UFC

The UFC's most violent newcomer Justin Gaethje says he KNOWS a superfight with Conor McGregor is coming ... and tells TMZ Sports he'll beat the Irishman or die trying.

The undefeated Gaethje made a helluva statement in his UFC debut last week -- stopping Michael Johnson in one of the most brutal/awesome fights ever.

After the brawl, Gaethje called out Tony Ferguson -- and if he can get through Tony, it seems Conor McGregor could be waiting for him on the other side.

Gaethje told the guys on the TMZ Sports TV show (airs tonight on FS1) -- "That's what I'm here for ... don't worry guys, you'll get to see it."

You gotta listen to Gaethje explain his fight mentality -- dude's no joke.

Joanna Jedrzejczyk says she was so serious about stepping in for Amanda Nunes and fighting Valentina Shevchenko this weekend, she went to the gym on Saturday to get her body ready for the fight.

Joanna -- who Dana White described as a straight-up "gangster" -- explained the whole thing to TMZ Sports ... telling us she "really believed it was going to happen."

As we previously reported, Nunes bowed out of the UFC 213 fight on Saturday -- and Joanna offered to take her place ... despite the fact the fight was happening at 135 pounds and Joanna typically fights at 115.

Nate Diaz is firing shots at Conor McGregor and Dana White -- mocking the UFC duo on social media while proclaiming HIMSELF the real champ.

"There's 1 boss here," Diaz wrote under a picture of him busting out the Stockton Slap on both guys.

That's not all ... Nate also ripped into the photo Conor and Dana took together on Sunday after landing in L.A. for their Mayweather fight media tour.

"Little bitches," Diaz wrote ... "Got your ass beat. You lost bitch. Im the champ..."

Diaz hasn't stepped inside the Octagon since losing to McGregor in their rematch at UFC 202 back in August 2016.

White has told TMZ Sports he TRIED to make deals with Nate and his bro, Nick Diaz, to book them in other events ... but they flat-out refused every offer the UFC made.

Neither Dana nor Conor have responded to Diaz's comments -- yet -- but with the Mayweather media tour launching Tuesday, you can bet they'll have some thoughts on this dude.

UFC star Max Holloway is calling for a tag team match -- a 2-on-1 meg-brawl with Cub Swanson and Frankie Edgar ... and let's be honest, THAT SOUNDS AWESOME!!!

TMZ Sports spoke with Holloway about the next man on his hit list -- and he told us he's ready to fight both dudes ... even if it's at the same time.

Yeah, we know it ain't gonna happen -- but we can dream, right?

Amanda Nunes pulled out of her UFC 213 fight because she was dealing with a chronic condition that didn't allow her to breathe properly ... according to the brawler herself.

Amanda posted a statement Sunday explaining her sudden withdrawal from her main event fight against Valentina Shevchenko, saying she suffers from chronic sinusitis.

She goes on to explain that she's fought with the condition before, but couldn't soldier on this time because she felt off balance and couldn't breathe at the official weigh-in. She also says UFC docs cleared her based on blood and dehydration tests ... but a CT scan later found mucus build-up in her sinuses.

As we reported ... Amanda pulled out of UFC 213 last minute Saturday, only hours before her title match. She told UFC officials she did not feel well enough to step in the Octagon.

Michael Bisping says he knows of a 16-year-old high school phenom who could destroy Floyd Mayweather AND Conor McGregor in a fight ... and they happen to share the same last name!!

We spoke to the UFC middleweight champ about the super fight ... and while Bisping says he'd be too big of a mismatch to take on Floyd or Conor ... he guarantees his son, Callum, could do the job and "beat the f**k outta the pair of 'em."

BTW -- Callum is already a stud in his own right ... having won the silver medal at the SJJIF world jiu-jitsu championships last year. He also won top sophomore on his high school wrestling team.

Bisping explains that Floyd and Conor are both amazing fighters ... but their size differences would be too much of an advantage for his offspring.

UFC lightweight Michael Johnson has a message for the UFC -- vacate Conor McGregor's belt already!!

"Who knows when he's gonna come back?" Johnson told TMZ Sports. "As I look at the division, I don't see a champion right now."

FYI -- McGregor hasn't defended his 155-pound title since winning it way back in November. Clearly, Johnson's not convinced Conor will return to the octagon after making BANK boxing Mayweather.

As for Johnson ... he's fighting an undefeated Justin Gaethje in the main event of Friday night's "The Ultimate Fighter" finale -- looking to move one step closer to Conor's gold with a W.

