TMZ Sports - Page 50

UFC superstar Demetrious Johnson says he's dead serious about a fight with Conor McGregor -- explaining that stepping up to The Notorious is his best chance of making a 7-figure payday.

Johnson just beat up Wilson Reis for his 10th title defense in a row -- but despite his UFC dominance, Demetrious still hasn't gotten that fat million dollar check.

Long story short, Mighty Mouse knows the road to riches is through Conor ... despite the significant weight difference.

Demetrious just fought at 125lbs. Conor's last fight was at 155.

DJ says he can't get all the way up to 155 -- but says he's confident the two sides could work something out ... and says it would be a much easier fight to make than Floyd Mayweather.

Brooke Hogan is sick with grief ... her pooch has gone missing so now her dad has mobilized his troops to hep find her.

Hulk put out a call for "HULKAMANIACS" in Van Nuys ... where Molly was last seen. Brooke posted the sad news on Instagram, saying Molly was last seen Monday afternoon. She's begging anyone in the area to keep their eyes open.

Brooke says, "She is my baby and my life."

With Ronda Rousey's MMA career seemingly over, there's another rising female fighter who believes she can be the next great UFC superstar ... Rose Namajunas.

The 24-year-old face-basher joined the guys on the "TMZ Sports" TV show on FS1 after her impressive victory over Michelle Waterson this weekend ... and didn't shy away from the Rousey comparison.

While she's not super into making a career turn into acting, there is one side of Hollywood she'd like to infiltrate ... and she'd be damn good at it too.

Mayweather vs. McGregor ain't even close to happening ... so says Dana White.

With the UFC honcho recently vowing to try to make it happen, we asked Dana if there's been any movement -- but the answer ain't what we were hoping for.

Then again, we probably shouldn't expect much until after Conor's baby is born -- Dana has previously said they have plans to meet up after McGregor's girlfriend gives birth.

We also talked to White about Ronda Rousey -- and he reminds us that she hasn't officially retired yet.

Carmelo and La La Anthony are separated ... TMZ has learned.

Sources close to the couple tell us the actress and NBA superstar are now living separately. La La moved out of the family home last week and has her own place in NYC now.

We're told the couple's had ups and downs in the past, but the current NBA season has been extremely stressful on the marriage for several months. Carmelo's been plagued by trade talks ... with the Knicks looking to move him to another team.

Our sources say the split is still amicable. They were together just this past weekend at their 10-year-old son Kiyan's basketball game.

We're told La La and Carmelo have NO plans to uproot Kiyan from his friends and school in NY.

Problem is ... it seems likely Carmelo will have to leave town, because just last week Knicks President Phil Jackson said it was time for him to go.

Neither is talking divorce yet, just separation. The couple got married in 2010.

Pacman Jones thinks he can strong-arm the media into ignoring all of his off-the-field drama -- and he just banned a reporter from locker room interviews for the season to prove his point.

The Cincinnati Bengals star -- who was kicked out of a casino and wished DEATH upon a police officer this off-season -- was asked how fans should feel about going into the 2017 season while taking questions in front of his locker.

Instead of addressing the COMPLETELY FAIR question, he barked back at the reporter -- told him to leave and said that was the LAST question that reporter would be able to ask him all season long.

And get this ... sources are telling TMZ Sports Jones confronted the reporter after cameras stopped rolling -- yelling at the guy two different times.

Prosecutors have dropped the rape charges against former SF 49ers lineman Ray McDonald -- after the accuser stopped cooperating, officials say.

McDonald had been charged with 1 count of rape on an intoxicated person stemming from a 2014 incident at his San Jose area home. He faced up to 8 years in prison if convicted.

The alleged victim initially claimed she met McDonald at a local bar on December 14 and went back to his home -- where she allegedly fell and hit her head near Ray's hot tub. She claims she later woke up in his bed.

The woman also claimed McDonald's teammate, Ahmad Brooks, groped her in a sexual manner while she was unconscious ... and said surveillance video would prove her story.

Ray admitted he had sex with the woman but insisted it was consensual.

The KISS shirt that Russell Westbrook rocked to the OKC Thunder vs. Houston Rockets playoff game Sunday night went over REAL WELL with Gene Simmons.

The leader of the KISS army was out in L.A. where he gave all sorts of props for Westbrook's fashion statement ... explaining why Westbrook's fashion choices are part of a bigger, smarter plan.

But make no mistake about it, Gene thinks the real winner last night ... was Gene!

Hey, the guy's been relevant in pop culture for 45 years ... that's no small feat.

