Sports

Khamzat Chimaev and Sean Strickland came face-to-face today for the first time -- just days before they'll meet in a locked cage -- and you could cut the tension with a knife!

"I am a terrorist for him. I'm gonna take off his head. I'm gonna kill him! Allahu Akbar!" Chimaev screamed in response to a fan, who referenced disparaging remarks Strickland previously made about Chimaev.

The beef between the two fighters goes well beyond trash talk ... which has made their main event fight one of the most anticipated bouts in years.

Clearly, the UFC wasn't caught off guard -- they were prepared -- as multiple armed police officers lined the stage for the face-offs portion of the media event.

But the beefed-up security presence still wasn't enough to maintain the peace.

Khamzat, after saying he "wasn't going to touch" Sean, kicked up after exchanging words ... just inches in front of Dana White.

Both fighters were immediately held back ... and thankfully, it appears Strickland wasn't injured, meaning the fight is still on.

UFC 328 goes down from the Prudential Center Saturday night, and you can bet the UFC and law enforcement are pulling out all the stops to ensure everyone remains safe.

Ex-NFL star Shawne Merriman is being taken to federal court for fraud by a company claiming he owes more than $2.5 million ... TMZ has learned.

According to court docs, obtained by TMZ, a company called ARI Agent LLC claims Shawne took millions of dollars in financing but has not repaid a single cent. The investment firm says the former NFL star borrowed the money for his company, Lights Out XF, which is focused on mixed martial arts and entertainment.

ARI says this is no "routine default or simple contract dispute, but a deliberate, coordinated, multi-step scheme by Merriman to commit fraud, coercion, misrepresentation, and obstruction -- all designed to avoid repayment and accountability."

The internet is running wild with Mike Vrabel and Dianna Russini theories ... but one can be put to rest -- the NFL reporter did NOT name her first son after the coach, TMZ Sports has learned.

Cyber sleuths have been looking into both Vrabel and Russini ever since their cozy resort pics dropped last month ... and it didn't take long for them to highlight the fact that Russini's son and Vrabel share the same moniker.

The chatter intensified after we posted a story about the two enjoying a private trip on the water in June 2021 ... weeks before she welcomed her child with her husband, Kevin Goldschmidt. On top of that, she also had an old post where she mentioned her infant son and questioned the best Mikes in NFL history to play and coach.

5/7/2026 10:04 AM PT -- TMZ Sports obtained a clip showing the pair together on the dock of a private rental company back in June 2021 ... as the NFL coach and reporter prepared to head out onto a lake in Putnam County, TN.

Add a new chapter to the Mike Vrabel and Dianna Russini saga, because TMZ Sports has learned they rented a private boat together for a day on the water ... just the 2 of them.

The NFL duo booked the vessel in Putnam County, Tennessee back in June 2021 ... according to a source with direct knowledge, who also says the then-Tennessee Titans head coach and the journalist were the only people onboard for their 2-to-3-hour rental.

The timing of that outing might raise a few eyebrows, because Russini was pregnant at the time with her first child.

Eric Bischoff, one of the most successful and influential figures in pro wrestling history, wouldn't be who he is without the late, great Ted Turner ... EB himself tells TMZ Sports.

"When I first heard the news this morning," Eric explained, "I was talking to my wife, and I live in a beautiful home here in Wyoming. I look out over the mountains, up the valley into Yellowstone National Park. I live in a postcard. And I wouldn't be living here had it not been for the opportunity that Ted gave me."

That opportunity was running Turner's wrestling promotion, World Championship Wrestling (WCW) ... as Executive Producer, starting in 1993, following an internal shakeup in the company.

The Kentucky Derby winner is slowing its "tempo" -- the horse's trainer just announced Golden Tempo will not attempt a Triple Crown and bypass the Preakness Stakes on May 16.

Cherie DeVaux Racing announced the move on Wednesday ... saying the decision was made "after much thoughtful discussion as a team."

"We are incredibly appreciative of the excitement and support surrounding the possibility of a Triple Crown run. The enthusiasm from racing fans, our owners, and our entire team has meant more to us than we can properly express."

WNBA star Arike Ogunbowale is in the clear ... the battery charge against the hooper has been dropped, two months after she allegedly socked a security guard in his face at a famed Miami nightclub.

Ogunbowale, 29, was celebrating her team's championship in the Unrivaled 3-on-3 league -- her side gig when she isn't playing for the WNBA's Dallas Wings -- into the early morning hours at E11EVEN in South Beach ... when she was said to be involved in a dispute with other people at the club, prompting security to *attempt* to kick out a group that included the 4x WNBA All-Star.

