Boxing

Douglas Lima says he ain't just the best welterweight in Bellator ... he's the best freakin' welterweight MMA fighter on planet Earth.

Yes ... ya listening, Kamaru Usman? 'Cause Lima says (in the most respectful way ever) he knows for sure he'd beat you!!!

TMZ Sports talked to the 31-year-old Lima -- who's got a record of 32-7 with wins over beasts like Michael "Venom" Page and Paul Daley -- 2 days after his Bellator Grand Prix title win over Rory McDonald.

The prize? The welterweight belt and a million bucks.

We'll get to the money later ... but first, we asked Lima where he stacks up when it comes to the badass welterweight fighters in the UFC.

Flat out, Douglas says he's the best ... and he's tired of people shading him and his skills 'cause he isn't in Dana White's promotion.

"I know real MMA fans, they recognize, they know I'm up there with those guys. They know I can beat, I can fight any of them. But, most of them it's like, 'Man, you're not in the UFC, you're a nobody.'"

Lima continued ... "Man, I hate that. That's people who doesn't understand the sport. It's not the name UFC or Bellator or ONE FC. There's killers everywhere."

Usman is the current champ ... so we point-blank asked Lima what'd happen if they fought.

"I'd beat him. I'd probably KO him. He's a great wrestler for sure, he wrestles a lot. But man, at any point in that fight if I connect, I can put him away. I don't even think about that, I just know I can beat him, I can beat anybody at this weight class.

"I'm not talking bad about the guy. He's a champion there. He's doing his thing. But, I just know it, man. If one day something like this happens, I definitely believe in myself to go over there and kill it."

Now, bout that milli ... the check hasn't hit Douglas' account just yet, but when it does -- he's got some pretty cool plans for the dough.

Andy Ruiz sprang into action after seeing an elderly man struggling to push his stalled car over the weekend -- hopping out of his ride to lend a heavyweight hand!!!

The boxing superstar was cruising with his childhood buddy, Alexander Martinez, in his pricey Lamborghini Urus when he spotted a guy struggling to move his Land Rover in the street.

That's when Martinez says Ruiz jumped into action ... telling The Sun, "Andy noticed he was trying to push the car himself and we pulled over and he got out with Anthony Garnica, a fellow fighter."

You can see in the video what happens next ... the two fighters get the stranded car through the intersection and to safety in a hurry -- and it's pretty awesome footage.

Both dudes struggle to keep their jeans up (seriously, guys, get a belt!!!) while pushing the car ... all while Martinez jokes about this being part of Ruiz's training for Anthony Joshua!!!

"They pushed the car and got back in," Martinez said of the deed. "The guy had no idea who he [Ruiz] was which was cool."

Seems like nobody was injured in the whole ordeal ... and it looks like the man's car is going to be fine after some minor repairs.

Tyson Fury wasn't just talkin' that talk when he said he wanted to get into MMA -- he was serious ... now announcing he'll be training with the Notorious MMA to get ready.

The heavyweight boxer confirmed the big news Sunday while talking to Sky Sports News, telling them that he's got something even bigger in the works than his upcoming WWE match against Braun Strowman in Saudi Arabia. What might that be, you ask???

It's the Octagon, baby!!! The Gypsy King himself says an MMA debut is on the horizon, and that none other than Conor McGregor is going to help him train across the pond.

And, when is this gonna be happening, you may wonder??? Tyson had an answer for that too ... he says if all goes according to plan, we may be seeing him get in the cage sometime this year. Keep in mind -- it's October, folks. So, if he's serious, that's a quick turnaround.

Lucky for Tyson, he looks to be in great shape right now ... and is definitely on a tear to take over all combat sports, as he told us just last week in NYC. We couldn't tell if he was simply hyped off his WWE debut by roping in MMA, but clearly he wasn't. He's dead serious.

How's this for AWKWARD -- undefeated boxing phenom Shakur Stevenson is fighting his GF's brother on Saturday night ... and he's vowing to bust that dude up!!!

Don't get it twisted, Shakur's opponent is no bum -- he's undefeated 23-0 Joet Gonzalez -- and they're fighting for the WBO featherweight championship!!!

So, how does 22-year-old Shakur feel about trying to knock out his girlfriend's sibling? NOT BOTHERED AT ALL!!!

"He's bothered by the situation," Shakur says. "He's the one who hates me. I don't really hate him."

We asked Shakur if he was going to take it easier on Joet because of the family connection -- and man, he straight up laughed in our faces.

"Hell no! F**k no! I'm not taking it easy at all!!!"

In fact, Shakur says ... "Saturday night I've got something that's gonna make him more mad!"

By the way, Shakur has been dominant in the ring ... and has HIGH HOPES for his pro career -- even calling out Vasyl Lomachenko, widely considered one of the best pound-for-pound fighters on Earth.

