UFC

This could be very interesting for Vince McMahon ... ex-NFL star Greg Hardy says he'd be down to join his XFL league if the WWE honcho really does bring it back.

Of course, 29-year-old Hardy is currently fighting his way into a pro MMA career (he's already 2-0) -- but tells TMZ Sports he still loves the game of football and would be open to giving it another go.

"If I get paid ... I'd probably be there, man."

Meanwhile, Hardy says he's still VERY focused on climbing the ladder in MMA -- and ultimately has his sights set on fighting in the UFC so he can compete against the best in the world.

Shannon Briggs has finally found his huckleberry, after years of trying to get a big named Heavyweight to fight him, Briggs tells TMZ Sports he's fighting Tyson Fury in 2018 ... for one round.

Fury hasn't fought since he beat Wladimir Klitschko in 2015 and shocked the boxing world, but recently said in an interview he's coming back, and wants to fight Briggs in his return.

We talked to Shannon, who told us he's been in talks with Fury for a little while and expects the fight to happen next year ... and to be really, really short.

"I'm calling it right now, I'm telling you first, round one. I will knock Tyson fury out in one round."

Manny Pacquiao's so set on fighting Conor McGregor, his people have been hitting up their UFC connects to make it happen -- including legendary Octagon announcer Bruce Buffer.

We got Bruce at LAX ... and he told us Team Pac-Man's been hounding him to help broker the deal for the past 6 MONTHS.

"I’ve had some of Manny’s friends call me and say, 'Can you talk to Conor’s management?'"

"I told 'em, 'You guys know who to call -- call the right people.'"

But even though he won't middle-man, Buff told us he seriously thinks the fight could get made if Pacquiao's willing to step inside the cage.

Bruce hinted that Manny's got experience beyond boxing, and McGregor told us he wants an MMA fight over the weekend ... so never say never.

Ever challenge your boss to a fist fight while hopped up on painkillers?

That's exactly what Tyron Woodley did earlier this week ... when he texted Dana White in a post-surgery haze.

No, we're not kidding.

Tyron told us all about it on "The Hollywood Beatdown" -- saying he called out the UFC honcho after a shoulder surgery ... after some "ooey-gooey goodness" got the better of him.

FYI, Woodley told us his surgery was a success ... and you won't believe how fast he's expecting to come back and fight.

Manny Pacquaio's team is publicly shutting down any talks of a Conor McGregor boxing match -- with Pacman's trainer Freddie Roach telling TMZ Sports it just ain't happening.

Freddie told us he's personally spoken to Bob Arum (Manny's promoter) -- who'd have to sign off on the match along with Dana White -- and Bob shot down the rumors.

"I talked to Arum and Arum says it's not true," Roach said outside Craig's in L.A.

Freddie did tell us the 1 guy he'd like to see Pacquiao scrap with ... and also DESTROYED Manny's old rival, Floyd Mayweather, for even considering a UFC fight.

"He's gonna get his ass kicked ... he's a f**kin' old man."

FYI, Conor told us he wants to return to MMA last week.

Cris Cyborg says she's not sweating Holly Holm's famous leg-striking power -- it's Holly who should be worried about Cyborg's fists.

The UFC superstar joined the guys on the "TMZ Sports" TV show (airs tonight on FS1) -- and told us why the former bantamweight champ should be afraid ... very afraid.

Cyborg vs. Holm is the main event at UFC 219 on Dec. 30 in Vegas -- and Cris says she's trying to rally her fans to help out the kids at the local hospitals while she's in town.

Watch the clip and click here to see how you can help in Cyborg's Teddy Bear drive!

UFC legend Chuck Liddell says there ain't a chance Floyd Mayweather steps inside the Octagon -- 'cause any MMA fighter would beat the living hell outta him!!

"C'mon man -- he can't fight in the UFC," Chuck told TMZ Sports.

"Why would he do that? He's just gonna get hurt."

The Iceman, who was out visiting a children's hospital, clearly thinks Floyd wouldn't stand a chance in an all-out scrap ... and told us it'd be over quick if he rematched Conor McGregor.

Floyd Mayweather moving over to MMA just got the thumbs-up from Holly Holm -- who says she could see TBE knucklin' up for the UFC ... and goin' after it with all he's got.

"I'm sure he won't mind putting in the work if he decides to do something with MMA," Holm told the guys on "TMZ Live."

If anyone would know, it'd be Holly -- who won 18 TITLE FIGHTS in boxing before she became a UFC superstar.

But HH -- who's fighting Cris Cyborg at UFC 219 -- ain't saying it's gonna be easy ... in fact, she told us one area where Mayweather's REALLY gotta work if he doesn't wanna get wrecked.

FYI, Floyd shot down fighting for the UFC on Wednesday after Dana White said they were in talks ... but, in the same breath, said the door's always open.

If Floyd Mayweather's serious about stepping inside the Octagon -- there's a UFC champion, not named Conor McGregor, who says he'll (respectfully) kick his ass!

