UFC

Conor McGregor has been ducking Frankie Edgar for years and never REALLY wanted to fight him at UFC 222 in March ... this according to Frankie's manager, Ali Abdelaziz.

And by the way ... that's putting it mildly.

Ali just WENT OFF on Conor -- comparing him to a prostitute and guaranteeing Frankie would "Beat the sh*t out of him and the entire nation of Ireland."

It's all over Conor's new comments in which the Irish superstar claimed he offered to step in and fight Frankie at UFC 222 on March 3 but the UFC shut it down claiming there wasn't enough time to promote it properly.

Ali says if Conor was serious about fighting Frankie -- he's had PLENTY of time to come to terms on a deal over the years. Instead, Ali says, "He's scared."

Conor McGregor says he's ALREADY reached out to the UFC to fight in the Octagon again -- insisting, "I put my name forward to step in at UFC 222 to face Frankie Edgar when Max Holloway pulled out."

McGregor has seemingly just responded to Dana White's comments to TMZ Sports ... in which White said he didn't know if Conor would ever fight again because he's got sooo much money now.

"I am fighting again. Period," Conor says.

"I am the best at this. I put my name forward to step in at UFC 222 to face Frankie Edgar when Max Holloway pulled out, but I was told there wasn't enough time to generate the money that the UFC would need."

"I was excited about bouncing in last minute and taking out the final featherweight, without all the rest of the stuff that comes with this game. Please respect the insane amount of work outside the fight game that I have put in."

"On top of the fighting. I am here. It is on them to come and get me. Because I am here. Yours sincerely, The Champ Champ."

UFC 222 is scheduled for March 3 in Vegas. Max Holloway pulled out of the main event against Edgar on February 3 after suffering an injury.

Brock Lesnar's tearin' it up as WWE Universal Champion right now, but there's a very real possibility he goes back to the UFC -- so says the guy closest to Brock in WWE.

We asked Lesnar's advocate, Paul Heyman, about his client potentially stepping back inside the Octagon after WrestleMania (when his WWE contract runs up) ... and he told us why the Beast is ready as ever.

"The time away (from UFC) actually makes him better because his body gets a chance to heal," Heyman told TMZ Sports.

"Brock Lesnar's probably the healthiest fighter to enter UFC if he decides to do that."

The timing's pretty interesting -- Dana White recently said he wouldn't be surprised if Brock gives it another shot.

FYI, there were also rumors of Brock wanting to come back to fight Jon Jones ... before Jones' positive steroids test in August.

It's official ... Dana White tells TMZ Sports he's definitely stripping Conor McGregor's lightweight title, so Khabib and Tony Ferguson can fight for the "real" belt.

So, what does that mean for a possible Floyd Mayweather vs. Conor McGregor rematch?

Don't worry ... we talked about that, too.

"The only way a rematch makes sense in that fight is in the UFC," White says. He also confirms the two sides are talking.

White says he doesn't think Floyd needs the money -- but if he's serious about an MMA fight against one of the baddest combat sports athletes on the planet ... "he absolutely should be worried about his skills."

White insists there is NO deal done right now -- but says, "Anything is possible."

As for Khabib Nurmagomedov and Tony Ferguson ... Dana says Conor understands that he must strip the belt so the two guys can fight for the title.

He hopes Conor returns to the octagon in August or Sept. to fight the winner of that match.

Chuck Liddell says he's got legit evidence his health ain't an issue, so if Tito Ortiz wants it like he claims, he can absolutely get it!!

The Iceman fired back at Ortiz when we got him out in Calabasas, telling TMZ Sports he'd be "shocked" if UFC doctors didn't clear him for an Octagon return ... to smash Tito for the 3rd time in his career.

Chuck's proof -- he recently set out to scale a 20,000-FOOT mountain for a YouTube Red special ... and the 48-year-old says their docs gave him a clean bill of health for the grueling climb.

Guessing their medical tests are a little different ... but Chuck told us the UFC's cleared fighters in way worse shape than him, anyway.

