TMZ Sports - Page 50

Yep, Stipe Miocic has seen that footage of Daniel Cormier training with Steven Seagal back in the day ... but he ain't worried about it!

The footage was shot back in 2015 when Cormier was getting ready to fight Jon Jones at UFC 182.

Seagal -- who considers himself a martial arts expert -- hit it off with Cormier and offered to share some of his secret fight moves ... but only if UFC turned off the cameras.

Cormier and UFC obliged, and now -- in theory -- he's been trained up in the ways of the guy from "Under Siege."

So, when we spoke with Stipe this week as he preps to headline UFC 252 on Saturday -- we had to ask if he was concerned that Cormier could unleash some of that "Hard to Kill" knowledge on him during their final fight?

Spoiler Alert: Stipe ain't worried ... but he was complimentary of the actor.

"Seagal's a savage. Ya gotta look out for that guy."

There's more ... Stipe also told us why he's not planning to retire any time soon and why he doesn't feel bad sending Cormier into retirement with an "L."

Bellator star Corey Anderson says he literally feared for his life after a super scary medical incident ... which ultimately lead to him leaving the UFC.

Remember, the 30-year-old MMA star "blacked out and collapsed" on February 21 while outdoors scouting land ... smashing his face on the gravel road.

Corey was rushed to the hospital ... where 1 doctor told him something was wrong with his heart.

Anderson -- one of the most feared fighters in the world with wins over guys like Johnny Walker and Glover Teixeira -- admits he was literally afraid he was going to die.

"It was a scary process. You don't know if one, is your heart gonna be okay, two, every night you go to sleep, is my heart gonna stop in the middle of the night?"

Shortly after the incident, Anderson -- a top 5 UFC light heavyweight at the time -- asked Dana White to release him from his contract (which DW did) ... before ultimately signing with Bellator.

Long story short, Corey said his decision was financially motivated -- he thinks Bellator will be more lucrative for him in the long run, so he signed on the dotted line.

We asked Corey who his first Bellator opponent will be -- but they're still working out those details

Brooklyn Nets star DeAndre Jordan is doing his part to personally assist those combating the coronavirus -- by surprising 200 frontline workers with free meals!!

TMZ Sports has learned -- the 6'11" center popped up at the myCovidMD in Los Angeles on Thursday ... teaming up with Postmates to provide the large group of workers administrating COVID tests with food from one of his favorite local joints -- Harold & Belle’s.

We're told Jordan hooked the workers up with chicken creole and his personal fav -- veggie jambalaya.

Of course, it's a great gesture coming from Jordan -- who was unable to compete in the 2020 NBA restart after testing positive for COVID-19.

NEW FEUD ALERT!

Here's UFC middleweight Martin Vettori trying to trash-talk his way into a fight with Chris Weidman ... and guess what, Chris responded!

26-year-old Vettori -- who's on a 3-fight win streak -- is trying to get to that next level ... and feels a victory over Weidman would boost his stock and lead to bigger, more lucrative fights.

His plan is to try and embarrass Chris by calling him his GF -- hopefully, baiting the former champ into some back-and-forth that will build interest for a violent showdown.

And, guess what ... it's working!

After Vettori compared Weidman to a woman on social media and again during an interview with us (see above) ... Weidman fired back.

"Yo, Dork hop off my nuts and get a win over someone in the top 15 for 1st time in ur life," Weidman said.

"I have been beating guys in the top 15 for ten years straight. Relevant? There's a reason you are calling me out. I'll fight again when I'm ready too.. And btw you aren't that good."

So, what happens next? Marvin says he's followed up with UFC about putting a fight together ... but so far, nothing official.

He's even got a fight plan ready if Weidman accepts the challenge.

"I would grapple the sh*t out of him until he's dead tired and then just put him out."

Frightening moment during the Miami Heat and Indiana Pacers game ... when forward Derrick Jones, Jr. had to be stretchered off the court following a hard collision.

Jones -- the 2020 Slam Dunk champion -- collided with Pacers player Goga Bitadze in the second half of Friday's matchup ... when the center set a pick that sent DJJ to the ground.

