UFC

Nothing helps to change your mood after a devastating loss like 10 hot chicks at a Vegas bikini party ... just ask Conor McGregor.

Nate Diaz did NOT suffer a hand injury during that violent stand-off with Conor McGregor at the UFC 196 presser Thursday ... with sources telling us Nate is "ready to fight."

After Conor smacked Nate's fist, people noticed Nate clutching his right hand ... and several media outlets speculated that he suffered an injury that could put the fight in jeopardy.

But deeply connected sources tell us, "Nate is fine and ready to fight ... he didn't even see a doctor because he wasn't hurt."

Translation -- the fist escaped unscathed.

IT'S (almost) TIME!!!!

Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz hate each other more then Trump and Rubio ... and now TMZ Sports has even more video that proves how deep the hatred goes.

Check out this raw footage from the UFC 196 news conference ... which shows even more smack talk than you saw on the stage.

Not only does NFL stud Antonio Cromartie know who'll win at UFC 196 between Holly Holm and Miesha Tate ... he knows what the victory dance will be ... saying Holm will twerk to celebrate the win.

Conor McGregor says Nate Diaz owes him a big fat thank you for the paycheck he's about to get for UFC 196 -- and says Nate can even work it off with a few dances.

Conor avoided any racial slurs during Thursday's pre-fight news conference in Las Vegas, but still blasted Diaz ... calling him a "scared little boy" who has a "bully mentality until a real man shows up."

Check out the video, 'cause things really got intense when they started talking money and Conor said, "Dance for me, Nate! And don't look me in the eye!"

Former UFC star Kenny Florian thinks Conor McGregor might just be the greatest of all time ... at talking smack ... saying the Irish swagmaster is the best with his mouth since Muhammad Ali.

Johnny Manziel is bringing the party train to Vegas this weekend -- at least, that's the plan ... 'cause his name has popped up on the celebrity guest list for UFC 196, TMZ Sports has learned.

This is actually pretty funny ...

Nate Diaz was doing a Twitter Q&A with fans to promote UFC 196 -- when he was asked to name his 5 favorite rappers of all time.

He could only get to 4 ...

So, naturally ... the next fan asked if he was high on drugs.

Tough guy respects tough guy.

Vinnie Jones says when it comes to UFC fighters, he's all about Conor McGregor.

Vinnie joins a huge list of celeb McGregor supporters -- one that already includes Shaq, Arnold Schwarzenegger, U2's The Edge, Gordon Ramsay and many many more.

It'll be interesting to see if Nate Diaz can rally up some celeb support before the two do battle at UFC 196 this weekend.

One thing's for sure ... Nate's bandwagon will certainly fill up if he wins.

Ooops.

Most UFC fighters would be PUMPED to be on 'Kimmel' -- but not UFC fighter Jake Ellenberger ... who got caught in a big time lie during a political bit on the show Tuesday night.

Kimmel was doing his "Lie Witness News" segment -- where he goes out to bust people lying about voting on Super Tuesday.

The setup -- there was NO presidential voting in California yesterday ... but Jimmy sent a reporter to ask people if they voted to see if they would lie about it on camera to make themselves look good.

Ellenberger fell for it ... hook, line & sinker.

Ooops.

Conor McGregor rolled into a megafan's L.A. apartment this week -- after seeing a cardboard cutout of himself on the guy's balcony ... and the fan was so blown away, he could barely hold himself together.

Conor was driving to the gym when he noticed the cutout (which was displayed along with an Irish flag) -- and screamed up to the guy that he would drop in.

What ensues is pretty awesome ... you gotta watch the clip.

As for Conor's opponent at UFC 196 (which goes down March 5th in Vegas) -- we also got video of Nate Diaz in a recent training session ... acknowledging that he might get "merked."

It's pretty revealing footage ... Diaz knows McGregor is a dangerous guy -- but warns Conor not to underestimate him.

One last thing ... check out this video of McGregor hitting up Rodeo Drive in Bev Hills after tooling around in his Lambo -- dude LOVES to be rich!!!

Watch UFC 196 – McGregor vs. Diaz – Live on PPV on Saturday, March 5.

A former UFC fighter and his son were both shot during an armed robbery in Oklahoma Monday night outside of the gym where they were working out ... but both men are expected to survive.

Mikey Burnett -- who last fought for the UFC in 1999 -- was leaving the gym around 7:30 PM when he was approached by two men ... at least one of whom was armed.

Officials say Mikey's 18-year-old son saw the robbery and tried to fight off one of the robbers -- during the struggle, Mikey was shot multiple times in the abdomen. His son, Freddie, was shot in the leg.

Cops say the suspects ran off and fled in a nearby vehicle.

No arrests have been made -- but officials say there is a ton of security footage and a bunch of witnesses.

Mikey has undergone surgery and is expected to recover.

Nate Diaz doesn't even need to show up to UFC 196 ... 'cause according to former WBC boxing champ Andre Berto fate is already sealed ... Conor McGregor's gonna kick that ass.

Berto was leaving Playhouse when we got his thoughts on the fight ... who better to ask than a guy who makes a living punishing faces himself, right?

Not only that ... but Andre comes from an MMA family with his father, brother, and SISTER all having competed in the Octagon.

Check out the clip -- Berto is Team McGregor all the way, telling our guy he thinks Nate's tough ... but not tough enough to take out the pride of Ireland.

As far as a matchup between Conor and Jesus ... Berto wouldn't give us a straight answer. Although we already know what McGregor thinks.

Remember when Conor McGregor said he would "whoop Jesus Christ's ass"?

Here's Conor McGregor ... doubling down on the racist smack talk.

McGregor referred to Nate Diaz as a "cholo gangsta from the hood" during the insane news conference for the UFC 196 fight Wednesday day ... and clearly, he's not letting up.

UFC Prez Dana White has lashed out at fighter Nate Diaz, telling TMZ Sports Diaz is not only wrong when he says "all UFC fighters are on steroids," he's also hypocritical.

White tells us, "The UFC unquestionably has the best drug testing program in all of sports. All done by the United States Anti-Doping Association."

Dana is quick to add Nate's own teammates, Gilbert Melendez and Jake Shields, were both busted for PEDs ... point out, "If you are cheating, you get caught."