So, Liddell says he's praying Tito puts pen to paper ... but explains why he has real doubts Ortiz will do it.

UFC legend Anderson Silva is still adamant he never knowingly used steroids -- but says if the positive test results are accurate, the only explanation is "contaminated supplements."

Silva tested positive for two banned substances in a U.S. Anti-Doping Agency drug test conducted back in October. Silva is now facing a maximum 4-year suspension from fighting.

But, "The Spider" tells TMZ Sports he would NEVER knowingly juice up -- saying it would be a "stupid" thing to do at the tail end of his career.

His explanation -- "Maybe the supplements I'm using are contaminated."

Silva says his lawyers are still fighting to clear his name -- and he's confident he'll fight again.

In fact, he's still focused on getting a fight with boxing legend Roy Jones Jr.

And get this ... if 42-year-old Silva IS banned for 4 years -- he does NOT plan on retiring ... insisting he'll still take a fight even in his late 40s because he loves the sport so much.

Derrick Lewis is a VERY happy man after getting the W at UFC Fight Night in Austin -- 'cause he won ... but mostly 'cause his wife says she's ending his booty ban!!

The bad news -- we talked to Derrick and April the day after the fight ... and they told us he's too injured to get it on.

"The ban is over. I've been trying to get him all day, but he's tired," April told TMZ Sports.

"I don't got it in me, man -- I'm hurtin' ... I can't put in a half-assed performance, lay there like a starfish," Derrick added.

Lewis ain't lying -- showing us a serious injury he sustained early on vs. Marcin Tybura. It looks bad.

But, the Black Beast says he wants another fight soon ... and he's callin' out the scariest dude in the heavyweight division!

Tito Ortiz is doubling down on his Chuck Liddell call-out ... telling TMZ Sports straight-up that he's down for a 3rd fight with the Iceman!

"I don't need to fight, but if Chuck needs to ... I'll be a good friend like he was once and give him a payday," Ortiz said ... adding that ONLY Chuck could pull him outta retirement.

The bad news -- Tito says he proposed Ortiz vs. Liddell 3 to a UFC matchmaker on New Year's ... and got shot down HARD 'cause they're worried about Chuck's health.

"He kinda looked at me and laughed and said, 'Chuck couldn't fight again! He's been knocked out unconscious 5 times! I guarantee you the doctor won't give him a license."

But that ain't stoppin' Chuck -- who tells us he's still training his ass off.

Here's UFC killer Cat Zingano SLAYING a black spaghetti string bikini -- proving she's coming back to the cage jacked and ready to rock at UFC 222.

"Strong. Motivated. Focused. Mean. Ready," Zingano captioned the photo ... a selfie with inspirational messages scribbled across her mirror.

But this ain't just any mirror selfie -- it speaks volumes for Cat, a single mom who lost her husband to suicide in 2014. Since then, she's struggled with staying in shape and finding the motivation to fight.

Now, after nearly 20 months off, it's pretty clear she's ready to get after it again.

Moment of honesty from Floyd Mayweather?

The leader of The Money Team was leaving the NBA All-Star Game in L.A. surrounded by TMT crew when we asked about Conor McGregor's new statement ... that Floyd has ended MMA fight negotiations.

Floyd told us straight-up, "I don't know" -- weird considering he's been on a P.R. offensive to drive up interest in a potential Conor vs. Floyd UFC fight. Remember the MMA cage videos he's made?

Plus, Floyd's father, Floyd Mayweather Sr., recently said he believes Floyd will take an MMA fight.

How big of an MMA fan is Cristiano Ronaldo? 

So massive, that Real Madrid brought UFC star Khabib Nurmagomedov to meet him in Spain so the 2 could bro down ... this according to Khabib himself.

"He know everything about the UFC," Nurmagomedov told TMZ Sports outside Jay Glazer's Unbreakable Performance Center in Hollywood.

FYI, the meet-up went down at Real's training center in Madrid ... where the two Euro-sport mega-stars talked fighting and exchanged gifts (Khabib got a signed ball and jersey).

