Holly Holm's Camp Glad Shevchenko Is Safe ... 'Wish Her Trainer Well'
Nothing but class from Holly Holm's camp after her upcoming opponent was involved in a violent robbery in Peru -- with Holm's reps telling TMZ Sports they're glad Valentina Shevchenko is safe.
Shevchenko -- who's set to fight Holm at UFC on FOX 20 in July -- wasn't harmed in the robbery but her trainer was shot in the stomach while exchanging gunfire with the robbers.
"We are glad [Shevchenko] is safe," Holm's rep tells us ... "We wish her coach well."
Dana White has said he's not sure if the fight will go on as planned -- considering the incident may have traumatized Shevchenko -- but Holm's camp tells us Holly is still training as if it will happen.
"The fight is on as far as we know."
The rep says Holly has nothing but respect for Shevchenko in the octagon -- adding, "It should be a great fight."
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Dana White Shevchenko Shootout Was 'Madness' ... I Hope She Still Fights Holm
6:23 AM PT -- We just spoke with Valentina Shevchenko who says she will NOT back out of UFC on FOX 20 ... telling us straight up, "I will fight Holly."
When asked about her health, she told us, "I am feeling good. No injuries. Just a few days was a very big stress to me. I’m just starting to feel better now.”
UFC honcho Dana White says he's not sure if Valentina Shevchenko will still fight Holly Holm in July -- after V.S. dodged bullets in a bloody shootout in Peru ... calling the incident "madness."
As we previously reported ... Shevchenko and her trainer were eating at a chicken restaurant when 3 masked gunmen barged in and began robbing the place.
Shevchenko's trainer pulled out a gun and began firing -- killing one of the robbers ... but he suffered a gunshot to the stomach in the process. Shevchenko escaped unharmed. Her trainer is being hospitalized and is expected to survive.
Wednesday night, White told us he's unsure if Shevchenko will fight Holm at UFC on Fox 20 in July -- but seemed to understand if she decides to pull out.
"When things like that happen, it puts you in touch with your mortality," White said.
Meantime, Shevchenko has issued a statement of her own -- calling her trainer a hero ... whose quick actions saved her life and the lives of the other patrons.
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Holly Holm's Next Opponent Ducks Bullets In Violent Robbery ... Trainer Shot In Gut
The UFC fighter who's scheduled to take on Holly Holm in July miraculously escaped injury in a violent shootout in Peru ... though her trainer was shot while exchanging gunfire with the bad guys.
The woman caught in the crossfire is Valentina Shevchenko -- who was reportedly dining at a restaurant in Lima when three gun-toting men in motorcycle helmets came in to rob the place.
Jean-Claude Van Damme UFC Guys Can't Kick ... Lemme Teach You!
Wanna REALLY kick someone's ass? Pay attention ... Master Van Damme will teach you.
UFC Fighter Derrick Lewis I Got A Gold Dinosaur $125k For Custom T-Rex
It's time for a lesson in Jurassic swag, courtesy of UFC fighter Derrick "The Black Beast" Lewis ... who dropped $125k on the a golden T-Rex motor thingy ... and TMZ Sports has the pics.
Lewis hit up Joseph McCamish of Etune Autosports in Houston and told the man he wanted "the baddest T-Rex he could build" ... and was willing to pay big bucks for it.
We talked to McCamish who tells us his guys were up to the task and created a one-of-a-kind ride for the Octagon god.
What'd they do? A full air ride system, custom-made leather seats, a black suede steering wheel, JBL audio system, a custom fabricated body kit and the piece de resistance ... a custom gold body wrap.
Final price for the whole thing ... $125k!!
Beating people up ... it pays really well.
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Sly Stallone I'd Pay to See Floyd vs. Conor ... Here's Why
Sylvester Stallone says he'd definitely pay good money to see Floyd Mayweather fight Conor McGregor -- though he's pretty sure Floyd would beat that ass!
Miesha Tate Ronda's Emotionally Unstable
Miesha Tate says Ronda Rousey is "somewhat emotionally unstable" -- and says it explains why the UFC legend went off on Paige VanZant at a party last month.
