Ilia Topuria -- the current UFC lightweight champion -- announced he'll be stepping away from fighting “temporarily” as he deals with issues in his personal life ... claiming he is being extorted with "false allegations of domestic abuse unless financial demands were met."
The 28-year-old shared the news in a lengthy message posted to his Instagram, saying it was not a decision he took lightly.
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"However, when circumstances arise that threaten your personal integrity, your family, and your reputation, there comes a point where you must address them directly," Topuria said.
The Notorious and his longtime ride-or-die, Dee Devlin, tied the knot at the Church of Santo Stefano degli Abissini in Vatican City.
BACKGRID
The wedding ceremony, at one of the oldest and most historic churches in the Vatican City, was small and intimate, according to our sources. We're told their kids were part of the ceremony with dancers and fireworks. Our sources also say the elegant reception was held inside a castle.
It's unclear if any of McGregor's celeb friends attended.
Joanna Jędrzejczykis speaking out after getting into a heated confrontation with Jamahal Hill in Las Vegas last weekend... saying that while she is "embarrassed to be in this situation," she will always "stand up for myself" because she doesn't "deserve to be threatened."
The UFC strawweight legend took to her Instagram page to address video that went viral this week, which reportedly happened at UFC event, where Hill was caught on camera telling Joanna he would knock her "the f*** out" if she touched his girl.
At UFC 323 a heated altercation broke out between Jamahal Hill & Joanna Jedrzejczyk
Hill "Do not touch my girl or Ima knock you the fuck out" Joanna "Yeah, you will?" Hill "Period!"
Context: Joanna had allegedly been aggressive to Hill's partner and was restrained by security pic.twitter.com/QCUxstRai9
"I am mindful that I am a strong, capable woman who has the benefit of a lifetime of self defense training," Jędrzejczyksaid. "I have a platform, and resources, that most women don't have."
Merab Dvalishvili began his UFC career with two consecutive losses before winning an astounding 14 straight fights (and counting), putting him among the very best MMA fighters ever ... a fairy tale The Machine describes as the "American Dream."
"This is unbelievable," Dvalishvili told TMZ Sports ahead of his UFC 323 main event fight against Petr Yan.
"I am the American Dream. Now, when I see other Georgians also willing to come here to America, they think they can do like I do, but it's very hard. It's not only hard work, you have to get lucky, too, and I'm lucky. I'm lucky."
Dillon Danisclaims he's still feeling it after his brawl at UFC 322 ... to the point where he won't be able to attend his deposition in his Nina Agdalcase next week.
According to court documents, obtained by TMZ Sports, the MMA fighter says he is currently in California "seeking medical treatment" for a head injury he sustained at MSG after throwing hands with several members of Islam Makhachev's team on Nov. 15.
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As a result, the fighter's lawyer says Danis won't be around to get grilled by Agdal's lawyers next Tuesday in New Jersey.
The brawl prompted New York City Mayor Eric Adamsto call for an investigation, saying the actions were unacceptable.
It's a kickass card, but UFC 323 may not be the biggest event featuring combat stars this weekend ... 'cause big-time streamer N3on is linking up with Jon Jones, Alex Pereira, and a gang of other badass fighters for Telegram's Gift Drop!
"A bunch of fighters are going to be a part of [the drop]," N3on told Babcock, announcing the big collab with Telegram. "I've streamed with a bunch of people, but like you said, these are real stars coming in."
Henry Cejudo is returning to the Octagon at UFC 323 ... question is, will it be the last fight for arguably the most decorated combat sports athlete ever?!
That's what we asked Triple C when he joined the "TMZ Sports" TV show (airs nightly on FS1) and livestream (daily at 1 PM PT) ... just days before 38-year-old Cejudo makes the walk Saturday night for his fight against Payton Talbott.
"Saturday's my last fight. I've been doing this since the age of 11. Do I still have it physically? 100%. But I just feel like I've been able to learn a lot of new things in life, and I'm just ready for the second chapter, man," Cejudo told Babcock.
Alexandre Pantoja hasn't lost since mid-2020, and fans have repeatedly speculated the UFC's flyweight champ could go up a division and fight for a second belt -- so we asked him!!
TMZ Sports spoke to the 35-year-old ahead of his UFC 323 bout (December 6 on ESPN+) against 24-year-old challenger Joshua Van ... and asked about the prospects of fighting Merab Dvalishvili, the bantamweight title holder.
"I think Merab is one of the best fighters in the world, you know, 100%. He's the number three pound-for-pound, maybe number two," Pantoja said ... adding "Merab is a tough opponent for everybody in his division."