Reporters on the scene say Jones, Jr. was lying face-down on the court for several minutes before he was put on a stretcher with a neck brace.

Jones -- who grabbed his neck as soon as he started falling to the ground -- was chasing forward Doug McDermott as he collided with Bitadze's shoulder.

No word on Derrick's status ... but here's hoping he's okay.

Another solid tribute for Kobe Bryant -- this time it's rap superstar, Lil Baby, teaming up with Money Man in a track paying homage to the NBA legend.

The two rappers dropped a song called "24" -- which includes several shout-outs to Kobe ... and some pretty incredible cover art which based around Black Mamba snakes, basketball and #24.

Some of the lyrics ...

"R.I.P. Kobe Bryant, R.I.P. 24
I can make a cool $50K in less than 24 hours."

Also ...

"Grew up in the trap watching Kobe yam on a n***a
Pull up in the Porsche, yeah, the Pan' on a n***a
Yeah, pull up in the Dodge, yeah, the Ram on a n***a
Anybody try, yeah, I'ma blam on n****s."

There's a gratuitous shot at NFL quarterback Joe Flacco ...

"White collar diamonds, n***a ballin' like Lonzo
These n****s overrated like Joe Flacco."

FYI, Flacco did win a Super Bowl!

Anyway, Money Man and Lil Baby are just the latest to honor Kobe ... following Lil Wayne, Amine' and others.

Kobe Bryant was big into hip-hop -- famously dropping a single with Tyra Banks back in 2000. He also appeared on some other tracks.

Heavyweight boxer Otto Wallin -- the man who took Tyson Fury to the brink in 2019 -- says he's fully recovered from his battle with COVID and can't wait to fight again on Saturday.

Remember, Wallin is the guy who bloodied Fury badly during their Sept. 2019 bout -- opening 2 huge gashes on the champ's face. He ultimately lost by unanimous decision, but gained a ton of respect in the boxing world.

Wallin later contracted COVID-19 in March -- but tells TMZ Sports he beat the virus pretty quickly and got back to training hard in a matter of weeks.

"I was out for maybe a week and a half, 2 weeks when I had it," Wallin says ... "But then we started training. Took it slow because we didn't know if it would affect me but we haven't noticed anything and we stepped it up from there."

"Now we've had a few months with good training. I feel like I've improved since the Fury fight so hopefully, that will come out."

Wallin steps back into the ring on Saturday to fight Travis Kauffman -- and another impressive performance could put him back in the mix for a rematch with Fury ... or a shot at other top fighters like Deontay Wilder and Anthony Joshua.

"I already showed Fury I'm very good ... I'm not too far off from those guys."

Kauffman ain't exactly rolling over -- he's been talking a bunch of trash too.

"If I don’t beat Otto Wallin, I’m retiring," Kauffman told BoxingScene.com.

"And, here’s why: I have a lot more experience and I have a lot more ability than Otto Wallin has. His claim to fame is truly losing to Tyson Fury."

Police in Florida say a homeless man posted up in a luxury suite at a pro soccer team's stadium for 2 WEEKS while the facility was closed due to COVID ... helping himself to food and merch the whole time.

The St. Petersburg Police Dept. tells TMZ Sports ... on July 26, Daniel Neja -- who cops say is homeless -- somehow got into the closed home of the Tampa Bay Rowdies and began squatting in the facility.

Cops say surveillance cameras captured the 39-year-old moving around Al Lang Stadium freely ... eating and drinking things from the concession area, as well as snagging Rowdies clothes and memorabilia from the team store.

Cops say Neja ultimately ended up taking more than $1,000 worth of stuff ... and an additional $250 from the concession area.

Officials say Neja was only caught because a cleaning crew noticed personal items like shaving cream and razors in the suite he had allegedly been living in.

Eventually, an officer showed up to the stadium Monday and found Neja ... and arrested him for burglary. Cops also say Neja refused to provide his name during questioning, so he was booked on an additional charge of resisting as well.

Baker Mayfield is holding firm to his promise to kneel for the national anthem ... saying he's proud to use his platform to speak out for human rights.

