UFC

Anderson Silva thinks Khabib Nurmagomedov is the "new tough guy" in MMA -- and could become the best fighter in the entire UFC.

At least, that's what we think he said.

The Spider was hanging at The Grove in L.A. when we brought up Khabib -- and asked what he thought of the Khabib's violent rise up the ranks.

"Khabib is great, he's amazing!"

There was a lot of overall praise for Khabib ... including this: "I believe Khabib come the best fight in the sport."

Obviously, Silva is from Brazil and English isn't his first language -- so, some of the things he says are a little more tough to understand than others.

We think he meant, "I believe Khabib can become the best fighter in the sport."

Either way, Silva's a fan -- and really wants to see him fight Conor McGregor.

Attention world class fighters who want to punish regular guys for disrespect -- but don't wanna go to jail ... former boxing champ Andre Berto has a work-around for your frustrations.

Berto was leaving Mastro's in Bev Hills when we told him about Marlon Wayans saying he witnessed UFC star Nate Diaz beat up a regular homeboy who had gotten a little out of control.

We then asked Berto how he deals with those types, being that he's a fighter and legally can't go crazy on an average Joe ... and it turns out Berto has a whole strategy.

"You can slap them. As long as it's not closed fist. I mean, I don't know about MMA but with boxing, as long as it's not closed fist, I'd smack the sh*t out of them."

Here's the thing ... we spoke with a prosecutor and asked if Berto's logic was legally sound. The answer -- "No."

Tyron Woodley told Van Lathan he was proud of the way he handled himself during the TMZ confrontation with Kanye West ... but he needs to be prepared in case they ever have to fight.

The UFC champ had been blowing us up to find out what went down at the TMZ office that day when the cameras weren't rolling ... so we let him ask away on "The Hollywood Beatdown."

And that's when he gave Van a quick lesson on how to fight your favorite rapper.

There's a lot more ... Tyron also weighs in on the Nick Diaz nightclub fight and daps up Dwyane Wade for cutting a $20,000 check to Waffle House hero James Shaw Jr.

Miesha Tate did NOT like Ronda Rousey's comments about how it's a "privilege" to hear her speak ... saying that whole concept is "asinine" and "selfish."

Rousey made the comments during a "Mile 22" media event last month -- saying she's scaled back her media presence because "I believe hearing me speak is a privilege, and it’s a privilege that’s been abused."

Enter Tate ... her longtime MMA rival who now hosts "MMA Tonight" on SiriusXM -- and she went off on the UFC legend.

"This is asinine," Tate said ... "I think this is not the kind of attitude you should have when you're someone who's in a position of Ronda."

Tate says Rousey owes it to her fans to talk to the media -- and to call it a privilege is a "slap in the face" to the people who look up to her.

UFC star Paige VanZant says her USO military tour wasn't just laughs and choking exhibitions ... one of the bases she visited was attacked while she was there!

"We got shot at," Paige said on the "TMZ Sports" TV show (airs weeknights on FS1) ... "One of the bases we were at got shot at!"

"We all had to like duck and hide under the table until it was all clear ... until they could deflect the fire coming into the base."

Unclear which U.S. military base took the fire -- but Paige says the attack went down last month, while she and Max Holloway were visiting troops in several countries ... including Japan and Afghanistan.

"It was really scary," Paige said ... "but it was awesome and it was worth it because I got to see what our troops go through every single day."

Hi kids. Do you like violence?

If the answer is "Yes," you're probably a fan of NFL-players-turned-MMA fighters -- because Nick Diaz says they tend to have the most entertaining [aka violent] fights.

We spotted Nick leaving Warwick nightclub in West Hollywood when we asked how he felt about Greg Hardy's upcoming UFC debut.

"Football players, they actually do the best in MMA," Diaz said.

Diaz explained how the sport attracts a lot of wrestlers -- but they tend to be one dimensional and develop bad habits. Also, most people want to see traditional martial arts -- packed with striking.

The takeaway ... ex-football players have a tendency to wanna bang more -- leading to more entertaining fights.

Greg Hardy has a message to UFC star Derrick Lewis who recently said he'd LOVE to beat the hell out of the ex-NFL player -- careful what you wish for.

Hardy is gearing up for his first fight in the UFC Contender Series -- where he'll battle for a chance to win a real UFC contract.

Hardy says he's incredibly grateful for the chance, and promises to show Dana White he's a good person and worth the risk.

"I'm not trash or something to get scrapped aside,"Hardy says.

Hardy's past is what set off "The Black Beast" in the first place -- Lewis previously told TMZ Sports he believes Hardy is a "wife beater" and wants to teach him a painful lesson of his own.

As we've previously reported, Hardy was arrested for domestic violence back in 2014 and was initially convicted -- but he appealed and the conviction was overturned.

If Charles Barkley and Draymond Green actually do come to blows ... DRAYMOND WOULD GET ROCKED -- so says UFC fighter Kelvin Gastelum!!

You know the backstory ... Charles said he wants to punch Draymond in the face. Draymond told Charles to bring it on.

So, who wins if these two actually scrap? We asked a guy who fights for a living.

"I got Charles in that," Kelvin said ... "I got experience and age in that one."

KG then dropped some "Rocky" wisdom -- "Every champion has one great fight left in him. And Charles might have it in him. He's a big dude!"

Charles has since apologized ... but c'mon -- these dudes wanna fight!!!

Meantime, Gastelum is prepping for a scrap of his own -- dude takes on Ronaldo Souza at UFC 224 next weekend in Brazil!

Yes, this is REAL!!!!!

