when we saw Dana out in NYC ... we asked if he would ever consider working with Hardy and he didn't exactly say no.

Daniel Cormier wants ANOTHER crack at Jon Jones -- and he's calling for mercy when it comes to JJ's suspension so he can get another shot at his rival before he's too old.

Cormier is 38 -- and that's why he hopes USADA doesn't hit Jones with the maximum 4-year suspension for testing positive for 'roids at UFC 214.

"I would love for him to get another 1-year suspension -- then we can fight again."

G.O.A.T. recognize G.O.A.T.

Kobe Bryant just praised the hell out of Conor McGregor -- saying the UFC fighter is an absolute "animal" ... who's a "genius" in the octagon.

The Mamba was in NYC to promote his Body Armor sports drink at an event that included UFC stars like Cody Garbrandt, Dana White and Francis Ngannou ... when the topic turned to Conor.

"Conor's an animal, bro," Kobe said ... "I think his personality, I think his temperament, I think his style, on top of the genius nature in which he fights gives him a great opportunity to really propel the league to another level."

"I love everything about Conor."

Supermodel Adriana Lima could beat up Arianny Celeste in a real MMA fight.

For real.

At least according to UFC superstar Joanna Jedrzejczyk.

Turns out, Joanna -- who's fighting Rose Namajunas at UFC 217 on Saturday -- is good friends with the Victoria's Secret model -- and notes that Lima has been doing hardcore boxing workouts for years and can REALLY throw hands.

And when a UFC champ like JJ gushes about someone's work ethic in the gym, you gotta respect that.

Joanna says Lima will likely never take a real fight because she makes too much money off her face -- but if she ever did get in the ring, she could definitely hold her own.

Dana White says he's trying to lock Conor McGregor in for his UFC return ... THIS YEAR ... telling TMZ Sports both sides are trying to make it work.

The UFC honcho was out in NYC promoting UFC 217 at Madison Square Garden when we asked about the return of the biggest MMA star on the planet.

Dana says his camp is talking with Conor and they want to make a fight before Dec. 31 -- which would be AWESOME.

What's not awesome ... Conor used a homophobic slur during a UFC event last month -- referring to a fighter as the homophobic F-word.

Conor has since apologized -- and White told us the use of the word is a problem in his sport that he wants to address and correct, ASAP.

Ex-NFL star Greg Hardy says he's going for it all in his MMA career ... telling TMZ Sports his ultimate goal is to be in the UFC, and he thinks he can be the heavyweight champ.

Hardy, who's making his amateur debut this weekend, has been training for over a year at American Top Team in Florida ... the same gym where bad asses like Tyron Woodley, Joanna Jedrzejczyk and Amanda Nunes train.

You know his past -- Hardy was one of the best players in the NFL before his domestic violence case made him persona non grata in the league. Despite the fact he's a grappling newbie, Hardy says he wants it all.

"Honestly I would like to be in the UFC, and be able to obtain UFC gold."

There are some -- including FOX Sports' Jay Glazer -- who says Hardy's past should keep him out of the Octagon, but Hardy's plugging ahead, preparing for his first fight November 4 at Rise of a Warrior 21 against Joe Hawkins.

"I want to be champion of everything I can be. The world champion, best heavyweight."

He pop and locked during his brawl with Dominick Cruz -- but now UFC champ Cody Garbrandt says he's upping his dance game for UFC 217 ... with some Michael Jackson moves!

To get straight to the point ... Garbrandt says T.J. Dillashaw is a "piece of sh*t" -- and he wants to humiliate the guy in the worst way possible.

"If he gives me the chance to dance on him, I'm gonna make him act like a fool too," Garbrandt says.

If you need a reminder about Garbrandt's dance fighting skills -- check out the video below ... and imagine Cody MOONWALKING after landing a shot on Dillashaw.

Or a crotch grab? Or the Thriller dance? Could be very entertaining ...