MMA

If Conor McGregor ever wants to make the jump to the squared circle, he'll have Ronda Rousey to thank ... so says Sheamus, who tells us Rowdy paved the way for MMA stars in WWE.

TMZ Sports spoke with the Irish superstar about Ronda's transition into pro wrestling ... and Sheamus says he wouldn't be surprised if more UFC fighters follow her lead.

"I think anything is possible now with Ronda in the WWE ... Ronda's killing it, so the door's open for anybody."

BTW -- Conor and Sheamus had a huge Twitter feud back in 2014 after the Notorious claimed he would "whoop his ass" in a fight.

Canelo Alvarez and Gennady Golvkin had real beef when they came together to shoot a promo for their upcoming fight ... sources tell TMZ Sports there was "real hatred" and real trash talk on the set.

The two had to be in the same room at the same time for the promo shoot in mid-July -- and even had to throw fake punches at each other. You can see in the video ... the mood on set was tense.

Remember, getting the deal done for this fight was not easy -- the sides went to war over how to split the profits ... with Canelo and his promoter, Oscar De La Hoya, threatening to walk several times.

With Ronda Rousey's movie career taking off, the UFC legend says she's aiming high -- and wants a very specific role if Quentin Tarantino goes forward with a 3rd installment of "Kill Bill."

We got Rousey in NYC where she was promoting her new flick "Mile 22" -- where she stars alongside Mark Wahlberg and John Malkovich. Ronda thinks the movie has a real shot to win an Oscar.

But, moving forward, Rousey says she REALLY wants to play a "grown-up B.B. in 'Kill Bill 3.'"

Of course, B.B. was Beatrix Kiddo's (Uma Thurman) daughter in the original movies.

Tarantino has talked about possibly making a 3rd 'K.B.' flick -- but there's nothing in the works.

T.J. Dillashaw ain't the only one that's gonna get it from Cody Garbrandt Saturday night ... Cody's wife better watch out too, 'cause he's been holding out on the lovin' and says ... after the fight, IT'S TIME!!!

Garbrandt and Dillashaw have a date at UFC 227 in Staples Center this weekend, and it can't come soon enough for Cody ... who's been holding out from the boom boom for his entire fight camp.

"My poor wife," Cody said when we got him out in L.A., telling our guy he just doesn't believe in gettin' down during training camp.

How long has it been? 3 MONTHS according to Cody, who also said his post-fight celebration won't be at a club or a bar ... it'll be in his own bedroom.

"Saturday night, I'm gettin' it in, that's my after-party."

Conor McGregor says he's very close to finalizing the deal to fight Khabib Nurmagomedov in 2018 -- and he's bragging that he's already in fighting shape.

The UFC superstar was wrapping up his workout in NYC Monday when he updated Adam Glyn on fight negotiations with Khabib -- a fight expected to go down in October.

Conor raved about how much he loved the city of New York -- in the wake of his plea deal in his bus attack case -- but says the fight will most likely take place in Vegas ... not Madison Square Garden.

There's more ... McGregor also praised his former opponent, José Aldo, for his victory against Jeremy Stephens this weekend. Remeber, McGregor seemed to break Aldo's spirit with that legendary 13-second KO in 2015.

He even says ... "the whole [nation] of Ireland was happy for José Aldo that night."

McGregor hasn't fought in the Octagon since his victory over Eddie Alvarez at UFC 205 which, at this point, seems like an eternity ago. Of course, he fought Floyd Mayweather last year.

As for his claim to being in great shape ... just check out his human being squats in the park. Yeah, we believe him.

Conor McGregor took his Monday workout to the next level -- throwing a grown ass man on his back for a set of squats in Central Park ... and TMZ Sports has the footage.

The UFC superstar is still out in NYC after his court hearing last week in which he agreed to a plea deal in his bus attack case that will keep him out of jail.

So, what's Conor doing with his free time? Seems to be prepping for his next fight ... with a grueling workout all over the city.

After the squats, Conor knocked out some ab work before going on a run -- dude looks to be in pretty solid shape.

