UFC

Ready to watch Conor McGregor try to avenge his loss against Nate Diaz IN PERSON?

Well, you're in luck ... maybe ... because TMZ Sports is giving away 3 sets of tickets to UFC 202 in Vegas!!

Make sure to watch the "TMZ Sports" TV show Tuesday night on FS1 to find out exactly what you need to do to have a shot at winning a pair of tix to the fight of the year!

Click here for rules and regulations -- and GOOD LUCK!!!

And even if you don't win, you can still BUY tickets at Ticketmaster.com and the T-Mobile Arena Box Office.

UFC star Cody Garbrandt hates EVERYTHING about Dominick Cruz -- especially his tribal tattoo.

Cody "No Love" has been trashing Cruz like crazy lately -- and Monday, he went in on Dom's upper back body art ... saying the champ's ink is corny and outdated.

Then comes the physical threat ... with Garbrandt promising to break Cruz's jaw after he disposes of Takeya Mizugaki at UFC 202 this weekend.

Cheating allegations or not, Jon Jones is still the best fighter in the world ... so says UFC star Anthony "Rumble" Johnson.

Johnson was famously supposed to fight Jones at UFC 187 last year -- but Jon was pulled from the fight less than a month before the match when he was arrested for a hit-and-run in New Mexico.

Now, with a potential 2-year suspension looming, Rumble says Jones' reputation has taken another major hit -- but his skills are still world-class.

"Nobody trusts him," Johnson said ... "He's still, to me, the best fighter in the world. It's just, once again, his actions make him ... it degrades him."

Jon Jones clearly believes he will NOT serve a 2 year suspension for a positive PED test before UFC 200 -- saying he's got "really good news" and expects to be back in the Octagon pronto.

Jones just made a video to update his supporters -- "if there are any of you guys still out there" -- and says he has brand new information about the testing that seems to support his stance that he did NOT knowingly cheat.

Jones has been temporarily suspended by USADA (the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency) until his case goes before the Nevada Athletic Commission. He was expected to get the usual 2 year suspension.

Jones doesn't reveal why he's so optimistic -- but says, "We have found out lots of really good news and I am expecting to be back in the Octagon really soon."

Jon Jones was just ordered to go back to school ... sentenced to complete an aggressive driving course as part of his punishment from his alleged drag racing incident in New Mexico.

As we previously reported, Jones was pulled over on March 24 in Albuquerque after an officer says the UFC superstar was drag racing on his way home from an MMA gym.

Jon called BS on the cop -- and began to cuss him out ... calling the officer a "f***ing pig" and a "liar."

Jones was issued several citations for unlawful drag racing, unlawful exhibition driving, unlawful use of modification of exhaust systems, failure to maintain traffic lane and improper display of registration plate.

But moments ago, Jones agreed to a deal with prosecutors -- pleading guilty to just unlawful use of modification of exhaust systems and improper display of registration plate.

In exchange he was ordered to complete 60 hours of community service and complete an aggressive driving course.

If he does not complete his terms, he faces up to 90 days in jail.

The good news for Jon ... he already has 51 hours of community service completed and a rep for the UFC star says he already knocked out the driving course!

COOL -- UFC star Alan Jouban got to make out with Gigi Hadid for a Versace commercial.

COOLER -- His wife LOVED IT!

UFC star Julianna Pena just RIPPED into Ronda Rousey -- saying, "No one cares about [her] and her fat arms anymore."

"She's like the emperor in no clothes," Pena added ... "She's broken a little bit."

So, what set Pena off?

We asked her about Amanda Nunes saying she would gladly fight her ... if she couldn't book Ronda. And while Pena says she understands from a business perspective, she thinks Ronda's days as the top dog in UFC are over.

As for Ronda's long-awaited return, Pena says she's heard rumblings that RR will fight again before the end of the year ... but adds, "I'll believe it when I see it."

Until then, Pena says it's only a matter of time until she crushes Nunes and takes the belt.

"They can delay me but they can't deny me."

It's probably in Vin Diesel's best interest to squash the beef with The Rock asap -- 'cause Dwayne Johnson would whoop that ass if things came to blows ... so says UFC champ Tyron Woodley.

Woodley (who's also an actor) says he recently went to the "Fast 8" set -- and says he thought things seemed peaceful ... though Rock wasn't there at the time.

But that was then ... before Rock called out Diesel as an unprofessional "candy ass" on social media.

THE NATURE BOY IS PISSED!!!!