Ex-UFC fighter Tim Kennedy says he's reenlisted in the U.S. Army Special Forces -- and he's FIRED UP about it ... thanks to President Donald Trump.

37-year-old Kennedy has a 24-6 record as a pro MMA fighter -- with impressive wins over guys like Michael Bisping and Robbie Lawler.

But he's also a U.S. Army soldier and tells TMZ Sports he decided to re-enlist with the Green Berets when Trump was elected to the White House back in November.

He's also a HUGE fan of Secretary of Defense Gen. James Mattis and National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster -- "I'm pumped to work for those guys."

Kennedy also gave us a quick tour of his home -- which is reinforced with bulletproof glass in case any bad guys try to mess with him.

Kennedy deploys within the next couple of weeks and, while he couldn't tell us the exact location -- he says it's a dangerous place and he'll be there to fight terrorists.

Green Bay Packers receiver Randall Cobb is officially a married man ... and he had a little help from a couple superstar groomsmen -- Aaron Rodgers and Jordy Nelson.

The Pro Bowler married his longtime girlfriend, Aiyda Ghahramani, in New York over the weekend ... with his Packer teammates and other pros like Prince Amukamara in attendance at The Pierre hotel.

250 of the couple's closest friends and family attended the ceremony and celebrated with a reception, according to The Knot.

Something worth noting: Aiyda and Olivia Munn became close friends while she dated Rodgers (they even spent this past Christmas together) ... but it's unclear if she was at the wedding and we can't find any photos of her there.

Boston marathon bombing survivor Adrianne Haslet was deeply offended over a makeshift memorial that was placed at the WRONG SPOT this weekend ... calling those responsible, "F**king a**holes."

Haslet lost her left leg in the 2013 blast and returned to Boylston Street over the weekend -- only to see a wreath incorrectly placed in front of a Starbucks instead of the old Forum restaurant, one shop over.

"Nice work, Boston," Haslet said sarcastically ... "Real good job of laying the wreath in front of the wrong place. That's real offensive to everyone. Appreciate it."

Haslet ended up taking the matter into her own hands and moved the wreath to the correct spot.

She added this comment -- "I bet if we had a permanent memorial people would remember where the actual attack happened."

Haslet famously returned to the course last year -- as a runner -- and completed the race with a prosthetic leg.

Big win for J.R. Smith this weekend -- and it happened BEFORE the Cavs' playoff game!

J.R.'s micro-preemie daughter -- born at only 1 pound -- made another huge stride on Friday and had her very first bottle!

As we previously reported, Smith's wife, Jewel, gave birth to Dakota "Kota Bear" Smith in early January almost 5 months before her due date.

Though the odds were stacked against her, Kota is continuing to fight -- and being able to feed from a bottle instead of a feeding tube is a pretty big deal!

J.R. posted about the experience -- "My boo got her first bottle today! #proudofyoubaby #kotastrong."

It's just the latest in a series of impressive feats from the littlest Smith -- her breathing tube was removed last month and she's continuing to gain weight.

Keep fighting!

Todd Marinovich says he's concerned LaVar Ball is putting too much pressure on his son, Lonzo ... telling TMZ Sports, "I wish people would just step back and just let these kids have fun."

Russian boxing star Sergey "The Krusher" Kovalev loves him some Vladimir Putin and he's not ashamed of it ... telling TMZ Sports he thinks Putin is the greatest Russian prez EVER.

We got Kovalev out in L.A. and asked him his thoughts on Putin ... who's a pretty polarizing figure these days, with some saying he's a great leader, and others saying he's a threat.

Kovalev definitely is the former ... telling our guy not only does he think Putin is a "good" president, but the best president Russia has ever had.

There's a only handful of holidays that make waves in Hollywood, and Easter is definitely one of them ... as seen here.

Tons of celebs celebrated Easter Sunday with their loved ones, including Donald Trump and Melania Trump, Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon, John Legend and Chrissy Teigen, Rob Gronkowski, Victoria and David Beckham, Beyonce and Blue Ivy, Kim and Kanye, Colton Haynes and Jeff Leatham, The Rock, Snooki, Snoop Dogg ... and everyone else and their cousin.

Jennifer Lopez is an amazing multi-tasker ... dividing her attention between ex-hubby Marc Anthony and current BF A-Rod.

JLo was rehearsing with Marc at an historical amphitheatre in the Dominican Republic Saturday, while Alex watched/kept a watchful eye in the VIP section.

There were rumors JLo and Marc had hooked up recently but we're told that's all BS. Fact is ... together and separately, they sell out stadiums.

JLo's main singing gig now is Vegas, where she'll be appearing during the summer.