Daniel Cormier says he considers himself the Michael Jordan or LeBron James of the UFC ... but when it comes to the greatest heavyweight of all time -- that title goes to Cain Velasquez.

Of course, DC is reigning heavyweight champion of the world -- but tells TMZ Sports he doesn't feel he's done his best fighting at that weight.

Cain -- on the other hand -- is a 2-time UFC heavyweight champ with impressive victories over guys like Brock Lesnar, Junior Dos Santos and Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva.

He also has the record for most knockouts in the UFC heavyweight division!

Ex-UFC star Rashad Evans is ready to move on from sparring to starring ... in a Hollywood role -- and he's revealing his dream gig -- playing Cuba Gooding Jr.'s brother!!

We got the former light heavyweight champ out at LAX and he told us now that his days in the Octagon are done ... he wants a career in movies.

Of course ... he's already gotten started on that dream -- playing a role in Mel Gibson's upcoming flick, "Boss Level."

But, Rashad's got his eyes on a bigger prize ... and it includes possibly playing a relative of Rod Tidwell himself.

BTW ... Rashad ain't the only Evans who has his future mapped out -- his kids are just as driven as Pops.

Conor McGregor didn't have to say anything in response to the manager of his mortal foe Khabib ... his expression did all the talking.

Conor was in NYC Friday night when a photog asked what he thought about the manager's comment -- that the champ would be safer in jail than fighting Khabib. Check out Conor's reaction.

TMZ Sports broke the story last week ... that Conor was about to dodge a major bullet in his criminal case -- the one where he threw the dolly into a UFC bus, injuring 3 fighters.

This week a judge accepted a plea bargain that kept Conor out of jail. Under the deal the felony was reduced to a misdemeanor -- if that didn't happen Conor could have been deported.

Conor had a strong reaction Friday night to the plea bargain ... check out the video below.

Joanna Jedrzejczyk is furious with Rose Namajunas -- telling TMZ Sports she feels INCREDIBLY disrespected by her UFC rival ... and has advised her to "bow down!"

Remember, Rose previously told TMZ Sports the only way she would grant a 3rd fight to Joanna is if JJ publicly states that Rose is the greatest fighter of all time.

Well, that ain't gonna happen ... because Joanna still thinks SHE'S the G.O.A.T -- despite the fact she has two losses to Rose.

"You're a champion. I respect you. And I give you credit. But bow down. Bow down on your knees because I'm the real strawweight queen."

Joanna says she only lost the first fight because of an issue with her nutritionist and she feels like she won the second fight, which went to decision.

"So, don't say that I have to say that you are the best because I will never say this. You are the champ. I give you this credit. But you are not the best, so it's a shame on you that you're saying this."

FYI, Joanna had a 14-fight win streak before Rose -- and says her record still makes her the best to ever do it.

Conor McGregor ain't goin' to prison -- and UFC star Dustin Poirier couldn't be happier about it -- telling TMZ Sports they can finally figure out who's the baddest lightweight fighter in the world.

Poirier -- the #4 ranked lightweight who's headlining the UFC on FOX 30 card this weekend against 3rd ranked Eddie Alvarez -- says he didn't want McGregor behind bars -- despite the Barclays Center melee.

"I'm happy that he's free of all that stuff now. Like I said, the division can get moving. It's been top heavy and not moving for awhile."

Speculation is McGregor -- whose last UFC fight was in November 2016 -- will fight current lightweight champ Khabib Nurmagomedov later this year.

Poirier says after he beats up Alvarez ... he wants the winner of Conor-Khabib (assuming the fight goes down).

Tyron Woodley is going in on Conor McGregor -- saying his "larger than life mobster" image is a front ... and he's sick and tired of watching the guy act like a fake, tough guy.

We spoke with the UFC welterweight champ about Conor's plea deal in his bus attack case -- and Woodley says the lack of any serious punishment is par for the course when it comes to McGregor.