"Lomachenko. Lomachenko. Lomachenko is my dream fight."

Shakur says the guys have been in the ring together a lot ... 'cause he sparred with Vasyl back in 2017.

The dream could become reality very soon ... as in like the next 2 years, according to Shakur.

"I actually respect Lomachenko, he's one of the people that I think are one of the best in boxing. He's one of the people that I want to take their spot."

Boxing superstar Claressa Shields is getting more and more serious about switching over to MMA -- telling TMZ Sports she's down to fight in 2020 ... and she's getting help from one of the BEST in the game.

Shields is 9-0 as a pro boxer and holds a BUNCH of world titles -- but she admits she's getting a little bored with the lackluster competition in women's boxing ... and wants a challenge.

Shields recently began training in MMA with accomplished wrestler Adeline Gray -- and she's doing really well.

In fact, MMA rising superstar Kayla Harrison was so impressed ... she's offered to step in and help Claressa too.

"I see some true potential there," Harrison says ... "If she wants to continue to work on her [double leg takedown], she's got my number. I'll show her some judo throws. We can make it happen!"

Harrison told Shields there's one catch ...

"As long as you help me straighten out my striking! So far in my MMA career, I've thrown about zero punches on my feet."

Kayla thinks Shields could take a pro-MMA fight in 6 months -- and when we asked Shields if that sounded realistic, she was all about it.

"Yeah! It sounds great! MMA is interesting because I just love fighting, I really do. I love to punch people!"

Ultimately, seems Claressa's goal is to fight UFC superstar Amanda Nunes -- which would be AWESOME!!!

Canelo Alvarez is distancing himself from the sexual assault allegations levied against his promoter, Oscar De La Hoya ... saying, "I don't want to get involved in his business."

TMZ Sports broke the story ... a woman is suing Oscar claiming he violently sexually assaulted her at his Pasadena home in 2017. Oscar vehemently denies the allegation.

And, since Canelo is a client of Oscar's Golden Boy Promotions, he was asked by Univision how he feels about the serious allegations against the boxing legend as he gears up for his big Nov. 2 fight against Sergey Kovalev.

"Listen, everyone has their own issues," Alvarez said (translated from Spanish) ... "He's got his problems, I have mine, and we each take care of our own stuff."

"He knows how to navigate them, and I don't want to get involved in his business."

Alvarez was asked if Oscar's issues affect him as an athlete, to which Canelo replied -- "No. For me, I do things the way I have to do them. It doesn't affect me at all."

Canelo was also asked if he had beef with Oscar over the allegations.

Logan Paul says the Mayweather family "doesn't give a f**k" if KSI wins their boxing rematch next month ... telling TMZ Sports Floyd's fam is only training him to promote their YouTube channel.

Of course, KSI has been training with some of the top guys in the industry -- including "team advisor" Jeff Mayweather (Floyd's uncle) -- leading up to the Nov. 9 bout at Staples Center, which will stream on DAZN.

24-year-old Paul was training at Wild Card Boxing gym in L.A. on Tuesday ... when he told us his opponent is being used by the legendary family for clout.

"I think the Mayweathers are smart. I think they know if they put KSI's name in their video, they'll get views on their YouTube channel," Logan said.

"Let's be honest. I'm pretty sure Floyd Mayweather or any of the Mayweathers don't give a f**k if he wins or loses the fight ... but you got those views on that YouTube channel!! Way to go!!"

FWIW -- we spoke with KSI earlier this month about his training ... and he's so serious about pursuing a career in the sport, he's already spent $300k of his own dough on training, diet, equipment, etc.

Jake Paul is doubling down on his claim he hooked up with Bellator fighter Dillon Danis' GF ... and he tells TMZ Sports he WILL take their beef to the ring ... just not yet.

So, a bit of a crash course here -- 22-year-old Jake first called out Danis last year, saying he'd beat his ass in a boxing match because his "striking is super weak."

The 2 have traded insults ever since ... and Jake recently went to IG to tell Danis to "ask savannah about the time we hooked up," ... referring to Savannah Montano, an Instagram model Danis has been dating for a while now.

Fast forward to Monday, when Danis told Ariel Helwani he was offered between $4 to $5 million to face off with Paul to finally settle their differences in the ring (while also calling BS on Paul's most recent jab).

We spoke with Jake at Wild Card boxing gym on Tuesday about the huge offer ... and Paul said, "I don't know what he's talking about."

And, then Jake went IN on Danis.

"Dillon, I know you're watching this ... Just remember you're still a bitch and I hooked up with your girlfriend. Savannah, how you doing? What's good?"

Jake added ... "He's not worth $5 million. The only reason anyone knows who he is, is because he's used me and my brother's name to make a name for himself and he got punched in the face by Khabib [Nurmagomedov after UFC 229]. That's the peak of his career."

