UFC

Former UFC fighter Dave Herman tells TMZ Sports he's lucky to be alive after a violent encounter with police this weekend ... and says if he was black, he'd "probably be dead."

The video was insane -- showing cops using a taser on the 30-year-old heavyweight MMA expert during a stop in Indiana. Herman gets emotional when he tells us how the incident has affected his family.

The DeKalb County Sheriff's Dept. has previously said Herman was speeding and refused to pull over. They also say Herman was aggressive during the stop. Herman says BS.

Herman also says he's POSITIVE he never kicked an officer during the incident -- though he claims an officer put a knee in his back (and joked that his back may have injured the cop's knee).

Former UFC star David Herman was hit with three felony charges Wednesday afternoon following his arrest in Indiana early Thursday morning ... including a battery charge for allegedly kicking an officer.

Herman was charged with resisting law enforcement, battery against a law enforcement officer and neglect of dependent (because he was speeding with young son in the car) ... all felonies. He also got hit with a misdemeanor resisting law enforcement charge, just for good measure.

During the arrest, Herman allegedly kicked one of the officers in the shin after another officer tased him.

As TMZ Sports previously reported, cops say Herman led them on a three-mile chase and tased him only after he approached them "in an aggressive manner."

Herman's wife, who was in the car at the time, claims he is the real victim in this incident and wants the officers charged with assault.

Former UFC heavyweight fighter Dave Herman was hit with a taser during an arrest in Indiana this week ... and now Dave's wife has released the video she shot during the incident in which she calls out the police.

Cops say Herman had been speeding with no headlights or taillights -- and when they tried to pull him over, he led them on a 3 mile chase before finally stopping at a gas station.

During the stop, cops say Herman "approached Officers in an aggressive manner" -- so they fired the taser to take him into custody.

But Herman's wife Madeleine -- who was in the car at the time with their young son -- tells TMZ Sports she's FURIOUS over the incident and claims her husband is the real victim.

Madeleine says Dave was NOT trying to run from cops when they initially tried to pull him over -- they were merely looking for a well lit place to stop.

As for allegations Dave was being aggressive, Madeleine says that's also BS -- explaining, "Dave, not wanting armed strangers walking up behind the vehicle, especially with our infant son in tow, stepped out of the vehicle and asked them if there was something he could help them with."

Madeleine says cops overreacted and violently took her husband to the ground. He's being charged with several criminal counts including resisting arrest and battery against an officer.

Dave is still in custody -- but she's calling for the officers involved in the arrest to be charged with assault.

BJ Penn slammed his head against a solid wooden bar 3 times in anger ... before the ex-UFC champ went outside and got into a fight this weekend ... bar sources tell TMZ Sports.

We're told ... BJ was a "perfect gentleman" when he arrived to the South Shore Tiki Lounge in Maui on Saturday night -- but became agitated and at one point began banging his head into the bar.

"He was definitely aggravated at something," one source tells us who also says Penn did NOT appear to be drunk.

"He only had one drink. At first he was okay, then he was hitting his head on the bar .... and 20 minutes later he was outside fighting."

As we previously reported, Penn allegedly attacked one of his friends in the parking lot -- and reportedly injured the guy so bad, he was hospitalized for a broken eye socket.

Former UFC champ BJ Penn was arrested in Hawaii this weekend ... after reportedly beating a man so bad in a bar parking lot, the guy was hospitalized for a broken eye socket.

Penn had been boozing at a bar in Maui with a friend when he allegedly began to get aggressive with other bar patrons ... and Penn's buddy tried to step in between and calm the fighter down.

But according to HawaiiNewsNow.com, Penn turned on his pal -- punching him in the face and kneeing him in the forehead.

Penn's friend was so badly injured, he was reportedly taken to a nearby hospital where he was treated for a fractured left eye socket.

According to officials, Penn left the scene ... but was taken into custody at a nearby hotel. He was arrested for 2nd degree assault.

Story developing ...

UFC champ Jon Jones is finally speaking out about his positive cocaine test ... saying he's NOT a cocaine addict ... or even a frequent user ... but admits he made a "really dumb decision."

Jones -- who checked himself into a rehab facility for substance abuse after his UFC 182 victory -- sat down with Fox Sports 1 and said the whole thing was a "really embarrassing situation."

"I think a coward would sit here and try to come up with this elaborate reason ... or try to blame something. I'm not gonna do that," Jones said during the interview set to air Monday night.

"I'm not gonna blame my friends. I'm not gonna blame pressure or stress. I'm not gonna blame anything ... but what I will say is that I messed up."

Jon's mother says the UFC star checked out of the rehab facility after one night -- unclear if he'll address that during the interview as well.

Pre-menstruation = obliteration.

That's according to UFC hottie Paige VanZant who tells TMZ Sports there's a certain time of the month she's even more dangerous in the octagon than usual.

The 20-year-old prodigy was out in NYC and says fighters wanna be angry and aggressive when they get in the ring ... so why not harness the power of Mother Nature??

Check out the clip ... Paige also tells us one of her "musts" when it comes to dating ... and let's put it this way -- you better know how to use your hands.

UFC champ Jon Jones left rehab after one night ... this according to the fighter's mother.

Camille Jones spoke with WBNG in Binghamton, NY -- and said Jon will attend the Colts vs. Patriots game this weekend to watch his two brothers (who are on separate teams) battle it out on the field.