Sure, there's probably a better chance hell freezes over than Ronda returning to the Octagon, but crazier things have happened.
Harrison's manager, Ali Abdelaziz, made the revelation during a recent conversation with TMZ Sports ... starting with Nunes, 37, who most agree is the women's MMA GOAT.
The UFC champion openly admits Jake Paul would be a challenging fight in a boxing ring, before adding it's all pointless talk ... 'cause the MMA superstar is under contract with Dana White's organization!
TMZ Sports was at Monster Energy's launch party for "Call of Duty: Black Ops 7" on the Intrepid aircraft carrier in NYC when we ran into Chama ... and asked about his back-and-forth with The Problem Child, who has since officially signed on to fight Anthony Joshua.
UFC legends Tyron Woodleyand Anderson Silvaare set to throw down on the main card of Jake Paulvs. Anthony Joshuanext month in Miami ... and Woodley tells TMZ Sports that while he has respect for The Spider, the plan is to "hurt him" good in the ring.
We chopped it up with the former UFC welterweight champion after it was announced he would be stepping in to replace Chris Weidmanagainst Silva ... and he told us that even though George St-Pierrewas his number one dream fight, this is the next best opportunity.
"When this opportunity came about, you know, this is how a legend is made," Woodley said. "People talk about legacy, legacy, legacy, but they play it safe all the time. And I'm not playing it safe."
Arman Tsarukyan is taking his fight against Dan Hooker head-on -- literally -- 'cause he butted his opponent right in the noggin during a tense weigh-in altercation.
There's some serious beef between these two guys leading up to UFC Fight Night in Qatar -- Tsarukyan wasted no time going after Hooker after joining the promotion ... and it only intensified in the days leading up to the bout.
The two came face-to-face on Friday ... and as they approached each other on the stage, Tsarukyan (22-3) jolted forward and made contact with Hooker's face.
Two former Jake Paul opponents, Anderson Silva and Tyron Woodley, are setting their sights on one another ... the UFC legends were just added to the El Gallo-Anthony Joshuacard, where they'll duke it out in the ring!
Paul's Most Valuable Promotions announced the news Friday morning, calling Silva, who is 50, the "greatest MMA fighter of all time and Brazilian legend," announcing he'd square off against "combat sports icon" Woodley, who is 43.
The bout will be fought at 195 lbs., and will feature six, three-minute rounds.
Dillion Danis better keep his head on a swivel ... 'cause the beef with Team Islam Makhachev is anything but squashed, according to the newly crowned welterweight champ's manager, Ali Abdelaziz.
"This is not over. This is not over," Abdelaziz told TMZ Sports on Monday.
"This guy is not safe. Whole Foods, the airport at a terminal, if people catch this guy, he's gonna have problems. He's not done, these people are not done with him. For the rest of his life. [Dillon] or Conor, they're not safe. Or they have to come out and say, 'Know what, we're sorry, we give up. We're done.' Then after that you'll get mercy."
Dillon Danis just got himself blacklisted from the UFC ... because Dana White says the fighter is banned forever after igniting a wild brawl cageside at UFC 322.
The chaos exploded Saturday night inside Madison Square Garden in NYC ... moments before the main card kicked off when Danis got into it with several members of Islam Makhachev's squad.
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Videos captured the scene ... showing Danis mixing it up with Abubakar Nurmagomedov and Magomed Zaynukov as security rushed in to break things up.
Dana addressed the melee during the post-fight presser and didn't mince words ... telling reporters he won't press charges, but Danis will never step foot at another UFC event again.
"I was on the other side of the Octagon and go, 'F---, I know exactly what this is,'" White said. "You will never see Dillon Danis at a UFC fight ever again."
Danis, of course, isn't a stranger to Nurmagomedov drama. He was in Conor McGregor's corner during their infamous 2018 title fight in Las Vegas ... the same night Khabib Nurmagomedov choked out McGregor and then leapt out of the cage to attack Conor's corner.
While the rivalry between the former champs has cooled in recent years, there's still plenty of bad blood in the orbit. Makhachev is one of Khabib's closest teammates, and Danis spent fight week taking shots at him online.
UFC 322 is a kick-ass card from top to bottom, and TMZ Sports is breaking it down with the man in charge, Dana White!
"Islam [Makhachev] is on a 15-fight win streak, and Jack [Della Maddalena] is on an 18-fight win streak. These guys haven't lost a fight in years," the UFC president and CEO told Babcock, setting up the main event.
"Jack bursts onto the scene, coming off the Contender Series. Goes all the way up and beats Belal Muhammad, which is not easy to do. He just beat Belal. Now, if he can beat Islam. Jack Della Maddalena is a bad dude."