TMZ Sports - Page 6

Love him or hate him, Jake Paul's boxing career has breathed life into the sport of boxing ... and Michael Buffer is making sure to give El Gallo his flowers -- telling TMZ Sports it's great to see!!

We caught up with the voice of boxing out at LAX ... and while you can tell he thinks Jake is a madman for taking this fight, he can't help but gush over both Paul brothers.

"Jake and Logan are fantastic athletes. You know what Logan does with the WWE and what Jake does with boxing. He knocks people out and everything, and they both have massive fan bases."

Alexandre Pantoja hasn't lost since mid-2020, and fans have repeatedly speculated the UFC's flyweight champ could go up a division and fight for a second belt -- so we asked him!!

TMZ Sports spoke to the 35-year-old ahead of his UFC 323 bout (December 6 on ESPN+) against 24-year-old challenger Joshua Van ... and asked about the prospects of fighting Merab Dvalishvili, the bantamweight title holder.

"I think Merab is one of the best fighters in the world, you know, 100%. He's the number three pound-for-pound, maybe number two," Pantoja said ... adding "Merab is a tough opponent for everybody in his division."

Calvin Johnson says it's NOT time to panic in Detroit -- even after losing on Thanksgiving, and sitting outside the NFL playoff picture -- 'cause there's plenty of football left to play!

The Lions, who breezed into postseason action last season with a 15-2 record, haven't been nearly as dominant in 2025, losing two of three, including Thursday's Turkey Day game against their NFC North rivals, the Green Bay Packers.

The 31-24 loss means the Lions don't control their destiny with the division, but they're still very much in the playoff hunt, according to Calvin.

Andy Ruiz is one of three men to ever beat Anthony Joshua in the ring ... and he was kind enough to share some solid advice with Jake Paul ahead of his December 19 bout!!

Ruiz (35-2, 22 KOs) handed Joshua his first career loss in 2019, with a TKO in the 7th round of their main event at Madison Square Garden in New York City -- one of boxing's biggest upsets ever.

That said, we asked Ruiz -- who was distributing turkeys at the New Village Girls Academy Turkey Drive in Los Angeles this week -- if there were any suggestions he'd like to leave for the YouTuber-turned-boxer.

Don't worry, Knicks fans, the Julius Randle and Karl-Anthony Towns trade will pay off soon ... this according to Charles Oakley, who tells TMZ Sports his addition to the team can pave the way for an NBA Finals run!!

We spoke with the Knicks legend as he was giving away food at Melba’s of Harlem's annual turkey drive this week ... and asked if he believes his former team can make a run at the NBA championship again this season with KAT.

"They should've won it last year ... yes, they can," Oakley said, "They just have to play. I think they got sidetracked last year, a lot of things goin' on."

Former NFL star Le'Veon Bell just turned his entire life story into drip -- honoring his journey from college football to the pros and beyond with a custom chain ... loaded with emerald, ruby, and diamond-encrusted logos for every chapter of his career!

TMZ Sports has learned ... the three-time Pro Bowl running back linked up with his longtime jeweler, Moe Diamonds, in Miami to cop a new piece.

We're told Bell, 33, decided on only two team logos for the chain -- Michigan State University, where he played from 2010 to 2012, and the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Talk about shocking the system -- two of Detroit’s biggest legends collided when Eminem crashed Jack White’s stage during the NFL’s Thanksgiving Halftime Show at the Lions’ annual Turkey Day Classic.

Jack was the only one officially on the bill -- tearing into “Seven Nation Army,” the forever stadium anthem at Ford Field -- before he shocked the crowd by bringing out fellow Detroit legend Eminem for a surprise cameo.

Eminem hit the stage in full Detroit armor -- hoodie up and rocking a custom Lions jacket -- and launched into a wild mashup of "Till I Collapse" with the White Stripes’ "Hello Operator."

Fuzzy Zoeller, a 2x major champ whose big personality and exceptional shot-making were later overshadowed by a racially insensitive remark about Tiger Woods, has died at 74.

Zoeller won 10 PGA Tour events during his time on tour, including the 1979 Masters, which he won his first time playing the tournament at Augusta National, a remarkable feat.

