UFC

Ilia Topuria is opening up on his brutal (and shocking) knockout of Charles Oliveira ... and talking about who could be next -- and he's putting two big UFC stars on notice!

The 28-year-old newly crowned lightweight champ joined Babcock on the TMZ Sports TV show (airs nightly on FS1) ... just days after he put Oliveira's lights out with a crushing combo of punches in the UFC 317 main event.

As it goes, everyone wants to know what's next for the champion. Two names that have been talked about most ... Paddy Pimblett and Islam Makhachev!

Ilia Topuria says he's got no beef whatsoever with Charles Oliveira -- in fact, he's got a ton of respect for the title contender -- but with that said, he's vowing to beat his ass!

TMZ Sports spoke to the 28-year-old Topuria, who recently relinquished his featherweight belt, ahead of their UFC 317 scrap -- where they'll fight for Islam Makhachev's lightweight strap (he's moving up to welterweight) -- and we asked the 16-0 fighter what he'd say to Charles just days before their title fight.

"I have all the respect in the world for Du Bronx, nothing personal. This is competition, and this time he has a very, very dangerous opponent, and he needs to bring his pillow," Ilia said.

If UFC fans didn't know Nazim Sadykhov before, they do now ... after the 11-1 fighter stunned the MMA world with one of the most insane comebacks in recent history -- and he did it with Merab Dvalishvili in his corner!

TMZ Sports spoke to the 31-year-old rising lightweight star just days after he defeated Nikolas Motta in Baku, Azerbaijan (a country he once called home as a young boy) ... a fight so good Dana White blessed him with a double bonus check -- Fight of the Night and Performance of the Night!

If you watched, you know the first round didn't exactly go as Nazim planned. In fact, he was on the receiving end of a 70-something strike combo, which he somehow not only survived, but ate without appearing too hurt.

Liver King's not going to hold domain over all of Austin, Texas for the foreseeable future ... 'cause if he sees Joe Rogan coming, he's gotta head the other way.

According to Liver King's release conditions, the social media influencer must stay at least 200 yards away from Rogan and his family members ... and, there's a no-contact order as well -- so, no hitting him up over the phone or social media either.

Liver King can't possess any weapons ... and, within a week of his release, he needs to go in for a mental health evaluation.

Joe Rogan talked with cops after Liver King challenged him to a fight via social media ... and Joe told police the fitness influencer appeared to be "significantly unstable."

According to new legal docs, obtained by TMZ, cops in Austin, Texas say the former "Fear Factor" host told them he interpreted Liver King's string of social media rants as threatening ... which is why cops were called and eventually led to LK being arrested on a charge of making a terroristic threat.

Police say Joe told them he'd never had any sort of contact with Liver King -- real name Brian Johnson -- and was unaware why he'd "be targeting him" ... and cops say Rogan went on to tell them he'd been told Liver King "has a significant drug issue."

The February traffic stop that led to the criminal charge against Jon Jones this month was captured on police video ... and in the footage, you can hear a person who sounds like the UFC legend seemingly making threats to at least one officer while wasted.

It all happened on Feb. 21 in New Mexico ... as the Albuquerque Police Department was questioning a woman about a car crash.

In the video, the unidentified female -- who appeared to be pantsless and intoxicated in the passenger seat of a wrecked car -- is seen telling authorities Jones drove the vehicle ... but took off after the accident.

Ever wondered how Jon Jones goes about picking out his kicks?? Well, TMZ Sports actually ran into the former UFC heavyweight champion at the shoe store -- and you'll never guess the style he likes to rock!!

Jones popped up at an L.A. mall after spending some time filming a show in Thailand ... but he decided after living out of a suitcase for a while, it was time to splurge on himself.

To our surprise ... he doesn't opt for any eye-popping pairs -- he enjoys a dad-style look!!

Kamaru Usman spoke to TMZ Sports just days after he lost his belt to Leon Edwards three years ago ... and he vowed to make a triumphant return. It ended up taking far longer than he expected, but true to his word, the Nigerian Nightmare's back and squarely in the title picture!