We spoke with T.J. Dillashaw after Dana White said he was "talking to Floyd" about a UFC deal ... and the bantamweight champ threw down the gauntlet on Mayweather.

"Floyd, bring it," T.J. said to TMZ Sports. "Let’s find out what real fighting’s all about."

But as much as Dillashaw would "love" to welcome TBE to MMA ... he's not giving Floyd a chance in hell of surviving.

"Not against me, that's for sure ... he's toast."

Demetrious Johnson thinks Floyd Mayweather would be EASY WORK in the octagon -- telling TMZ Sports he'd obliterate the boxing superstar if the two clashed in the UFC.

After Dana White confirmed he was talking with Floyd about a "UFC deal" ... DJ immediately threw his name in the mix as a possible first opponent.

In fact, Mighty Mouse joined the guys on the "TMZ Sports" TV show (airs weeknights on FS1) and broke down exactly how he'd punish the 40-year-old.

Here's Floyd Mayweather shooting down a potential UFC fight ... while at the same time leaving the door open.

Yeah, we know ... it's confusing -- but the takeaway is that Floyd wants everyone to know he has NOT signed a deal with Dana White.

After White told ESPN he's "talking to Floyd" about a potential MMA deal -- Floyd spoke with FightHype and said, "I'm not doing it."

But in the same breath ... he also bragged about how much money he could make with the UFC and added, "We just don't know what the future holds for Floyd Mayweather."

Remember, Floyd RETIRED before the Conor McGregor boxing match and swore he was done fighting forever ... only to go back on his word to take the fight.

If Floyd Mayweather is serious about taking a UFC fight, he's already got a WORLD CHAMP offering to train him -- Tyron Woodley!

"Let me know when you need me to slide through -- we'll get you trained, get you ready," Tyron said on "The Hollywood Beatdown."

Tyron and Floyd are friends -- and during the show (full ep drops Friday on the TMZ Sports YouTube channel) Woodley says he REALLY hopes Mayweather's first UFC opponent is Conor McGregor.

"Conor is the only option for him," Woodley says ... noting McGregor is "really a stand-up fighter" and doesn't pose as big of a threat as other UFC stars who specialize in wrestling or jiu-jitsu.

Tyron says he's excited for his pal -- and wants to walk him into the Octagon once the ink is dry on the contract!

Make sure to catch Tyron EVERY WEEK on "The Hollywood Beatdown."

The UFC is talking to Floyd Mayweather about a REAL fight in the octagon ... with Dana White saying it's a "realistic possibility."

"We're talking to Floyd about doing a UFC deal," White told ESPN.

"It's real. He was talking about [boxing] Conor McGregor. Was that real? Have you heard Floyd talk about many things that aren't real? He usually tips his hand when he's in the media and then that sh*t ends up happening."

White added, "We're interested in doing something with Floyd. Everything is a realistic possibility. Mayweather vs. McGregor f*cking happened. Anything is possible."

Stay tuned ...

Khabib Nurmagomedov says he's going "The Walking Dead" route to make weight at UFC 219 -- telling TMZ Sports he'll hack off his own leg to hit 155 pounds in 10 days.

Don't worry -- he's kidding ... we think.

"I’m gonna cut my leg ... right or left, I don’t know," Khabib told us out in Century City.

On the real, Nurmagomedov says he's sick of everyone hating on his diet ... after a weight-cutting issue forced him outta his fight with Tony Ferguson back in March.

Speaking of Tony ... Khabib says he could whoop both Ferguson and Conor McGregor IN THE SAME NIGHT ... and he seemed dead serious about that, too.

"I will f**king gut you! I will make you bleed. Pain. Pain. A lot of pain."

That's Tim Kennedy -- UFC and U.S. Army Special Forces vet -- telling all the internet trolls what he's gonna do to them for spoiling "Star Wars: The Last Jedi."

Tim's a HUGE Sci-Fi guy ... but says he still hasn't seen the movie 'cause he's too busy being a badass in the desert.

Kennedy tells TMZ Sports he's pissed 'cause he can't touch social media -- "there's a bunch of a**holes out there trying to ruin it for people like me!"

So, if you spoil the party -- like UFC contender Colby Covington did on Thursday -- Tim says he's literally gonna cut you open and let you bleed out.

Yeah ... the force is strong in this one.

Here's a painful lesson on why you should NEVER get in a street fight -- courtesy of UFC star "Platinum" Mike Perry.

We asked Platinum -- who fights this weekend at UFC on FOX 26 -- to give us the lowdown on if he's ever had to throw down outside the Octagon ... and the story he hit us with was Oscar-worthy.

It all went down on a New Year's Eve in DT Orlando ... when Mike and his GF, "Platinum Princess" Danielle Nickerson, were out celebrating on the streets.

Perry says a random guy was dumb enough to hit on Danielle when they were clearly together ... and fire on Platinum after he told him to step off!

Mike says he fired back with a left hook from hell ... and you can guess how that turned out.

The whole thing's pretty hilarious. Also, kinda terrifying.