That's when Arike was accused of hauling off on the guard, punching him in his grill, and causing him to fall to the ground.

Stefon Diggs can focus on his day job now that a jury found him not guilty of attacking his personal chef ... and he did just that hours after his trial ended on Tuesday ... heading to the gym for a late-night sweat sesh.

The current free agent's buddy, music exec Steven Victor, shared a video of the star athlete running on a treadmill at 10 PM ... about six hours after he was exonerated in his strangulation and assault and battery case in Massachusetts.

Diggs' attorney, Mitchell Schuster, told reporters his client's goal is to get back on an NFL roster ... adding anyone would be "lucky" to have him join their team.

Jarred Vanderbilt's dislocated right pinkie injury was so gruesome, Oklahoma City Thunder players looked nothing short of horrified at the sight of it ... with cameras capturing their stunned reactions in real time.

The Los Angeles Lakers player hurt his digit while attempting to block Thunder big man Chet Holmgren's dunk in the middle of the second quarter ... when his hand hit the backboard and knocked his finger backwards.

The pain was immediate ... and Vanderbilt shouted out in agony as he hunched over and hid his hand.

If you thought preparing to compete against some of the greatest tennis players alive was tough, try planning the world's biggest night in fashion!!

Venus Williams was co-chair for the 2026 Met Gala alongside Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman, and Anna Wintour ... and she aced the gig, all while looking like royalty.

But the work behind the scenes that folks don't get to see was no joke ... and Williams told TMZ Sports it's unlike anything she experienced on the court.

Stefon Diggs has done a lot of winning, but no victory was more important than the one the NFL star just got in a Massachusetts courtroom ... he was found not guilty of attacking his chef during a dispute late last year.

The 32-year-old was on hand at the Dedham District Court for the reading of the verdict ... and it was nothing short of a resounding success for Diggs, who faced one count of felony strangulation and one count of misdemeanor assault and battery. Diggs was emotional as the verdict was being read ... with tears flowing from his eye and down his face.

"Not guilty." "Not guilty." Case closed. Deliberation lasted around an hour and a half.

Diggs was facing up to five years in prison for the felony ... obviously a moot point, as a jury found the accuser's claims to be bogus.

The prosecutor in the Stefon Diggs trial acknowledged Jamila Adams was "argumentative, avoidant and difficult" throughout her testimony the past two days ... but he's hoping the jury looks past that in reaching a verdict.

The blunt approach came from Norfolk Assistant District Attorney Drew Virtue's closing argument in a Dedham courtroom on Tuesday ... when he admitted his key witness was all over the place on the stand.

"Was Ms. Adams a perfect witness? No," Virtue said.

Stefon Diggs' former chef claimed the NFL star attacked after she confronted him over missed payments ... but his finance team says the books show she actually got MORE than she was supposed to during her time on his staff.

Diggs' money manager -- PMG Private CFO employee Melissa Goddard -- took the stand on Tuesday ... and stated she did an audit of his payments to Jamila Adams in late 2025 after a "flag" was raised.

On Dec. 1, Goddard stated she received an invoice from Adams for three weeks of services for November and reimbursable expenses ... but knew it was incorrect because two of those weeks of pay had already been fulfilled -- so she launched the deep dive into Diggs' finances.

Day 2 of the Stefon Diggs trial is underway ... and it didn't take long for it to go off the rails after the NFL star's team questioned Jamila Adams about an alleged $5.5 million demand.

In a Dedham, Massachusetts courtroom on Tuesday, Adams was asked whether her lawyer reached out to Diggs' camp with the lucrative demand ... and after a brief pause, she replied, "Mr. Diggs offered me $100,000 to recant my statement. That is the only --."

Adams was interrupted with a motion to strike before she could finish ... and the response was stricken from the record as non-responsive.

New York Knicks fans acted like they've never experienced a playoff win on Monday ... and their celebration got so rowdy, ex-NBA star J.R. Smith went crashing to the ground amid all the chaos.

The scene broke out as spectators exited Madison Square Garden following the 137-98 victory ... and among the happy folks was the former Knick.

Naturally, the crowd was happy to see the beloved baller ... and it started off on a good note ... with Smith puffing on something in his mouth and celebrating with his hands in the air.

Could Jake Paul be next for Mike Perry after Nate Diaz?! The MMA turned bareknuckle boxing star says "absolutely!"

"Platinum" Perry, 34, chopped it up with Babcock less than two weeks before his highly anticipated scrap against Diaz, 41, on the Paul-promoted MVP event on May 16 in Los Angeles ... and we asked if a win could set up an MMA fight with Jake, after boxing the Problem Child in 2024.

"Absolutely," Mike said.