"I remember coming on here and talking to you guys after I got kicked in the head by Leon Edwards," Usman told Babcock on the TMZ Sports TV show, reflecting on his 2022 loss and his motivation for moving forward.

"One of the biggest things that really hit me at that moment was the opportunity to prove to myself again that I can get up and do something and get back on the horse."

Ben Askren's wife says the ex-UFC star is still fighting pneumonia ... but the battle has gotten so intense, he might now need a lung transplant.

Ben, as you know, was hospitalized earlier this month after he developed a lung ailment following a bout with staph infection. On Tuesday, Amy Askren took to her Facebook page to share a sobering update on his condition.

She revealed her hubby has been on a ventilator and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). She also stated he's been so up and down, docs have begun the "evaluation process" for a possible lung transplant.

Conor McGregor unloaded vicious punches on a club patron in Ibiza this week ... with video showing the former UFC superstar striking a man twice during the violent altercation.

In a clip obtained by The Sun, Notorious appeared to be enjoying a night out with friends at Pacha around 5:53 AM on Tuesday ... when at one point, he leaned in and communicated with someone standing below him.

Whatever was said apparently didn't sit well with the 36-year-old fighter ... 'cause he went into MMA mode and attacked the guy with two clean left hooks.

Joshua Van's life has been full of surprises lately ... 'cause he tells TMZ Sports he received a bombshell of his own while gifting his mom a new home -- a fight offer against Brandon Royval!!

It all happened after Van's third-round TKO victory against Bruno Silva at UFC 316 ... his 14th win and 7th knockout of his career.

Van -- who made his MMA debut in 2021 -- celebrated the victory by catching his mom off guard with a new crib, not knowing something would also fall into his lap.

Kamaru Usman has lost three fights in a row ... but Joaquin Buckley, the man fighting the former champ Saturday night in the main event of UFC Fight Night, tells TMZ Sports that doesn't even begin to tell the full story!

In fact, not only does Buckley NOT believe Usman's washed ... he actually feels that on paper, this is the toughest test of his career -- and that's coming from a guy who has fought and defeated Colby Covington, Stephen "Wonderboy" Thompson, and Vicente Luque!

We spoke with 31-year-old Joaquin -- the number 7th-ranked UFC welterweight -- ahead of his scrap with Usman.

Kayla Harrison's sittin' atop the MMA world ... and the newly crowned women's bantamweight champ is talking all things UFC 316 and beyond -- from her insane weight cut to her next fight vs. Amanda Nunes!

34-year-old Harrison joined Babcock on the "TMZ Sports" TV show (airs nightly on FS1) ... just days after she dominated now-former champ Julianna Pena in the co-main event, winning by second-round submission.

We asked her -- with a couple of days to digest the enormous accomplishment -- how she was feelin'?

Merab Dvalishvili touched down in his home country of Georgia -- after another dominant win over Sean O'Malley -- where the UFC bantamweight champ received a hero's welcome!

It was boots on the ground for Dvalishvili at Tbilisi Shota Rustaveli International Airport on Wednesday ... where he was mobbed by fans and cameras waiting to catch a glimpse of the champ.

From there, the 34-year-old hopped on a bus ... where he made his way through the streets of his hometown of Tbilisi.

Kamaru Usman is in the midst of the worst stretch of his career -- at least as far as wins and losses go -- but the Nigerian Nightmare says don't get it twisted ... he's still the best 170 lb. fighter in the world's top MMA promotion!

The former longtime welterweight champ, now ranked 5th, joined Babcock on the "TMZ Sports" TV show (airs nightly on FS1) ... just days before his highly anticipated scrap with 7th-ranked Joaquin Buckley.

Kamaru says, despite a 600+ day layoff, he's ready to go.

Kayla Harrison is just two days removed from winning her first-ever UFC championship after a dominant performance over Julianna Peña ... but she's already back in the gym, where she received a welcome worthy of a champ!

The newly crowned UFC women's bantamweight title holder brought her new hardware down to her training grounds at American Top Team in Florida ... where Kayla's coaches, training partners, and gymmates, including Dustin Poirier, lined up to congratulate the champ.

Harrison made sure to thank everyone, even taking a moment to hug the videographer filming her triumphant return.