BFFs

UFC star Cody Garbrandt says him and Jean-Claude Van Damme are totally cool ... but if they ever fought for real, he would straight-up DECAPITATE the Muscles from Brussels.

"I'd rip his f**king head off ... is that really a question??" Cody told TMZ Sports at the premiere of JCVD's "Kickboxer: Retaliation" event at TAO in Hollywood.

You might remember ... a few months back, JCVD accidentally kicked Cody in the mouth during a light sparring sesh -- a move that had Garbrandt seeing red.

But Garbrandt says Jean-Claude felt so bad he actually started crying ... and now they're bros again.

For Van Damme's sake -- we're glad.

Joey Bada$$ found a way to memorialize his late best friend and still look like a baller.

The rapper commissioned a custom piece to honor his boy, Capital STEEZ, who at 19 committed suicide on Christmas Eve 5 years ago. We're told JB hit up celebrity jeweler Mr. Flawless a few months back to make the piece that features 14k gold and VVS diamonds. Final price ... around $50k.

The tedious process included sculpting Capital's face in gold ... a 2-month job. The back features the hip-hop Pro Era group logo "47" ... of which Bada$$ is a member and Capital founded.

George Michael's family posted a message about the late singer one year after his death, and they want fans to remember him with "I Love You's" aimed at loved ones.

In a touching tribute message Sunday, George's sisters, Yioda and Melanie, his father, Jack, and his best pal, David, penned a letter on George's website ... explaining how hard it still is dealing with his death one year to the day.

As we reported ... George died last Christmas when his heart failed as he slept, and he officially died of natural causes. He was 53 years old.

George's family makes a specific request to his many fans ... raise a glass, enjoy his tunes, and appreciate family and friends. More specifically, they want people to say "I Love You" to whoever needs to hear it before it's too late.

They end the open letter with something George would often say ... Take Care.

Lonzo Ball ain't the only Lakers rookie looking to make a dent in the sports apparel game ... his teammate, Kyle Kuzma, is also hawking his own line of shirts -- and they're selling like crazy.

Kuzma teed up some "Kuzmania" shirts on his website over the weekend -- and sold all 1,000 of 'em super quick. Now, he says he's got another batch on the way.

And get this ... they actually have a reasonable price tag at $27 a pop ... roughly half the price of a Big Baller Brand shirt.

And with Kuzma coming off a 38-point performance against the Rockets, his stock is rising in a big way.

Think LaVar's jealous??

Of course, Kuz and Lonzo are pretty tight -- Kuz even roasted Zo for his "$600" BBB hat -- but you gotta wonder if this is a little bit of a swag rivalry.

It was 20 years ago today the world lost Chris Farley ... and his BFF, David Spade, says he still misses the comedy legend like crazy.

Farley died on Dec. 18, 1997 after an accidental drug overdose at his apartment in Chicago. His career was on fire following a legendary 5-year run on "Saturday Night Live."

In 1995, he starred alongside Spade in "Tommy Boy" -- which wasn't just a hit in theaters ... it's become a cult classic that's still quoted all the time (#FatGuyInALittleCoat anyone?!).

"20 years ago today," Spade posted on Instagram ... "I miss."

R.I.P.

You're a fool if you think LaVar Ball and Donald Trump actually hate each other ... 'cause they're just trolling the world for fun -- so says NBA big man Roy Hibbert.

We got Roy at LAX ... and showed him LaVar's new GIF animation of him POSTERIZING the POTUS.

The ex-Laker thought it was pretty cool ... but wasn't about to pretend like there was anything to it.

"I bet they’re best friends," Hibbert told TMZ Sports. "It's playful banter ... they’re probably friends on the low."

Roy might be onto something -- check out how LaVar greeted frenemy Joel Embiid at yesterday's Lakers-76ers game ...

Kanye West and Kid Cudi got their fill of caped crusaders, and at the same time fueled rumors they're working on new music together.

The dynamic duo took in "Justice League" Monday in L.A. -- and the looks on their faces indicate they at least liked it more than critics (not saying much, we know). 'Ye and Cudi have been reconnecting recently ... Kanye hopped onstage with him a few weeks ago in Chicago.