UFC superstar Paige VanZant was giving a rear naked choke demonstration to U.S. troops during a USO event with Max Holloway ... when she actually CHOKED OUT THE DUDE UNCONSCIOUS!!!

VanZant had selected a volunteer who agreed to let Paige apply the choke in front of a crowd of very excited soldiers.

But, just a few seconds after she began to squeeze, the soldier's lights went out -- and when Paige released the hold, he collapsed to the floor.

John Gotti Jr. -- a guy known as one of the toughest guys ever -- says there's actually one person in the family even tougher than him ... his MMA fighter son, John III.

If you don't know who John Gotti Jr. is then we're assuming you don't know who John Gotti Sr. was ... and to be honest, we're not sure if we can tell you (google it, and let them be the rat).

John Gotti III is an MMA fighter whose first pro bout is May 4 at a Classic Entertainment & Sports show in New York -- and at a recent workout at Powerhouse Gym in NYC said he's got a clear dream opponent.

"Who wouldn't wanna fight Conor McGregor?"

John Jr. was on hand for the workout and said it's actually tough to watch his kid get in there and bang -- but was quick to give it up to his son, saying he and other MMA fighters are the "real" tough guys.

"I have an immense amount of respect for anyone who climbs into that cage, those are the tough guys. Because those are the guys that gotta get in there in front of all these people and inflict harm, and be harmed."

Did you google it? Yeah, told you, now keep your mouth shut.

And now ... "Street Fighting Stories with Marlon Wayans!"

This time, Marlon is telling us all about the time someone picked a fight with UFC star Nick Diaz -- and it ended with VIOLENCE!

Marlon was leaving Catch in West Hollywood over the weekend -- where Nick Diaz had also been hanging out -- and it reminded Marlon about the one dumbass who tried to fight the Diaz Brothers in front of him.

"I said 'Brah, you f***ing with the wrong dude.' He goes 'F*** that bro. You don't know me. I'm gonna f*** [him up].'"

Marlon says he TRIED to warn the wannabe tough guy ... to no avail.

"Nick grabbed his ass ... Pop! Pop! Pop! Three elbows. Pop! Pop! Two knees. Fight was over. Blood everywhere."

Matt Serra says his SHOCKING TKO of Georges St-Pierre at UFC 69 in '07 was the real-life version of a 'Rocky' movie -- ONLY BETTER ... 'cause he knocked GSP's ass out!

Serra -- who's gonna be inducted in the UFC Hall of Fame in July -- talked to TMZ Sports about his iconic win ... one most UFC fans consider the most stunning upset in the history of the sport.

In case you forgot ... Serra -- a heavy underdog -- unleashed a fury of punches on the then-welterweight champ ... forcing "Big" John McCarthy to stop the beating in the 1st round.

"I've always said that I really, truly lived my 'Rocky' movie with that fight." Serra told us.

Dana White says the UFC will not mete out punishment for Conor McGregor's bus attack until AFTER the New York City judge issues a ruling ... which means it could take a while.

McGregor isn't due back in court until June 14 -- and Dana tells TMZ Sports he's very interested in how the law treats the Irish superstar.

McGregor is reportedly facing up to 7 years in prison for the April 5 attack in which he threw a dolly at a UFC bus, shattering glass and injuring several UFC fighters.

"He's gotta be punished by the law first," White says ... "Let's see what happens in New York."

As for Conor's fighting future ... White says if he does ever fight Khabib Nurmagomedov, it will NOT go down in Russia.

"If you do a fight that big, you gotta do it in Vegas."

"Khabib will fight in Russia at some point, but it wont be that fight. It's too big. Ya gotta do it in Vegas."

Ali, Marciano, Tyson ... when it comes to great runs in boxing, Floyd Mayweather beat 'em all -- so says Dave Chappelle.

FYI, Dave is a HUGE boxing fan -- and has attended a bunch of Floyd's fights in person.

So, when we saw the comedy legend out in L.A., we had to ask about Mayweather -- and if he supports Floyd possibly jumping into the Octagon.

"I think Floyd had a great record and the greatest run in the history of boxing," Chappelle said ... "I don't know, whatever makes him happy, but I think he did his thing."

Floyd's run was legendary ... he was a champ in 5 different weight classes and made more money than any other athlete on the face of the planet.

Also, his fights have generated more money in PPV sales than any other fighter in history.

Tyron Woodley is begging Kanye West to STOP supporting Donald Trump ... saying his pro-POTUS tweets are "a poor way of getting attention."

The UFC champ went off on Ye on "The Hollywood Beatdown" -- suggesting Kanye is diabolically using the controversy to drum up interest in his albums.

Woodley also weighs in on rumors Kanye will run for office one day ... telling the rapper the only way he should be running is if he's on a treadmill!

Woodley also weighs in on Greg Hardy getting a shot in the UFC and talks about Odell Beckham's SUV pulling workout!

Ronda Rousey believes it is a privilege to hear her speak ... and she means it.

The UFC legend was promoting her movie "Mile 22" when she was asked why she's dialed back her interactions with reporters ... something she didn't used to do when her UFC career was on the rise.

"We live in an age of trial by Twitter,” Rousey said ... "What is really gained by stating opinion on anything? It whittles people down. It gets cut and pasted 10 times and it’s in a headline."

"Why should I talk? I believe hearing me speak is a privilege, and it’s a privilege that’s been abused, so why not revoke it from everyone?"

"I don’t believe public criticism beating you down is the right thing to do.”

Rousey also offered an explanation for why her 2 final UFC losses were so hard for her to handle publicly.