If this feels familiar, it's probably 'cause Conor McGregor -- Khabib's arch-nemesis -- also kicked it with Cristiano. Ronaldo visited Conor before his first Nate Diaz fight ... facing off with McGregor at his private gym in Vegas.

No way of knowing which fighter Cristiano likes more -- Ali and Khabib claim it's Khabib, of course -- but Ronaldo did look pretty pumped wearing Khabib's signature papakha hat.

Jeremy Stephens loves Chuck Liddell -- saying he's an MMA legend and a guy he looked up to when he was a young buck in the UFC.

But when it comes to the Iceman's desire to return to the cage ... Jeremy's begging him to reconsider.

"His time has come and gone," Jeremy told TMZ Sports. "Stay retired, Chuck."

Stephens says the fight game ain't like other professions ... and when it's clear you're done, you should stay done.

FYI, Chuck's 48, hasn't fought in 8 YEARS and lost 5 outta his last 6 UFC fights -- 4 of 'em by KO. But Liddell told us he's still down to scrap if the right offer comes along.

Bonus: Wanna know how Jeremy's quest to bang Conor McGregor's mom is going?

UFC star Sage Northcutt's using his "Creed 2" snub as the ultimate motivation to kick-start a massively successful acting career ... telling TMZ Sports he's gunning to land lead movie roles!!

ICYMI -- Sage campaigned on social media to play Ivan Drago's son in the next installment of the Stallone/Michael B. Jordan flick. He didn't get the role, though ... and now he's out for revenge.

Northcutt says he's gonna put in the same amount of effort he's put into all his interests ... and he's already been doing acting lessons with coaches via FaceTime!!

Not only does Sage say he wants to be in movies ... but he wants to land a lead role in a project.

Ronda Rousey is unfit to join the elite Dora Milaje guard and protect King T'Challa from all enemies, because, according to one of the stars of "Black Panther," ONLY WINNERS ARE ALLOWED.

FYI -- the Dora Milaje is an all-female squad of ass-kickers who are sworn to protect the king (Black Panther) -- and basically beat the hell out of anyone he wants.

We talked to Janeshia Adams-Ginyard at LAX -- she plays a member of the Dora Milaje in the movie -- and asked her to put together her real-life version of the fighting force.

We got some usual suspects like Cyborg and Laila Ali, but when we asked about Ronda, the panther claws came out, and Ginyard, who's a pro wrestler and fighter herself veto'd Rowdy.

It's cold out there in Wakanda.

UFC fan favorite Derrick Lewis says he hasn't banged for WEEKS ... and it's all because of Ronda Rousey.

You might remember -- Derrick spoke with TMZ Sports at the end of January ... and when we asked him about Ronda, he told us he was still hot for her.

Yeah ... his wife didn't like that.

"She's mad. She ain't gave me ass ever since I mentioned her again in the last interview."

The good news -- the Black Beast has a plan to win her back at UFC Fight Night Austin this weekend!!

"I have to get this win so I can buy her something real nice, and hopefully I can get some ass next week."

Real talk -- Derrick told us he's made 1 major improvement since he lost to Mark Hunt ... and we (and all of mankind) will be rooting for him.

Conor McGregor hasn't stepped inside the Octagon in over 15 MONTHS ... and UFC star Khabib Nurmagomedov says that's proof he ain't fighting EVER again.

At least, not in MMA.

"I don’t think he gonna come back," Khabib told TMZ Sports outside Jay Glazer's MMA gym in Hollywood.

"When is Conor compete last time in MMA? Long time. He's boxing guy."

Khabib says McGregor's team is focused on a rematch with Floyd Mayweather ... instead of a real fight against him or Tony Ferguson -- who he's facing at UFC 223 in April.

Khabib also told us his contract for the Ferguson scrap explicitly states they're fighting for the "real belt" -- which means the UFC is "100%" stripping Conor of his lightweight title.

FYI, Dana White still hasn't made an official decision on Conor's championship status or his future with the UFC.

Stay tuned ...