UFC

Got a gambling problem? Wanna make a few bucks wagering on UFC?

Well, here's UFC Hall of Famer Urijah Faber spelling out why he thinks Conor McGregor will walk away with the W if/when he faces Khabib Nurmagomedov in October.

Backstory ... Faber accurately predicted Nate Diaz to beat Conor when they fought for the first time back in March 2016.

In fact, Urijah says he ALMOST fought Conor at UFC 196 -- but McGregor chose to take on Diaz at UFC 196 instead.

Demetrious Johnson wants to fight the winner of this weekend's scrap between Cody Garbrandt and T.J. Dillashaw ... as long as the UFC ponies up a helluva lot of cash.

We asked DJ -- who's fighting in the co-main event at UFC 227 this Saturday in L.A. -- whether he'd be down to battle T.J. or Cody ... should he take home his 14th straight win in the Octagon this weekend.

"Obviously, if the money's right. I've always had an interest in it. If the money's right, then we'll make it happen."

That's music to fight fans' ears ... who have long wanted to see Demetrious -- who has dominated the flyweight division (125 lbs.) -- be part of a superfight against Cody or T.J.

DJ knows that's what fans want ... but dropped an obscure analogy using the movie "Spawn" to dampen expectations that it'll actually go down.

"Sh*t, hell, I wanted a 'Spawn 2' with f**king Michael Jai White, but the box office didn't do so well. So, I didn't get a 'Spawn 2.'"

Khabib Nurmagomedov says Conor McGregor ain't worthy of stepping inside the Octagon with him ... but would love the opportunity to kick his ass ... and get paid for it.

TMZ Sports talked to Khabib in NYC on Thursday ... and when we asked him for an update on the super fight ... he unloaded on Conor.

"I'm the undefeated, undisputed UFC lightweight champion. I no need him. He need me. His last 4 fight is like 2 and 2. He don't fight 2 years. He don't deserve this title shot."

Still ... don't get it twisted, Khabib says he want this fight.

Colby Covington promised he'd make it out to see Donald Trump "unlike the Filth-a-delphia Eagles" after winning his championship fight last month ... and he finally made good on that on Wednesday.

"Like Donald Trump always says: Promises made. Promises kept," Covington said of the visit.

"Pleasure to finally meet you Mr. President. Thank you for always putting America first!"

Remember ... the UFC superstar beat up on Rafael dos Anjos at UFC 225 -- and took a shot at the NFL's Super Bowl champs while promising a White House visit afterward.

"I told everybody I was going to make the welterweight division great again, and now I’m going to celebrate how a real American should celebrate winning a world a title," Covington said.

"And that’s going to the White House to see Mr. Donald Trump and put this on his desk, unlike the Filth-a-delphia Eagles disrespecting our flag and kneeling for the national anthem.”

If Conor McGregor ever wants to make the jump to the squared circle, he'll have Ronda Rousey to thank ... so says Sheamus, who tells us Rowdy paved the way for MMA stars in WWE.

TMZ Sports spoke with the Irish superstar about Ronda's transition into pro wrestling ... and Sheamus says he wouldn't be surprised if more UFC fighters follow her lead.

"I think anything is possible now with Ronda in the WWE ... Ronda's killing it, so the door's open for anybody."

BTW -- Conor and Sheamus had a huge Twitter feud back in 2014 after the Notorious claimed he would "whoop his ass" in a fight.

Canelo Alvarez and Gennady Golvkin had real beef when they came together to shoot a promo for their upcoming fight ... sources tell TMZ Sports there was "real hatred" and real trash talk on the set.

The two had to be in the same room at the same time for the promo shoot in mid-July -- and even had to throw fake punches at each other. You can see in the video ... the mood on set was tense.

Remember, getting the deal done for this fight was not easy -- the sides went to war over how to split the profits ... with Canelo and his promoter, Oscar De La Hoya, threatening to walk several times.

Conor McGregor was booked to appear on an episode of "Vikings" this year -- but canceled just hours before he was supposed to shoot his scene ... this according to one of the stars of the show.

We spoke with Katheryn Winnick -- who plays Lagertha on the show -- and she told us she personally wrote a role for the UFC star in an episode that she was directing.

But, when McGregor canceled right before the shoot -- Winnick says she was forced to scramble and change the entire scene.

Winnick has been an actor on the show since day 1 -- but only started directing episodes in 2018 ... so the incident must have occurred this year.

Winnick says she's not bitter -- in fact, she's even cracking jokes about the experience -- but you can bet she would have much rather had him show up and do the scene.

As for an apology -- Winnick says she never got one ... but she's still waiting!

With Ronda Rousey's movie career taking off, the UFC legend says she's aiming high -- and wants a very specific role if Quentin Tarantino goes forward with a 3rd installment of "Kill Bill."

We got Rousey in NYC where she was promoting her new flick "Mile 22" -- where she stars alongside Mark Wahlberg and John Malkovich. Ronda thinks the movie has a real shot to win an Oscar.

But, moving forward, Rousey says she REALLY wants to play a "grown-up B.B. in 'Kill Bill 3.'"

Of course, B.B. was Beatrix Kiddo's (Uma Thurman) daughter in the original movies.

Tarantino has talked about possibly making a 3rd 'K.B.' flick -- but there's nothing in the works.

T.J. Dillashaw ain't the only one that's gonna get it from Cody Garbrandt Saturday night ... Cody's wife better watch out too, 'cause he's been holding out on the lovin' and says ... after the fight, IT'S TIME!!!

Garbrandt and Dillashaw have a date at UFC 227 in Staples Center this weekend, and it can't come soon enough for Cody ... who's been holding out from the boom boom for his entire fight camp.

