UFC

The real reason Tony Ferguson won't fight Michael Johnson -- "He remembers the last time I whooped his ass!"

That's what the UFC fighter told us in Vegas moments ago when asked why he thought Ferguson wouldn't agree to let him replace Khabib Nurmagomedov this weekend at UFC 209.

As we previously reported, Dana White was down to let Johnson step in at the last minute -- but Ferguson said no.

Johnson admits he understands why Ferguson wouldn't want the bout -- "It's a risky fight for him" -- but says the dude needs to STOP DODGING HIM!

Could a hammered drunk Michael Bisping BEAT UP a sober Georges St-Pierre???

We almost found out live in Vegas moments ago when the two started trashing each other to their faces ... and it was awesome!

It all went down at the media event for their big fight later this year -- and after Bisping showed up super late and raspy-voiced, GSP accused him of going way too hard in Vegas last night.

Bisping's response: "I'll go out on an all night f**king bender and still beat you, pal!"

They went back and forth ... some names were called ... many expletives were used.

Dana White tells TMZ Sports there will be NO replacement fighter for Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 209 ... despite offers from several fighters ... which means Tony Ferguson is off the card, period.

White says he did speak with Michael Johnson -- the last guy to beat Ferguson -- and praises him for offering to step up and take the fight on short notice.

But ultimately, White says the decision was made to scrap Tony from the card completely and book him for another fight at a later date.

UFC rising star Khabib Nurmagomedov was hospitalized Thursday evening and will NOT fight at UFC 209.

UFC officials say Khabib was hospitalized for "weight management issues." Khabib was treated and has been released.

Khabib was scheduled to fight Tony Ferguson on Saturday for the interim 155 pound title -- and Dana White had told us the winner would most likely face Conor McGregor.

But now, with Khabib out ... it's unclear what will happen next.

Ronda Rousey chalked up a huge W on the set of "Blindspot" ... with the star of the show saying she crushed her guest role during filming this week and he's lobbying producers to BRING HER BACK!

Michael Bisping says Georges St-Pierre is straight-up CRAZY if he thinks he'll be able to "stroll off the couch" after a 3 year break and beat him ... adding, "The guy's out of his f**king mind!"

Bisping was extremely complimentary of GSP's fighting skills -- "He was one of the greatest fighters this world has ever produced" -- but says the guy has no chance when they face off later this year.

UFC star Tyron Woodley says he beat Stephen "Wonderboy" Thompson so badly during their fight back in November, the dude suffered a concussion ... and he should NOT be fighting at UFC 209.

Problem is ... Dana White says he's full of crap.

We spoke to Woodley on his way to Las Vegas for this weekend's fight -- and he told us straight-up, "[Wonderboy] should have had a 90 day suspension. It was was a tough fight. He had a concussion during that fight."

Woodley added, "Any other fighter who has a concussion, you are automatically awarded a 90 day suspension."

FYI, Thompson was never officially diagnosed with a concussion by a doctor and Dana White tells us Woodley's comments are off base.

"I'm gonna go ahead and take the advice of the best doctors in the country over Dr. Tyron Woodley," White tells TMZ Sports.

In an unrelated note, Woodley says his kids are following in his insanely athletic footsteps ... including his 2-year-old girl.

Now that Dana White has confirmed Michael Bisping will fight Georges St-Pierre ... here's your friendly reminder that Bisping promised to beat down GSP ... with ONE ARM!!

We spoke with Bisping back in October when the UFC was still trying to put the fight together and "The Count" told us GSP was the one causing all the problems.

That's when Bisping made the 1-arm offer ... and it's pretty funny.

It's official ... Georges St-Pierre WILL fight Michael Bisping for the 185 pound title!

UFC honcho Dana White just announced a deal was made over a recent dinner in Las Vegas ... and says the fight will go down later in 2017.

White noted that GSP has to go through 3 months of USADA testing before he can fight -- but he's confident Georges will pass and the fight will go down.

It's not even close ... if Conor McGregor fights Floyd Mayweather, Muhammad Ali would've rooted for the IRISHMAN ... so says the champ's ex-wife.

It was blood, sweat and iced coffee for Ronda Rousey on the set of "Blindspot" ... where the UFC legend was decked out in an orange prison jumpsuit for her guest role on the show.

Great at striking faces ... terrible at striking golf balls.

Here's UFC legend Urijah Faber smackin' some balls around with Cody Garbrandt at Topgolf in Vegas ... proving he's not exactly Tiger Woods.

Don't worry ... after WHIFFING his first shot, Faber redeems himself.

Still better than Alex Ovechkin's first shots ... and that guy swings for a living!

UFC star Stephen "Wonderboy" Thompson says he's sick of hearing about a possible Conor vs. Floyd fight ... telling TMZ Sports it seems like a desperate move from Floyd to save the sport of boxing.

Thompson was out in NYC promoting his upcoming rematch with Tyron Woodley at UFC 209 ... when we asked how UFC fighters feel about constantly answering Mayweather questions.

Warren Beatty ain't the first guy to announce the wrong winner during a live TV event -- it also happened to Bruce Buffer at UFC 205 ... and now he's got some advice for the Hollywood legend.

Remember, Buffer incorrectly told Tyron Woodley he was the winner during his UFC 205 matchup versus Stephen Thompson ... and announced the wrong information to a live audience.

When Buffer got the right info (the fight was a majority draw) he collected himself and announced the correction.

So, when Buffer saw Beatty's screwup at the Oscars -- he felt his pain and knew right away it WAS NOT Warren's fault.

Buffer also has some advice for ALL people making announcements on live TV ... so the 2018 Oscar hosts better pay attention.

Canelo Alvarez is coming out swinging at the possibility of a Mayweather vs. McGregor fight -- saying the whole concept is disrespectful to the sport he loves.

Canelo -- who famously fought Mayweather back in 2013 -- says talks of a superfight are nothing more than a "joke."

Conor McGregor has been hitting the boxing gym with an Irish boxing sensation -- who tells TMZ Sports the UFC star is 100% confident the fight with Floyd Mayweather will actually take place.

We spoke with 25-year-old Michael Conlan -- who won an Olympic bronze medal for Ireland in 2012. Conlan says he became friends with McGregor a while back and the two have been tight ever since.

In fact, Conlan says McGregor has agreed to carry the Irish flag when Conlan walks to the ring during his upcoming pro fighting debut on St. Patrick's Day at Madison Square Garden.

In the meantime, both Conlan and Conor have been training together at an L.A. boxing gym -- as recently captured by TheMacLife.com.

We asked Conlan how McGregor's boxing training is going -- one thing's clear ... he's definitely impressed.