Tate appeared on Rush Fight Club on SiriusXM -- and went off about the issue when asked about the April encounter, when Rousey cussed out PVZ for congratulating Holly Holm after UFC 193.
"I think Ronda is somewhat emotionally unstable and I think that's been characteristic for a long time," Tate said.
"Doesn't mean she fights any worse for it. I'm not knocking her as an athlete but emotionally she's just got some things that are a little bit strange and I think that that was one of them."
Tate says the incident brought her even closer with VanZant -- despite the fact Tate says she would've handled the encounter in a much different way.
"This is why I feel like I identify with Paige more. She's so kind and when this whole thing happened she was like, 'We're emotional beings and hopefully I can make it right with Ronda,' and she's still such a sweetheart but I'm not that way."
"When Ronda does things like that to me I'm just like, 'No, eff you.' I'm not gonna bow down and not say how I feel."
[h/t MMAFighting]
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Ashton Kutcher Praised By Fighting Legend Better Ground Fighter Than Conor McGregor
This is no "Punk'd" ... Ashton Kutcher is a LEGIT jiu-jitsu fighter -- and his legendary trainer tells us he truly believes AK could beat up Conor McGregor in a ground fight.
Kutcher's been training with Brazilian jiu-jitsu master Rigan Machado -- an 8th degree black belt -- who tells TMZ Sports the actor is a natural ... "He is my #1 student."
Not only is Kutcher tough as nails, but Machado says the 38-year-old could be one of the top BJJ fighters in the world if he wanted to go pro.
So, we had to ask how he'd fare against Conor McGregor -- who also trains in Brazilian jiu-jitsu -- and Machado couldn't have been more clear ... Ashton would beat that ass in a ground fight.
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Nate Diaz Gets State Assembly Award ... For 'Upset' Over McGregor
Nate Diaz got an official award from the People of California Tuesday night ... recognizing his bad assness for his "upset" victory over Conor McGregor back in March.
Assemblyman Jim Cooper signed a resolution ... declaring "the exploits of Nathan Diaz, a successful American mixed martial artist from Stockton, have been a source of great joy and pride to the people of the State of California."
The award also describes Nate's victory over Conor as "one of the biggest upsets in UFC history."
Diaz is also hailed for his work with children, teens and adults at the jiu-jitsu center he runs in Lodi, CA -- saying he instills the values of respect, sportsmanship and responsibility to his students.
So, the question ... if he fights McGregor again -- and wins again -- does he get another award?
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Floyd Mayweather Praises Jon Jones 'Of Course He'll Join Money Team'
Floyd Mayweather says he's supremely confident Jon Jones will join The Money Team -- and tells TMZ Sports exactly why Floyd's crew is the perfect fit for the UFC superstar.
Floyd and Jon recently had a FaceTime convo -- and there have been rumblings that Floyd's trying to recruit him to the TMT family.
So, when we saw Floyd at his daughter's 7-figure sweet 16 party in Vegas this weekend -- we asked straight up if it was gonna happen.
You gotta watch the clip ... Floyd wants Jon to know TMT had Jon's back during his toughest times -- and will continue to support him moving forward.
He's even planning a trip to New Mexico to hang with Jon during his UFC 200 training camp.
Floyd Mayweather -- he's become quite a fan of UFC fighters, hasn't he?
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Nate Diaz, Dana White Lunch Over Conor Rematch Blows Up
3:45 PM PST -- We contacted Dana just after he returned to Vegas and he said, "Obviously I'm not going to disclose details of the deal, but let's just say my trip to Stockton didn't go well."
Dana White flew to Stockton, CA Friday to seal the deal for a rematch between Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz, but we've learned it all went south and the UFC Prez stormed out of the tavern.
We got video of Dana greeting Nate, the same way he met Conor earlier in the week at a Bev Hills hotel -- smiles and hugs.
Our Stockton spies -- yeah, we got those -- tell us Dana, Nate and a couple of suits were all friendly as they chowed down, but the talk got serious and ended abruptly when Dana was visibly angry, stood up and beelined it for his SUV.