"My poor wife," Cody said when we got him out in L.A., telling our guy he just doesn't believe in gettin' down during training camp.

How long has it been? 3 MONTHS according to Cody, who also said his post-fight celebration won't be at a club or a bar ... it'll be in his own bedroom.

"Saturday night, I'm gettin' it in, that's my after-party."

Conor McGregor says he's very close to finalizing the deal to fight Khabib Nurmagomedov in 2018 -- and he's bragging that he's already in fighting shape.

The UFC superstar was wrapping up his workout in NYC Monday when he updated Adam Glyn on fight negotiations with Khabib -- a fight expected to go down in October.

Conor raved about how much he loved the city of New York -- in the wake of his plea deal in his bus attack case -- but says the fight will most likely take place in Vegas ... not Madison Square Garden.

There's more ... McGregor also praised his former opponent, José Aldo, for his victory against Jeremy Stephens this weekend. Remeber, McGregor seemed to break Aldo's spirit with that legendary 13-second KO in 2015.

He even says ... "the whole [nation] of Ireland was happy for José Aldo that night."

McGregor hasn't fought in the Octagon since his victory over Eddie Alvarez at UFC 205 which, at this point, seems like an eternity ago. Of course, he fought Floyd Mayweather last year.

As for his claim to being in great shape ... just check out his human being squats in the park. Yeah, we believe him.

Conor McGregor took his Monday workout to the next level -- throwing a grown ass man on his back for a set of squats in Central Park ... and TMZ Sports has the footage.

The UFC superstar is still out in NYC after his court hearing last week in which he agreed to a plea deal in his bus attack case that will keep him out of jail.

So, what's Conor doing with his free time? Seems to be prepping for his next fight ... with a grueling workout all over the city.

After the squats, Conor knocked out some ab work before going on a run -- dude looks to be in pretty solid shape.

Daniel Cormier says he considers himself the Michael Jordan or LeBron James of the UFC ... but when it comes to the greatest heavyweight of all time -- that title goes to Cain Velasquez.

Of course, DC is reigning heavyweight champion of the world -- but tells TMZ Sports he doesn't feel he's done his best fighting at that weight.

Cain -- on the other hand -- is a 2-time UFC heavyweight champ with impressive victories over guys like Brock Lesnar, Junior Dos Santos and Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva.

He also has the record for most knockouts in the UFC heavyweight division!

Ex-UFC star Rashad Evans is ready to move on from sparring to starring ... in a Hollywood role -- and he's revealing his dream gig -- playing Cuba Gooding Jr.'s brother!!

We got the former light heavyweight champ out at LAX and he told us now that his days in the Octagon are done ... he wants a career in movies.

Of course ... he's already gotten started on that dream -- playing a role in Mel Gibson's upcoming flick, "Boss Level."

But, Rashad's got his eyes on a bigger prize ... and it includes possibly playing a relative of Rod Tidwell himself.

BTW ... Rashad ain't the only Evans who has his future mapped out -- his kids are just as driven as Pops.

Conor McGregor didn't have to say anything in response to the manager of his mortal foe Khabib ... his expression did all the talking.

Conor was in NYC Friday night when a photog asked what he thought about the manager's comment -- that the champ would be safer in jail than fighting Khabib. Check out Conor's reaction.

TMZ Sports broke the story last week ... that Conor was about to dodge a major bullet in his criminal case -- the one where he threw the dolly into a UFC bus, injuring 3 fighters.

This week a judge accepted a plea bargain that kept Conor out of jail. Under the deal the felony was reduced to a misdemeanor -- if that didn't happen Conor could have been deported.

Conor had a strong reaction Friday night to the plea bargain ... check out the video below.

Joanna Jedrzejczyk is furious with Rose Namajunas -- telling TMZ Sports she feels INCREDIBLY disrespected by her UFC rival ... and has advised her to "bow down!"

Remember, Rose previously told TMZ Sports the only way she would grant a 3rd fight to Joanna is if JJ publicly states that Rose is the greatest fighter of all time.

Well, that ain't gonna happen ... because Joanna still thinks SHE'S the G.O.A.T -- despite the fact she has two losses to Rose.

"You're a champion. I respect you. And I give you credit. But bow down. Bow down on your knees because I'm the real strawweight queen."

Joanna says she only lost the first fight because of an issue with her nutritionist and she feels like she won the second fight, which went to decision.

"So, don't say that I have to say that you are the best because I will never say this. You are the champ. I give you this credit. But you are not the best, so it's a shame on you that you're saying this."

FYI, Joanna had a 14-fight win streak before Rose -- and says her record still makes her the best to ever do it.

Pay attention, tailgaters ... UFC star Eddie Alavarez is about to show you how it's done -- 'cause he just copped the most awesome $143k tailgating machine ever!!

Here's the thing ... Alvarez is from Philly and he's a HUGE Eagles fan ... who loves to tailgate before football games.

How do you do that if you're a big-time UFC star?

You do it in a Winnebago Era (new ones starts at $142,925) ... which is a tricked out luxury leisure machine built on a Mercedes Sprinter van chassis ... which Eddie hooked up with a TV.

"Hell yeah man, we got a RV now. I got a RV where I can head down to the stadium to tailgate," Alvarez told us.

"It's pretty. It's real pretty. We took it to a concert about a week ago and it was the talk of the town. Everyone was surrounding it."

Of course, the cost ain't a thing for Eddie ... he's the main event at UFC on FOX 30 Saturday where he's fighting Dustin Poirier, and we're guessing he'll make his scratch back.

Fly Birds, fly!