UFC

Conor McGregor is explaining why he "lost it" at an MMA fight in Dublin on Friday -- saying the ref had no business trying to throw him out of the cage.

He also offered up a "f**k yous" to all of his critics.

You remember the incident -- Conor illegally scaled the cage at Bellator 187 after his training partner, Charlie Ward, won by knockout ... and EXPLODED on veteran UFC ref Marc Goddard for breaking up the party. He slapped a regulatory official square in the dome too.

After the fight, everyone was asking the same question -- why did Conor go batsh*t insane?

McGregor tweeted (and then deleted) early Monday morning, saying:

"Bloke KO'd on floor bout a minute straight and ref trying to say fight's not over, Conor. That's when I lost it. F**k yous all."

So, what happens next? Will McGregor be disciplined for getting physical with multiple officials?

We've reached out to the UFC to see if they'll take action. Stay tuned ...

Conor McGregor just went NUCLEAR at an MMA event in Dublin ... slapping a regulatory official and pushing veteran UFC referee Marc Goddard for breaking up his post-fight celebration with training partner Charlie Ward.

It all went down after Ward won by 1st-round KO at Bellator 187 -- which prompted McGregor to jump into the cage to show his SBG Ireland teammate some love.

One problem -- Conor wasn't allowed in the cage since he wasn't a licensed cornerman for Charlie ... so Goddard and several fight officials stepped in to interrupt their bro moment.

McGregor was PISSED -- pushing Goddard from behind and getting in his face ... before the officials and BFF Artem Lobov escorted him from the cage.

But Conor wasn't done. He came back, climbed back on top of the cage and straight slapped one of the officials upside the head.

FYI, Goddard ordered McGregor to leave cageside last time Lobov fought in the UFC ... so that's probably what set Conor off.

Georges St-Pierre says a superfight vs. Conor McGregor is possible ... but not until after he fights Robert Whitaker.

Fresh off his victory at UFC 217, GSP joined the guys on the "TMZ Sports" TV show (airs tonight on FS1) and talked about his fighting future.

Earlier this week, Dana White told us he wouldn't rule out a St-Pierre and McGregor superfight -- saying Conor is down to fight anyone.

Now, with GSP saying he's up for it too, it seems it's all about making the money work.

Conor McGregor's chances of fighting in the UFC this year just got exponentially higher ... 'cause is he really gonna let down a ridiculously attractive fan who wants him back inside the Octagon??

We got Octagon girl Brittney Palmer out in L.A. -- and, turns out, she loves Conor just like the rest of us.

Brittney told TMZ Sports she doesn't know when he's gonna come back ... but she hopes it's soon -- "please come back!"

Palmer also told us she's super down for McGregor vs. GSP -- and even said she'd talk to Dana White to try and make it happen.

Bonus: Brittney's a double-threat -- painting original works for BIG money -- and told us all about a huge art show she's putting on at Art Basel.

Greg Hardy's got a message for Dana White on the heels of his 32-second KO debut -- "keep an eye on me" ... "'cause you're gonna want me in the UFC eventually."

"I'm here to prove whatever I need to prove," Hardy told TMZ Sports.

"I'm trying to work on being the best me that I can be -- being the best athlete, being the best complete fighter, being the best person."

Pretty good pitch for the embattled ex-NFL star -- who Dana says is gonna have to conduct himself like a pro in and out of the cage before he gets a UFC opportunity.

Hardy told us he's up for the task -- and already has a timeline set for his next fight!!

There are two ways to read this quick video response from Michael B. Jordan that TMZ Sports shot outside Craig's in L.A. when we asked him about rumors UFC's Sage Northcutt is up for the role of Ivan Drago's son in "Creed 2."

"I don't even know who that is," Michael said.

Maybe he doesn't. Sage isn't a household name (yet). Maybe MBJ was just trying to drive his ridiculously nice car into the L.A. night, probably to visit some beautiful actress and eat fresh grapes.

Or maybe he knows exactly who Sage is and that he's up for the role -- and played the age-old "I don't who that is" game because he wants to give no props to the man whose fictional dad killed his fictional dad.

Maybe MBJ wants the revenge America deserves on Drago's unholy spawn so badly that he can't even begin to come to terms with the all-encompassing rage he feels when the name "Drago" is uttered.

It's probably the first one, honestly, but dear God we wish it was the second.

To hell with you, Drago. #RIPApolloCreed.

Another super fight for Conor McGregor??? Dana White says he won't rule out a throwdown with Georges St. Pierre.

Look, it ain't happening anytime soon ... White says he's got specific opponents in mind for Conor and GSP to fight next before they would meet up in the octagon.

But when it comes to Conor vs. GSP -- "Listen, I'll never say never but [GSP] weighs 185 and Conor weighs 155."

However White says he's convinced Conor would take that fight ... or ANY fight.

But for now, White says ...he's trying to lock up Conor vs. Tony Ferguson for UFC 219 on Dec. 30 -- but Conor's massive asking price seems to be holding up the deal.

For all that trash she talked before the fight, Joanna Jedrzejczyk was humble in defeat ... privately congratulating Rose Namajunas after losing at UFC 217.