Unclear what torpedoed the meeting, but we've covered this stuff long enough to know it usually involves money. We know Conor was poised to score a $10 mil payday for a rematch. We don't know what Nate wants.
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UFC's 'Cyborg' Justino I Want to Box On Floyd vs. Conor Undercard
Cris 'Cyborg' Justino is already throwing her hat in the ring to be a part of the possible Mayweather vs. McGregor superfight ... and says she's down to BOX if that's what'll seal the deal.
After we broke the story that Mayweather has a $50 million offer out to Conor -- Cyborg tweeted out to Floyd saying:
"Hey @FloydMayweather if [McGregor] Fights you In Boxing I want a Boxing Fight on The event2. #mma vs #boxing u pick The girl! #tmt."
Cyborg also says she's already got a boxing coach who "will have me ready."
As we reported, nothing is in stone (or even close) but it seems like there's a real chance.
Stay tuned ...
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Floyd Mayweather $50 Mil Offer to McGregor ... But No Deal Yet
Floyd Mayweather has a $50 MILLION offer out to Conor McGregor, sources tell TMZ Sports ... but it's going to take a lot more to seal the deal.
We're told Floyd is proposing a New Year's Eve fight in Vegas and Conor is game. We're told Floyd's $50 million offer is far less than half the amount the fight would rake in ... and therein lies the rub.
Floyd has been talking to the wrong guy, because Conor can't ink the deal. It's all about convincing Dana White, and there's just no way White would accept such a lopsided deal. Fact is ... in 3 critical Pay-Per-View markets -- Europe, Australia and Canada -- Conor is a bigger star than Floyd.
Floyd's last fight produced disappointing PPV numbers, and Conor's star has never been brighter. Even his loss to Nate Diaz was epic ... the fight was great and it did not disappoint fans.
Sources connected with Floyd tell us ... the champ has not approached Dana, at least not yet.
Open your wallet Mayweather ... it could happen.
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Conor McGregor & Dana White Reunited With Big Plans
It's the matchup we've all been waiting for ... Conor McGregor and Dana White face-to-face for the first time since CM was yanked off the UFC 200 card -- and TMZ Sports has the footage.
It all went down at the ultra-swanky Montage hotel in Bev Hills -- where Conor rolled up in a $500k Rolls-Royce Phantom drophead coupe and was personally greeted by White, who arrived first.
Our sources tell us the two men hugged when they first met -- but we're told it was a very aggressive embrace ... the kind you could hear from down the hall.
White and McGregor were all smiles as they headed up the stairs to a private dinner flanked by 3 very large gentlemen. The meeting took roughly two hours.
We're guessing they weren't just there to eat ... with McGregor training for a Floyd Mayweather super bout that could be worth hundreds of millions of dollars, business was certainly on the table.
So, how'd it go??
McGregor was all smiles on the way out -- waving cheerfully to TMZ cameras as he left the building.
Good news for Floyd ...
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Paige VanZant Ronda Should Fight Cyborg ... 'I'd Love to See That'
Another huge star is calling for Ronda Rousey to fight 'Cyborg' Justino -- this time, it's UFC superstar Paige VanZant who says it's a fight she would LOVE to see.
Cyborg has been calling out Ronda for months -- and even came on the "TMZ Sports" TV show this week and challenged Rousey to "stop hiding behind your pillow" and fight!
VanZant was careful not to take sides -- especially after Ronda confronted her over "crossing her" -- but made it clear the two need to throw down already.
We also asked Paige if she was interested in following Ronda's footsteps into the pages of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. You're probably going to like her answer.
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UFC Champ Stipe Miocic SMACKS HOME RUN ... at MLB Ballpark
Here's UFC heavyweight champ Stipe Miocic belting a home run out of Progressive Field in Cleveland earlier today ... well, because he's a freak athlete.
Miocic was taking batting practice with the Cleveland Indians when he connected -- and blast the ball over the left field wall.
FYI, Miocic played college baseball at Cleveland State University ... but that was like 10 years ago.
#StillGotIt