Gaethje's a scary dude -- seriously, go watch his highlights -- but MJ says he's shook ... and promises to wreck the UFC newcomer for talkin' smack.

Amanda Nunes once told us there was a 200% chance she'd beat Ronda Rousey.

Now, she's DOUBLING that number when it comes to beating Valentina Shevchenko at UFC 213 on Saturday.

TMZ Sports spoke with the UFC women's bantamweight champ -- who guaranteed a 2nd victory over Shevchenko in their highly anticipated rematch.

The two previously battled it out at UFC 196 back in March 2016 -- a fight Nunes won by unanimous decision. Shevchenko says she's out for revenge. Nunes has other plans.

So, what's next if Nunes wins? Hopefully, a superfight with Cris "Cyborg" Justino. We asked her about that too.

No Vegas. No wineries. Ronda Rousey tells TMZ Sports her bachelorette party is gonna be way more kick-ass -- think road trip on steroids!

The UFC legend is gearing up for her big wedding with UFC fighter Travis Browne -- so, we had to ask how they're planning on blowing off steam before the big day ... and it ain't nightclubs and rose'.

If the sight of blood makes you sick ... it's probably too late.

Here's UFC star Khabib Nurmagomedov bleeding more than he ever has in a cage ... giving up his back to the medieval practice of wet cupping (aka "Hijama").

FYI, cupping's a form of Eastern medicine that's meant to detoxify blood ... but it's rare you see a celeb messing with Hijama -- which involves making actual incisions.

It's not the most visually appealing process, but Khabib -- a practicing Muslim -- says it's the medicine of the prophet Muhammad (according to the Google translation of his Instagram caption).

Ronda Rousey says some "little punks" with a death wish broke into her home a few months ago and jacked everything from guns to Olympic rings and jewelry ... but her fiance tracked down the perps.

UFC fighter Sam Alvey is usually the one bringing the pain on the mat ... but he had the tables turned on him when he got choked out by a U.S. soldier in Iraq.

How did Nick Diaz respond Thursday after getting provisionally suspended by the UFC's drug-testing organization???

HE SMOKED WEEEEEEEEEED, SON!

Diaz fired up a fat joint with some friends in Vegas and didn't seem to have a care in the world after the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) announced Nick accumulated 3 whereabouts failures over the last 12 months.

In other words, when USADA comes calling, you have to check in -- and Diaz didn't. Three times.

No word yet on how long the ban's gonna last ... but it's not lookin' good for Diaz -- who was suspended 18 months after a third failed drug test in 2015 (all for weed).

Diaz has 14 days to contest the violation ... if he wants to.

The last time we spoke with Dana White, he didn't seem too confident that either Diaz brother would ever fight again.

UFC rising star Robert Whittaker is hungry to fight the best, and Michael Bisping AIN'T IT -- even though he's the champ in their division.

The way Whittaker sees it, Bisping's fragile ass hasn't done much of anything since winning the middleweight belt last year ... so he and Yoel Romero are fighting to see who's really #1 at UFC 213.

"I want to fight the top of the food chain," Bobby Knuckles told TMZ Sports. "Bisping's out ... he hasn't fought a dude in the top 10 in a long time."

FYI: Bisping's only title defense was against 46-year-old Dan Henderson.

UFC badass Valentina Shevchenko is down to rumble with Ronda Rousey ... but don't get it twisted -- she's gotta put a beatdown on Amanda Nunes first.

Shevchenko told TMZ Sports the champ is getting SLEPT when they do the dance at UFC 213 ... Valentina says she's been training her ass off to avenge the L Nunes hung on her at UFC 196 -- and the new version of herself is too damn dangerous.

And once it's night-night for Amanda, Ronda can get hers -- if she wants it. Shev says that's up to her.

FYI, Rousey's kinda busy right now ... crushing obstacle courses on "Battle of the Network Stars."

Conor McGregor is gonna be PISSSSSED when he finds out how much cash Floyd Mayweather will make from their fight ... at least that's what Floyd's telling people.

One of those people is UFC champ Tyron Woodley -- who kicked it with Floyd at the Maxim 100 party in L.A. over the weekend.

In fact, Floyd made a video with Tyron calling him "the best UFC fighter" -- a compliment to Tyron and an obvious diss to McGregor.

Tyron co-hosted the "TMZ Sports" TV show (airs weeknights on FS1) and said Floyd was super cool during their hangout -- and even offered to give him some private fighting and business lessons.

Mayweather also mentioned McGregor ... telling Tyron, "Conor's gonna be pissed when he sees how much money I'm making."