There's a rumor out that 'Ye will be producing Cudi's new album, something that hasn't happened since Cudder's 2008 debut. Cudi eventually parted ways with G.O.O.D Music in 2013.

We don't know if this was a break from the studio or just two pals catching up, but all signs point to justice prevailing ... for music fans.

Paris Hilton paid homage to a photo that blew up the Internet 11 years ago today.

Back in the day it was all about Britney Spears, Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan ... Kim Kardashian was just a supporting player.

Paris posted the pic Monday, calling it "The First Coming of The Holy Trinity."

The New York Post called it something different ... and it was one of their most controversial headlines in years.

11 years later Britney is 9 years deep into her conservatorship but doing great, Paris is an international mogul and Lindsay ... well, she's definitely alive.

Is Demi Lovato in the "friend zone" with Neymar?

The singer and the soccer superstar went for a dinner date in London on Tuesday -- after Neymar played for Team Brazil in an international friendly against England.

Oh, there was a 3rd person at the dinner as well ... smokin' hot TV host Layla Anna-Lee.

But despite the fact Neymar and Demi look GREAT together, the soccer stud is preemptively striking against dating rumors ... posting Instagram photos with the caption, "My friends girls."

BOOOOO!!!!

A blowout game ain't gonna come between Kevin Durant and DeAndre Jordan's friendship ... 'cause the 2 baller buddies grabbed dinner together after the Warriors beat up on the Clippers Monday night.

K.D. and Jordan hit up Catch LA around 11 PM after the Dubs destroyed the Clips 141-113 at Staples Center ... and Jordan was all smiles despite the loss.

Catch appears to be the go-to spot when DJ's friends are in town ... the All-Star center's also been spotted there with his pals Jimmy Butler and Russell Westbrook after games.

Selena Gomez's best friend, Francia Raisa, didn't know if she'd survive donating a kidney to her BFF ... which really hit home when she had to write a will.

Francia and Selena told "Today" the donation process had to be sped up because Selena was in such dire straits she couldn't even open a water bottle. What normally takes months was done in days.

Selena also thanked Francia for volunteering her kidney without being asked ... once she found out she was a blood match, which is extremely rare.

Chris Brown's baby mama is walking away from one legal battle after working things out with the woman she claims made death threats against her.

Nia Guzman and Shakur Sozahdah both ran to court earlier this month and got temporary restraining orders against each other. As we reported, Nia claimed Shakur was threatening her and daughter Royalty. Shakur claimed Guzman was harassing her because she's a witness in Nia's custody battle with Chris.

According to docs, obtained by TMZ, though ... the ladies have resolved the dispute through mediation. Both restraining orders are gone and the cases have been dismissed.

The only remnant of their beef -- Shakur's diss track. That s**t is forever.

Usain Bolt loves Bill Clinton. Bill Clinton loves Usain Bolt ... and they professed their love for each other at an F1 race in Texas over the weekend.

The two were both VIP guests at the US Grand Prix in Austin, Texas on Sunday -- where they hung out and BS'd together before the race?

Bolt told Bill he's the greatest President ever. Clinton told Bolt, "I'm a huge fan."

And why? There was that time at the Olympics Bolt convinced his GF to let him mess around with other women.

Game respects game, right?

Amber Rose and Blac Chyna are still BFFs ... despite Amber crawling into the lap of, and licking the face of, Chyna's ex-bf, Future.

Amber is the lead chick in the rapper's "Mask Off" vid -- hot stuff that required them to get REALLY close. Considering BC and Future had a nasty breakup about 18 months back ... you'd think the sexy scenes might rub Amber's pal the wrong way.

But if there's one thing Chyna understands, it's money -- and she knows that's why Amber shot the video, not to take a shot at her. We're told Future's team reached out to get Amber for the role, and with 'Mask' being the hottest track out now ... she couldn't turn it down.

Our sources say BC's got her hands full right now with Rob Kardashian and baby Dream ... so, she's not sweatin' Future.

Besides, tattoo removal would be her more pressing issue.