"He's Conor McGregor's best friend. That's all this guy's done."

Jake says he's not fighting Danis yet because it's not what the fans want right now ... but when the time is right, he's fully prepared to take him on.

At least one Paul brother will be taking the ring soon ... Logan will have his highly anticipated rematch with KSI on Nov. 9, which will be streamed on DAZN.

No hostility, just respect ... at least that's how it went down when Canelo Alvarez and Sergey Kovalev met backstage for a recent fight event -- with Kovalev even asking for a selfie!!!

The two came face to face during a Sept. 18 promotional event leading up to their big Nov. 2 fight in Las Vegas ... and it was like old friends getting together!!!

Sergey commented on Canelo beefing up as he prepared his body to jump two weight classes to fight Kovalev as a light heavyweight ... the first time Canelo's ever fought at that weight.

And, after a friendly exchange and a fist pound, Canelo agreed to pose a quick selfie.

It was all captured for DAZN's docu-series, "40 Days: Canelo vs. Kovalev" -- which features all of the behind the scenes drama leading up to what could be the fight of the year.

The 3-part series, produced by LeBron James and Maverick Carter's Uninterrupted brand -- along with Mexican soccer superstar Carlos Vela -- kicks off Tuesday night ... and features stars like Gabriel Iglesias, Draymond Green and DJ Khaled.

Oscar De La Hoya is being sued by a woman who claims the boxing legend sexually assaulted and battered her during a booze-fueled 2017 hookup ... and the allegations are graphic.

The woman who filed the suit uses the alias "Jane Doe" to protect her identity -- but describes herself as a licensed vocational nurse who met Oscar in 2016.

In her suit, filed in L.A. County Superior Court, Doe admits the two had an ongoing consensual sexual relationship, but says things went awry in Nov. 2017 when he invited her over to check out his new house in Pasadena.

Doe claims Oscar had bottles of alcohol and "a bag of what appeared to be cocaine" in his kitchen when she arrived -- and she claims it became clear, he was on a mission to get wasted.

After Oscar became intoxicated, she claims the boxer invited her to the bedroom to hook up -- and during the encounter, he asked if she was down to "experiment" sexually.

Doe claims she declined various unusual requests and Oscar became frustrated -- but things came to a head when he "ultimately held her down with one arm while forcefully trying to insert his fist into Plaintiff's vagina."

In her suit, Doe claims she "repeatedly said no and demanded that De La Hoya stop. However, De La Hoya overpowered her and suddenly and forcefully pushed his hand and fist into Plaintiff's vagina."

Doe claims she screamed in pain and yelled at Oscar -- but he just laughed and told her to take a shot of alcohol. The woman claims she refused the booze and angrily left the house.

After the incident, Doe claims she "felt extreme swelling and pain for which she was prescribed medication at urgent care."

She also "sought treatment with a Doctor of Psychology and Certified Sex Therapist who diagnosed Plaintiff with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder arising from the sexual battery by De La Hoya."

The woman does not say in her suit if she ever filed a report with police.

Doe claims she still suffers from extreme distress, humiliation, indignation and outrage -- along with depression, anxiety and related symptoms associated with post-traumatic stress disorder.

In her suit, filed by attorney Greg Kirakosian, Doe is demanding unspecified damages for sexual assault, sexual battery, gender violence, negligence and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

We reached out to multiple people in De La Hoya's camp multiple times -- so far, no word back.

You gotta watch this video ... UFC fighter Dominick Reyes passionately explaining why he's convinced he's the guy who will finally beat Jon Jones -- and he's FIRED UP!!!

"I got these hands. I got this heart. I'm Mexican. He's never fought a Mexican. I'm tough as s**t and I'm never gonna stop!"

Reyes is coming off a 1st-round highlight-reel knockout of ex-UFC champ Chris Weidman -- and he tells TMZ Sports he's sick of waiting for his crack at the G.O.A.T.

"I've taken out 6 guys in a row in my division. I'm undefeated, nobody's ever beat me. I don't have quit in me. I don't know how to lose. That's not what I do. I'm here to win fights, and I'm here to win 'em emphatically."

When asked if his team has had official talks with the UFC or Jones to get a fight on the books, Reyes broke it down this way ...

"We're working on it right now but it almost feels like he's hiding behind his managers at this point."

"His managers are trying to tell me what I need, telling me I need another fight. Don't tell me what I need dude. How 'bout you worry about your boy! I know he's scared to fight me!"

Reyes also told us why he's different from Daniel Cormier, Anthony Smith and other UFC stars who have vowed to beat Jones only to come up short.

Ya gotta listen to what Reyes has to say ... he wants this fight BAD!!!

Gervonta Davis is officially off the hook in his ATM assault case -- after officials say the boxing superstar made things right with his alleged victim ... using cold hard cash.