"She came up and congratulated me afterwards and said, 'All the best,'" Rose tells TMZ Sports.

Before the fight, the former undefeated strawweight champ told Namajunas she was gonna snatch her soul from her body. Seriously. It was frightening.

But Rose says Joanna was a total pro backstage ... "just humbled and respectful."

So, what's next for "Thug" Rose? Don't expect an immediate rematch ... Namajunas says Joanna might still need some time to "process" everything after that brutal beatdown.

There's some truth to the rumors ... with UFC Hall of Famer Urijah Faber saying he'd consider coming out of retirement to fight T.J. Dillashaw -- but there are some serious caveats.

"First off, the fight for T.J. is Cody [Garbrandt]," Faber tells TMZ Sports ... insisting he doesn't want to "jump the line" and block his good friend from getting a chance to avenge his loss from UFC 217.

But if situation was right ... and the money was right ... 38-year-old Faber says he's all the way down.

And if that fight doesn't happen ... Faber says he'd considering getting back in the Octagon to fight someone else -- but it can't be a nobody.

T.J. Dillashaw says there's NO WAY Cody Garbrandt gets an immediate rematch after their war at UFC 217 -- saying "No Love" has to get in line ... behind Demetrious Johnson!

The UFC bantamweight champ joined the guys on the "TMZ Sports" TV show (airs tonight on FS1) -- and told us there's already movement to make a super-fight with Mighty Mouse.

"Dana (White) loves it," Dillashaw said.

Tyron Woodley just gave TMZ Sports a solid UFC 217 preview, but the bigger news ... he wants the next crack at whoever wins the main event!!!

We got T-Wood outside Madison Square Garden and asked him to weigh in on Saturday night's card ... and he doesn't disappoint. Check it out -- Woodley thinks one fighter is going to absolutely crush it and gives us a prediction on the fight everyone will be talking about.

Oh, and he says he's more than ready to throw down next with the winner of Michael Bisping vs. recently un-retired Georges St-Pierre ... and we're all about that.

UFC honcho Dana White ain't exactly slamming the door shut on Greg Hardy -- telling TMZ Sports there IS a chance the ex-NFL star could fight in the octagon one day ... despite his issues in the past.

Hardy was found guilty of domestic violence by a judge in 2014 -- but the conviction was thrown out when he appealed in 2015 to have the case go in front of a jury ... and his accuser stopped cooperating with prosecutors.

He later signed with the Dallas Cowboys -- but after a less than stellar season, they cut ties and he wasn't able to catch on with another NFL team.

Hardy pivoted to MMA and has been training with American Top Team. His first amateur fight is Nov. 4 -- and he told TMZ Sports his ultimate goal is to become a UFC champ.

So, when we saw Dana out in NYC ... we asked if he would ever consider working with Hardy and he didn't exactly say no.

Daniel Cormier wants ANOTHER crack at Jon Jones -- and he's calling for mercy when it comes to JJ's suspension so he can get another shot at his rival before he's too old.

Cormier is 38 -- and that's why he hopes USADA doesn't hit Jones with the maximum 4-year suspension for testing positive for 'roids at UFC 214.

"I would love for him to get another 1-year suspension -- then we can fight again."

UFC champ Tyron Woodley is taking Conor McGregor to task for using the homophobic F-word 3 times at a recent UFC event ... saying he's sick of everyone giving Conor a pass for repeatedly using offensive language.

"How many passes do we give this dude?" Tyron said on his new show, "The Hollywood Beatdown." "You need to have a bit more of a social conscious when you're saying things."

McGregor has apologized for using the gay slur -- and says he's a supporter of the LGBT community -- but saying "sorry" just ain't cuttin' it with Tyron.

Woodley pointed to Conor's remarks from earlier this year -- when he told Floyd Mayweather to "dance for me, boy" TWICE -- that he felt were racist in nature.

T-Wood also goes after Michael Bisping -- vowing to tear his "UFC Tonight" colleague's head off in the octagon for all the crap he's been talking.

G.O.A.T. recognize G.O.A.T.

Kobe Bryant just praised the hell out of Conor McGregor -- saying the UFC fighter is an absolute "animal" ... who's a "genius" in the octagon.

The Mamba was in NYC to promote his Body Armor sports drink at an event that included UFC stars like Cody Garbrandt, Dana White and Francis Ngannou ... when the topic turned to Conor.

"Conor's an animal, bro," Kobe said ... "I think his personality, I think his temperament, I think his style, on top of the genius nature in which he fights gives him a great opportunity to really propel the league to another level."

"I love everything about Conor."

If Georges St-Pierre beats Michael Bisping, it's gonna be a REALLY boring fight -- which is why rock legend Travis Barker is hoping The Count lights up GSP at UFC 217.

Here's the deal ... the Blink-182 drummer is a huuuuge UFC fan -- loves it -- and while he respects GSP as an athlete, St-Pierre's slow grinding style puts him to sleep.

"I think he's a boring fighter. I think he's always been a boring fighter."

But Barker says he's MOST excited for Garbrandt vs. Dillashaw this weekend -- predicting all sorts of action (plus, he digs Cody's tats).