He also thinks that Conor's behavior -- from the violent incident at the Bellator fight to the Nate Diaz can-throwing incident -- is a TERRIBLE example for young kids and upcoming fighters.

NY Congressman Peter King ain't too worried about people thinking Conor McGregor got off easy in his bus attack case -- in fact, he's already got jokes!

Of course, McGregor was facing 7 years in prison and possible deportation -- but struck a plea deal where he essentially got off with anger management and 5 days of community service.

Some people believe McGregor's sentence was WAY too light -- considering several people got hurt in the premeditated attack ... but, King's got no worries.

He joked that maybe prosecutors didn't want to put Conor in jail because he would beat up all the other inmates.

"He's a tough Irish guy," King joked ... "You gotta look out for those guys!"

We told you it was gonna happen ... and now it did -- prosecutors just dropped the felony against Conor McGregor and he will not spend 1 second in jail.

It's hugely significant because if he was convicted of a violent felony, he could have been deported -- which would have had a major impact on his UFC career.

Here's what happened inside the Brooklyn courtroom on Thursday -- Conor accepted a plea deal in which the felony count was dismissed. He pled guilty to a misdemeanor disorderly conduct charge.

He was sentenced to 5 days of community service, ordered to pay for the damage he caused to the bus -- and ordered to complete an anger management course.

Outside the courtroom, Conor issued a short statement -- "I just want to say I'm thankful for the D.A. and the judge for allowing me to move forward. I want to say to my friends, my family, my fans, thank you for the support."

Sources tell TMZ Sports ... Dana White will not bar him from the UFC as he has other fighters who have engaged in illegal violence.

One of the reasons is that White believes the legal system has already exacted punishment on the superstar.

Conor's co-defendant, Cian Cowley -- who also participated in the bus attack -- got the same deal ... but with only 3 days of community service.

A spokesperson for the Brooklyn D.A.'s office tells TMZ Sports ... "This is a fair resolution that holds the defendant accountable, ensures restitution for the victims and requires the defendant to perform community service where he can reflect on his conduct and give back to society.”

As we previously reported, Conor's attorneys had been negotiating a plea deal in the felony mischief case -- filed after the UFC champ threw a dolly at a UFC bus on April 5, injuring several fighters.

Conor was initially charged with 1 count of felony criminal mischief and 3 counts of misdemeanor assault.

Just last week, we were told prosecutors had agreed to reduce the felony to a misdemeanor -- which is a big deal since a felony involving violence could trigger permanent deportation from the U.S.

The 30-year-old UFC fighter faced up to 7 years in prison if convicted on all counts.

Conor McGregor is firing back at the security guard who claims the UFC star injured him during that crazy 2016 bottle-throwing incident at the Nate Diaz fight presser ... saying his accuser sucks at his job.

The man who filed the lawsuit is William Pegg -- who was working for MGM security on Aug. 17, 2016 ... when Nate and Conor threw bottles and cans at each other during a heated exchange before UFC 202.

Pegg says McGregor chucked a can that struck him in the left shoulder and injured him.

But now, McGregor is telling his side of the story ... saying Pegg failed in his duty to provide security at the event and "did nothing" while Nate and his crew initiated the incident by throwing bottles at Conor first.

"Had [Pegg] met his obligations not only as a security guard on duty during the press conference, but moreover, the person purportedly in charge of security, and protected [Conor] and his friends and family, than this entire incident would have been avoided."

Conor also admits to throwing objects that day (obviously, it was captured on video) ... but says there's NO PROOF the projectile that struck Pegg was thrown by him.

Randy Couture and his wife have a message for their friend, Demi Lovato -- "We love Demi and we're going to do whatever we can to help."

Couture has been helping Lovato train at Jay Glazer's Unbreakable gym in West Hollywood for years -- she's even credited him with helping her achieve her blue belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Randy says everyone in the gym has been well aware of her struggles with addiction -- and he was crushed to hear about her overdose on Tuesday.

But, Couture says the singer can count on his support and love as she begins to bounce back.

"Sometimes there are setbacks. We're here to help her get through them and keep moving forward."