TMZ Sports broke the story ... 24-year-old Davis allegedly got physical with a man at an ATM at an upscale outdoor mall in Virginia on Feb. 17. And, when cops arrived, the situation got even CRAZIER.

Cops say Gervonta "directed derogatory and offensive language" at them ... and pics obtained by TMZ Sports show a clearly heated Gervonta speaking with one of the officers.

Davis was later charged with one misdemeanor count of assault -- and was facing up to 1 YEAR in jail for the crime.

But, a court official tells TMZ Sports the charge was formally dismissed on Monday ... saying Davis reached a deal with prosecutors.

According to the official, Davis agreed to write the alleged victim a check for injuries suffered in the incident. Officials would not say how much Gervonta forked over. But, in exchange, prosecutors dropped the charge.

It's good timing for Gervonta ... the Floyd Mayweather protege has seen his stock soar over the past year -- and at 22-0, he's in line for some BIG MONEY fights.

Andy Ruiz might want to think twice about ditching his fat ... cause "The Biggest Loser" trainer Dolvett Quince tells TMZ Sports he might advise the stud boxer against it!!

"I think the weight that he had on was to his advantage," Quince says ... "Maybe the blows didn't hit as hard."

Of course, Ruiz -- who's got a huge rematch coming up against Anthony Joshua -- doesn't seem to be listening ... he appears to be dropping lbs by the day -- check out this vid he posted earlier this week!!

Right??? Dude's downright skinny as hell now!!!

Quince tells us he's happy Andy is shaping up a bit ... but the famous trainer says he's got at least a little bit of worry that Ruiz's boxing skills could suffer if he gets any thinner.

But, don't get it twisted, above all, Quince is just stoked Andy's getting healthier ... telling us, "From a health perspective, you're doing your thing, man!"

This might be the classiest clap back ever ... Floyd Mayweather subtly responding to 50 Cent after the rapper said Floyd's protege Gervonta Davis stole Mayweather's chick.

Earlier this week, 50 posted a video on social media saying he got a tip about someone who "took champ's bitch" -- and then identified the lady stealer as Davis.

"I don't know what the f**k," 50 said ... "Nelly took one of the bitches, Ray J took one of the bitches, now Gervonta done took one of the bitches. He bought the bitch a Bentley, Maybach, motherf**king condo and all that s**t. Now Gervonta got the bitch? N***a probably want to put a suicide note, man."

So, when we saw Floyd this week, we asked him about Gervonta -- and Mayweather showered him with praise, essentially saying Davis is like family.

"He's an unbelievable fighter and they can’t stop him," Floyd said.

"He’s the best at what he do. I’m behind him. I look at him like a son, ya know? I’ve been working with him for years now. And, the only thing we’re gonna do is keep racking those victories and beating the best they got out there."

Seem like a guy who thinks Gervonta stole his lady??? Not really ...

Paige VanZant says Mackenzie Dern is a HUGE inspiration -- showing that women CAN still have a career in the UFC even after giving birth!!!

Of course, Dern lost her comeback fight to Amanda Ribas just 4 months after giving birth to her baby daughter ... but the fight went the distance and Dern still looked pretty dangerous.

25-year-old VanZant says watching Dern fight "put things into perspective for me" about the reality of starting a family with her MMA fighter husband, Austin Vanderford, while maintaining a career as an MMA fighter.

"I always thought that I was going to have kids once I’m done fighting but now seeing that, I’m like no you don’t have to."

"[Dern] legitimately, in the time I broke my arm, she had a baby, came back and fought. So, now I’m like okay there’s hope for me!"

"Me and my husband, I can have a few more fights, maybe have kids and then still continue to fight. I don’t have to give up my dreams, just because you go through childbirth."

"It’s really inspiring and I hope other women can see that too. She’s still young and she’s going to have a really successful UFC career, it’s awesome."

Michael Bisping was already up and throwing knee strikes just hours after his replacement surgery on Thursday ... testing out the new merchandise in his hospital gown!!!

The UFC superstar got the work done after he had been dealing with intense pain in his knee since he tore his PCL in 2005, with the discomfort getting unbearable over the past 6 months.

Now, the Count has a brand-spankin' new knee after a 3.5-hour procedure at St. Joseph Hospital of Orange ... and by the looks of it, Bisping isn't gonna miss a step!!!

The 40-year-old Hall of Famer hopped off his hospital bed and started showin' off his jab and knee strikes ... and almost exposed his whole ass in the process.

"Here’s to a new chapter in life. New Knee, New Me!!!!!," Bisping said. "Still got it!"

BTW -- if you REALLLLLLY wanna see what Bisping's knee looked like, he gave us the pleasure of posting the absolutely disgusting images on his Instagram.

Swipe at your own risk.