Remember, the Cleveland Browns QB clapped back at a fan who begged him to NOT take a knee this upcoming season ... saying, "pull your head out. I absolutely am."

During a virtual media session Friday, Bake was asked if he regretted going public with his kneeling plans because of social media backlash he received afterward.

"I don't have any regrets," Mayfield says. "I think being in my position, which is a blessing, to be out on a platform where I can speak on issues that ... they're just wrong."

"Right is right, wrong is wrong. This is a human rights issue that's been going on for a long time and I believe in that."

#6 continued ... "It's nothing against military, anybody who served. And anybody who knows my history knows that I completely support military and the people that serve our country for the right reasons and do it for justice."

Mayfield isn't all talk -- he's shown serious love for those who have protected the country over the years ... and even met with every single member of the military who attended Browns training camp in the past.

Baker's also helped the Browns send a bunch of care packages to the military in 2019 ... so yeah, the dude does a lot more for the troops than what some anti-kneelers will ever do.

How did Gregg Popovich deal with his Spurs missing the NBA playoffs for the first time in 22 years? By mocking Donald Trump!

Pop's squad didn't exactly thrive in the NBA's bubble environment and played their last game of the 2020 season Thursday against the Utah Jazz. They lost and will now exit the bubble.

More importantly, it means Pop will miss the NBA playoffs for the first time in 22 seasons ... and when he was asked about his historic run coming to an end, he channeled his inner Trump.

"Who told [the media] that the streak ended?" Pop joked ... "That’s fake news!!"

"That’s total fake news. Lots of guys have been telling me the streak hasn't ended. I talk to people all the time, they call me, they tell me ‘Pop, the streak didn't end.'"

"It didn't. It didn't end. I don't know where you guys are getting this."

Pretty funny, right?! Unless you're a Trump supporter.

Of course, 71-year-old Popovich HATES Donald Trump and isn't quiet about it -- blasting #45 any chance he's gotten. He's referred to Trump as a "deranged idiot" and a "coward" in scathing comments at the height of the George Floyd protests back in June.

Trump's largely ignored the coach's criticism ... but could Thursday's impression finally be the one that gets Pop a tweet from the Pres?

FILE UNDER: Things you NEVER want to see your star left tackle do.

San Francisco 49ers star offensive lineman Trent Williams posted video on his IG story which appears to show him in the driver's seat pushing 125 MPH in a super-expensive Ferrari ... and it's concerning, to say the least.

The video is shot by the driver as the speedometer ticks upward from the 90s into a top speed of 125 -- and you can see the whip racing by other vehicles on the Freeway.

Obviously, the driver is smashing speed limits and endangering other drivers -- all while Lil Durk's "Fabricated" blasts in the background.

We reached out to Williams for comment but haven't heard back yet.

It's important to note, Williams recently posted a photo with what appears to be a 2019 Ferrari 488 Pista ... and the IG story video looks like the same car.

FYI -- the thing is a rocket ship on wheels ... and usually sells for more than $400,000!!

Of course, we're pretty sure Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch ain't going to love seeing this ... especially after they traded draft picks to Washington to acquire the guy in April.

Also, remember NFL star Jason Pierre Paul got into a bad accident while behind the wheel of a Ferrari 488 Pista back in May 2019 ... suffering a neck injury that required major surgery.

Williams is a potential future Hall of Famer -- he's made seven Pro Bowls in nine seasons ... but sat out all of 2019 over a dispute with Washington because he says team docs misdiagnosed his cancer.

Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez have a Miami vice, and it's super-luxurious real estate -- they've just expanded their portfolio with a home that's more like a resort.

Our sources tell us the engaged power couple scooped up this massive waterfront estate on Star Island ... Miami's super-private enclave for celebs and business tycoons. They check both of those boxes.

The place is spectacular ... it's on a 40,000-square-foot lot and comes with a whopping 10 bedrooms, 12 bathrooms and a pool that's a work of art for their modern fam of 6.

The bells and whistles include an elevator, wine room, library and industrial-style chef's kitchen -- perfect for cooking AND dancing ... at least when J Lo's the chef.

J-Rod already own a huge home in Miami's beautiful Coral Gables neighborhood, so it's unclear if the new spot is a new crib for them, or just investment property.