Ric Flair is firing back at Conor McGregor ... blasting the UFC star after McGregor proclaimed that most WWE wrestler are "messed up p**sies."

Conor McGregor just UNLOADED on the WWE -- saying most of the pro wrestlers are "p**sies" -- and blasted Brock Lesnar as a juiced up cheater.

McGregor was on a conference call to promote UFC 202 when he was asked if he'd ever consider doing a stint in the WWE ... and that's when he went off.

"I haven't really thought about it," McGregor said ... "For the most part, those WWE guys are p**sies."

"They're messed up p**sies if you ask me."

McGregor said there are some people he respects over there -- including the McMahons, Triple H and The Rock.

But when asked about Brock Lesnar ... he fired even more shots.

Conor McGregor says Nate Diaz will NOT make it to the 3rd round of their rematch ... predicting a 2ND ROUND K.O. at UFC 202.

McGregor was answering questions on the UFC 202 media conference call Friday -- when he admitted that he underestimated Nate's chin and toughness the first time around ... but he won't make that mistake again.

"He weathered the storm," Conor said ... "I'm just gonna be a lot more prepared for a man that can stay in there with me."

That being said ... Conor said confidently -- "I will K.O. him inside the 2nd round."

Luke Rockhold says the UFC needs to do something drastic to end the cheating -- telling TMZ Sports, "I'm just tired of talking about it over and over again and nothing happens."

Rockhold says people have short memories when it comes to cheating in MMA -- and said Anderson Silva is the perfect example.

"Everyone is gonna beat down Jon Jones ... and they're gonna cheer Anderson Silva after coming back from testing positive."

FYI, Silva received a 1 year suspension last year after testing positive for a PED at UFC 183.

So, what's the solution?

"They need to implement the full 2 year ban at least. 4 years would really scare a person because it would take away a career."

UFC champ Tyron Woodley watched the TMZ Sports video of Nick Diaz going off about a possible fight for the belt -- and says one thing is clear to him ... Nick's an idiot.

Woodley joined the guys on the "TMZ Sports" TV show (airs Monday night on FS1) and clapped back at Diaz ... saying he was trying to COMPLIMENT the guy as a great fighter to set up a big money fight.

But Woodley says Diaz took the message the wrong way -- "He made no sense."

"It just shows you his I.Q. outside of fighting is not extremely high."

Woodley says Diaz may have blown his shot at the title -- and hinted that he's closer to locking up a fight with Georges St-Pierre.

There's A LOT more in the full interview tonight on FS1.

Nick Diaz is FIRED UP -- telling TMZ Sports he's still the BEST FIGHTER in his weight class ... and he's down to fight Tyron Woodley ... or ANYONE the UFC throws at him, if the price is right.

Woodley called Diaz out after he beat Robbie Lawler at UFC 201 this weekend -- and now that Diaz finished his suspension and can fight again ... Nick says he's ready to take on the world.

"I want to fight the best guy. I always want to fight the best guy. The thing is I'm on top ... I'm the one on top ... they're dropping MY name."

"I don’t need no fake ass piece of plastic. F*** that! I made PPV without a title. I don't need that fake ass plastic to be somebody."

For what it's worth, we're told the UFC is gunning to get Diaz a fight quickly -- but we're told the name being thrown around is Robbie Lawler.

He breaks up fights in the Octagon, but UFC ref Herb Dean says there's no way in hell he's breaking up fights in the street!

Dean -- considered by many to be the best ref in MMA -- was at LAX when we asked if he's ever seen a real-life brawl and felt compelled to get involved.

The short answer -- HELL NO.

"If I see a fight in real life, I'm running in the other direction," Dean said.

"I've walked by street fights ... and somebody watching will recognize me and say, 'Hey Herb' ... I'm like, 'I'm a professional, this is amateur!'"

UFC fighter Alan Jouban thinks the time is now for Ronda Rousey to return to the Octagon ... saying she dominated the sport like no other female fighter ... and he can't wait for her return.

We got Jouban out in L.A. and asked him what's up with the one-and-done championship runs in the women's bantamweight division since Ronda lost to Holly Holm?

Jouban told our guy the short reigns have less to do with the new fighters ... and more to do with the old one ... saying Rousey was so DOMINANT it made the division look weaker than it really was.

Guy's got a point ... the title has changed hands like three times since Ronda was holding it down ... and now that we know she doesn't have a baby on board ... we're wondering when she'll get another crack at it.