Camille did not explain why Jones made the decision to leave the rehab center so soon -- especially after testing positive for cocaine after his UFC 182 fight against Daniel Cormier.

His mother told WBNG she's glad he got caught in the first place.

"This stopped him in his tracks, this let him know that he may need to change some friends ... because everyone is not for you for the best," Camille said.

"Me and my husband considered [the positive test] a blessing from God that our child was able to be helped and know that he need to stop and know that he needed the assistance to stop before it came to something worse."

According to Camille, the unannounced drug test came the day after Jon was hanging with friends and "did something he shouldn't have done."

Jon Jones just received some well-wishes from a very unlikely place ... Daniel Cormier's trainer -- who tells TMZ Sports they're rooting for the UFC champ to beat his drug problem ... despite the bad blood.

FYI -- Jones and Cormier HATE EACH OTHER'S GUTS ... and trashed each other like crazy before and after their fight at UFC 182 this past weekend.

But Cormier's trainer Javier Mendez tells us ... when it comes to Jones' battle with drugs, it's one fight they actually want him to win.

"The most important thing is his health," Mendez tells us ... "We hope that he gets better soon and gets the help that’s needed."

CM Punk could choose ANY opponent for his UFC debut ... but it almost certainly won't be the Green Power Ranger -- not based on CM's reaction to the guy's name, anyway.

The former WWE champ was in NYC Thursday when he told our photog how training is going for his first bout in the Octagon. His new UFC contract was announced earlier this month.

CM wouldn't name names yet as far as his first opponent -- looks like he's enjoying the speculation. But you gotta see his reaction when we bring up Jason David Frank -- a former Power Ranger who's been calling out Punk. He's clearly not impressed.

Go go ... go to sleep.

Brittney Palmer's fascination with James Dean just paid off -- the UFC ring girl just sold a painting she made of the Hollywood icon for $3,000 ... TMZ Sports has learned.

As we previously reported -- Palmer's career outside the ring began to take off ... with powerful people like Dana White and computer mogul Michael Dell owning some of her work.

Now, we've learned Palmer's latest creation was also snatched up rather quickly -- with an art enthusiast dropping $3k on the piece after seeing it on Instagram.

No word on the identity of the buyer ... but a source close to the situation tell us, "the person is a big fan of Brittney."

Smells like the rivalry between Miesha Tate and Ronda Rousey is about to get even nastier -- with Tate blasting Ronda for her body odor.

Tate -- coming off another UFC victory in September -- was out in L.A. this week when we asked if B.O. was an issue in the world of female fighting.

And that's when Tate went after Rousey ... blasting the UFC champ for offending her olfactory system both in and OUT of the octagon.

FYI -- Rousey has beaten Tate both times they've fought in the UFC.

Didn't think we'd see this one coming ... but Tito Ortiz just fired off some COMPLIMENTS about his bitter rival Dana White -- praising the UFC boss for signing CM Punk.

For the record, Ortiz and White have been feuding for YEARS -- and the two got thiiis close to fighting it out in the ring back in 2007.

But despite the feud, Tito knows a good business decision when he sees it ... and told TMZ Sports that signing former WWE champ CM Punk is a solid move for the UFC.

"They're making money," Ortiz said ... "It's great for them."

The 39-year-old fighter also updated us on his own career -- saying he's finally calling it quits next year ... but there's one thing he wants to accomplish before he retires.

UFC honcho Dana White tells TMZ Sports he's definitely interested in having a conversation with CM Punk about fighting in the octagon ... now that Punk's no longer with the WWE.

White was at an event in NYC to celebrate the new UFC-Reebok partnership when he told us he likes Punk and knows he's a fan of MMA -- and would be open to having a conversation with the 36-year-old about joining the organization.

"I don't know if he can fight or anything like that ," White said ... "but sure, I wouldn't mind talking to CM Punk."

As for rumors about Brock Lesnar wanting to get back into MMA at the end of his contract with the WWE -- White says, "If and when his deal if up with them and he wants to fight, I'm, sure he'll call me."

UFC champ Anthony Pettis is a 3rd degree black belt in taekwondo. Vladimir Putin is a 9th.

So, who would win in a street fight? Don't bet on red.

Pettis -- who's fighting Gilbert Melendez at UFC 181 this weekend -- was out in NYC this week when he told us the 6 degrees of martial arts separation wouldn't matter if push ever came to shove.

For the record, here's how the tale of the tape would read ...

Anthony Pettis:
UFC Lightweight Champion
27-years-old
3rd degree Taekwondo black belt
Height: 5'10"
Weight: 155

Vladimir Putin:
Russian President
62-years-old
9th degree Taekwondo black belt
Height: 5'7"
Weight: Classified

The clip is awesome -- Pettis also tells us he spends time training at the same center as NFL superstar J.J. Watt ... and raves about how the guy CRUSHES weights in the gym.

Anderson Silva knows his limits in the ring ... and those limits are about 6'5, 260 lbs ... telling TMZ Sports that Dwyane "The Rock" Johnson would beat the crap out of the UFC legend if they fought.

Silva was out in L.A. when we asked the man who Dana White called "the greatest mixed martial artist of all time" if his octagon expertise would be enough to take down the freak of nature that is The Rock.

Watch the video -- Anderson wants no part of Mr. Johnson, not hesitating in the least when we drop the question on him.

FYI -- Anderson also (kinda) picks a winner between Mayweather and Pacquiao (like it's ever gonna happen) and tells us who's hotter out of Beyonce and Rihanna.