Remember, they just flipped their beachfront home in Malibu after a remodel designed by Chip and Joanna Gaines. From all appearances, the Star Island place is nobody's fixer-upper.

We reached out to reps for J Lo and A-Rod ... so far, no word back.

Tim Declercq took a POUNDING while riding in a major bike race in France on Thursday -- when a hail storm broke out and destroyed his entire back!

The 31-year-old Belgian pro cyclist was racing through Stage 2 of the Criterium du Dauphine in the Chartreuse Mountains when the hail began to fall ... hard.

People scrambled for shelter -- but Declercq couldn't get out of the way fast enough, and the ice balls smashed his back up ... leaving massive welts.

Other bikers were hit too. The whole scene was wild.

"As if le Dauphine was not painful enough for the legs," Declercq wrote on social media. Hey, at least he's got a sense of humor about it!

He later posted an update showing the bruising and redness were beginning to subside.

FYI, the Criterium du Dauphine usually serves as the Tour de France warm-up race.

The Tour usually takes place in July, but COVID-19 forced organizers to postpone.

UAB freshman linebacker Allen Merrick has died at age 19 .... after suffering a gunshot wound in what cops are describing as an apparent accidental shooting.

Details on the incident are unclear at this time, other than it happened in Merrick's hometown of Gadsden, Alabama. We're working on it.

UAB football head coach Bill Clark rushed to support Merrick and his family in the wake of the shooting. He had asked people to send prayers and support on Friday ... but unfortunately, Merrick passed away a short time later.

"Please pray for the family of Allen Merrick, a young man who joined our UAB Football Family this season," Clark said at the time.

"Allen was visiting home in Gadsden yesterday when he suffered a gunshot wound. He is at UAB Hospital where I've been with Allen's family, but I do not have a condition I can share at this time."

Gadsden PD confirmed the news to AL.com on Friday ... saying the investigation is ongoing, but it appears to be an accidental shooting.

Merrick -- a 3-star prospect -- was a star for Gadsden High ... earning Defensive Player of the Year honors.

"I ask that everyone please respect his family's privacy and keep them all in your prayers."

And, in the blue corner ... the next president of the Philippines?!

Manny Pacquiao's trainer says that might just be the boxing legend's next introduction ... 'cause Freddie Roach says PacMan's gunning to be the president of his home country after 2 more fights!!

"Manny would like to fight a couple of more times and then run for the presidency of his country," Roach told BoxingScene.com this week.

"The first fighter to ever do that and it will be another part of his history and I think he will be really good at."

Of course, Manny is no stranger to politics ... the 41-year-old has been a senator in the Philippines since 2016 -- and has often been credited for helping bring charity and awareness to the country.

Roach says Pacquiao wants to do even more than that in the political realm ... and joked he wants to run Manny's campaign!!

But, Roach says Pacquiao's eyeing some HUGE fights first ... saying Mikey Garcia and Terence Crawford are on a shortlist for PacMan's next opponents.

Roach also says a possible superfight with Gennady Golovkin ain't being ruled out yet either.

Though Freddie's dream last fight for Manny? "What he would like best is [Floyd] Mayweather one more time."

MMA fighter Valerie Loureda was so stoked to sign a contract extension with Bellator, she made a twerk video to celebrate ... and it's pretty damn good!

The 5'4" flyweight is coming off a wild violent knock out victory over Tara Graff at Bellator 243 on Friday ... and has now revealed that she was rewarded with an exclusive multi-fight extension.

Obviously, the 22-year-old fighter was excited -- and danced out her emotions to the new Cardi B, Megan Thee Stallion track, "WAP."

There's A LOT of booty shaking and various displays of flexibility. All in all, impressive stuff.

"Just signed an exclusive multi-year, multi-fight extension with @bellatormma," Loureda said ... "not going anywhere."

Loureda -- from Miami -- is 3-0 as a pro and building a solid following. In fact, her post-fight victory dance was viewed more than 11 million times on social media!

And get this, her manager, Abe Kawa, revealed Loureda was involved in a car accident just days before her fight -- and still was able to focus and dominate.