He also won the 1984 U.S. Open, beating Greg Norman and Hale Irwin in a brutal 18-hole playoff.

The Detroit Lions are hours away from playing in their annual Thanksgiving game, and those in attendance better be hungry ... 'cause TMZ Sports got a look at the offerings that will be on tap -- and they look just as good as grandma's cookin'!!

Levy Restaurants -- the official food and beverage provider of the Lions -- shared what their chefs have been cooking in the kitchen ahead of kickoff.

It wouldn't be a Thanksgiving feast without some bird ... so turkey legs will be on the menu, served with cornbread dressing and cranberry BBQ sauce.

Kayla Harrison has her next two fights mapped out, and they're whoppers -- starting with Amanda Nunes, and then ... Ronda Rousey?!

Sure, there's probably a better chance hell freezes over than Ronda returning to the Octagon, but crazier things have happened.

Harrison's manager, Ali Abdelaziz, made the revelation during a recent conversation with TMZ Sports ... starting with Nunes, 37, who most agree is the women's MMA GOAT.

The NFL brought the heat this Thanksgiving with three matchups -- but it's the wives and girlfriends of the athletes that are hotter than your favorite dish currently sitting in the oven!!

The first game of the November holiday is between the Packers and Lions ... featuring two of the season's top quarterbacks, Jordan Love and Jared Goff.

Of course, Love's wife, Ronika, wouldn't miss her QB hubby's third Thanksgiving game ... and model Christen Harper always stuns at the Mr.'s games -- holiday or not!

T-Pain stopped appearing on DJ Khaled albums all the way back in 2013 -- he's calling it an act of betrayal, after he propelled Mr. "We The Best" to platinum status!!!

On the latest episode of "Club Shay Shay", Shannon Sharpe simply asked T-Pain what's the one lesson he learned as he approaches his debut album's 20th anniversary ... a0nd T-Pain immediately brought up DJ Khaled.

T-Pain says the most invaluable lesson he learned was that nobody is your brother -- especially those who always tell you they are!!!

TMZ Sports is going live from the newsroom to discuss the day's biggest stories ... but we don't just want folks to watch and enjoy the conversation, we want y'all to get involved!!

Hit the comment section as Babcock, Lucas, Luca, and the whole crew break down the most important topics of the day ... and we'll be interacting with viewers throughout the program between 1 and 2 PM PT.

So tune in, make fun of us, share your two cents, sound off about your favorite team ... nothing is out of bounds.

Andrew Tate set up his ex-girlfriend by filing a false police report against her in Dubai, leading to her being held in the Middle Eastern city for more than a month ... according to her new lawsuit.

Bri Stern claims Tate -- the controversial poster boy for toxic masculinity -- went to cops in Dubai back in June and accused her of publicly posting false statements about him ... which would be a crime under U.A.E. laws, meaning anyone under investigation can't leave the country.

This, according to Bri, was the setup or "honeypot trap," because as a model she travels to Dubai frequently ... something Tate knows very well. So, cut to September 27, when Bri indeed touched down in Dubai for work. She says everything was fine until she tried to leave on October 12.

New footage has been released from the night of Marshawn Kneeland's death -- showing officials in pursuit of the Dallas Cowboys player's speeding Dodge Charger as it dangerously weaved in and out of traffic on the highway ... and tirelessly searching for him after he crashed his vehicle and fled the scene on foot.

The Texas Department of Public Safety shared the body and dash cam footage from the Nov. 5 incident ... which showed cops chasing his vehicle around 10:30 PM, initially believing it was stolen.

24-year-old Kneeland was allegedly driving up to 160 MPH while behind the wheel ... and struck another vehicle before ending up in a grassy area off the road.

Luka Doncic is giving props to his teammate, Jaxson Hayes, for sticking up for him during a scuffle in the Lakers game on Tuesday ... saying because the big man had his back, he will happily cover whatever fine he gets from the NBA.

In the fourth quarter of the NBA Cup showdown against the L.A. rivals at Crypto.com Arena, Clippers guard Kris Dunn shoved Doncic to the hardwood while battling for a rebound.

When Luka confronted him, Dunn slammed the ball into his chest. Hayes immediately jumped in and gave Dunn a taste of his own medicine with a similar shove in the back, which ignited a brief scuffle.