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Merab Dvalishvili vs. Umar Nurmagomedov makes all the sense in the world, especially to the MMA purists, BUT ... Khabib's cousin says, for some reason, the newly crowned UFC champ seems scurred to take the fight.

"It's looking like he's avoiding [me]. He's scared [of] someone who can defend takedowns, who can stop him," Umar told TMZ Sports on Friday, adding ... "I just want to fight."

Of course, on paper, it's the match to make.

While some people still might doubt Jake Paul when it comes to boxing, Mike Tyson sure doesn't ... 'cause the boxing legend TMZ Sports the "Problem Child" is a "dangerous opponent" ahead of their November fight.

But make no mistake ... that doesn't mean he doesn't expect to whoop his ass!!

58-year-old Tyson -- whose last sanctioned pro bout was in 2005 -- spoke with us a month before his Nov. 15 event against Paul, Netflix's first-ever foray into the sport.

Deshaun Watson's more focused on counting his money than throwing touchdowns ... so says ex-Cleveland Browns GM Michael Lombardi, who tells TMZ Sports the quarterback is "horrible" and lacks motivation after securing a massive guaranteed contract.

It's no secret -- Watson's been a shell of himself during his time in Cleveland ... with most members of the Dawg Pound begging the team to end their misery and bench the guy.

We asked Lombardi -- who served as general manager for the team from 2013 to 2014 -- what he thinks happened to Watson ... and he believes the $230 million he inked killed the version he was while a member of the Houston Texans.

Jake Paul is hyper-focused on his megafight with Mike Tyson ... but the Problem Child also has an eye turned towards the future and an inevitable scrap with the great Canelo Alvarez!

And, 27-year-old Paul says when the day comes where the two men stand face-to-face in the squared circle, Jake will be anything but content to just be there ... 'cause he's in it to win it!

"Everything I've said has come true and why Canelo, you know, should be awake at night, because I'm coming for him," Paul told Babcock on the TMZ Sports TV show (airs nightly on FS1).

The demolition of Dak Prescott's Dallas-area Mansion is complete ... and TMZ Sports has gotten a look at what remains of the Dallas Cowboys superstar's old crib.

Nothing. Just a pile of rubble.

ICYMI ... we posted video on Tuesday showing Prescott's home being torn down with an excavator. We're told the signal caller decided he wanted to rebuild a more modern house that better suits his needs -- so he enlisted the help of Dude Perfect, the YouTube stars, to aid in the demo process.

For the first time since 2021, Bob Baffert will be allowed to enter a horse to race at the Churchill Downs ... and he tells TMZ Sports he's excited to be back!!

We caught up with the legendary horse trainer out at LAX `this week ... and the 71-year-old said it felt "great" to be back in the saddle after his suspension from the track was rescinded in July.

Baffert was punished in 2021 after his horse -- Medina Spirit -- was disqualified from the Kentucky Derby after it failed a drug test -- leading to runner-up Mandaloun being declared the winner.

La La Anthony says family friend Bronny James is nothing short of an "inspiration" ... but when it comes to her son Kiyan's basketball journey, she tells TMZ Sports he's "doing his own thing" when making his college decision.

17-year-old Kiyan -- a top-ranked high school hooper in New York -- and the Los Angeles Lakers rookie, 20, have long been compared to each other for years ... especially because of their famous dads.

Bronny, of course, is two years older than Kiyan ... so he got to experience the one-and-done at USC before making it to the Association -- all while Anthony was doing his thing in high school.

"Love is Blind" is helping a fragrance company rake in the dough ... because a product featured on the Netflix reality show is now seeing a sales increase as a result.

Here's the deal ... on the second episode of the latest season of "Love Is Blind," Taylor Krause uses a roll-on pheromone perfume to add scent to her love note to Garrett Josemans.

It didn't take long for "Love Is Blind" fans to look up the product and start giving reviews on social media ... with a close-up camera shot on the show revealing Taylor was using Pure Instinct's Original Roll-On Pheromone Perfume.

4:40 PM PT -- Howard King, Dr. Dre's attorney, tells TMZ ... "Mr. Sophy got some text messages in 2023 from an angry patient who had been mistreated, along with his entire family, by a self-proclaimed psychiatric expert. Nothing has changed since 2023 that would warrant this desperate filing and attempt for attention other than Mr. Young's refusal to drop his confidential efforts to have Sophy's license terminated by the Osteopathic Medical Board."

4:10 PM PT -- The judge has granted the TRO.

Dr. Dre's former psychiatrist isn't just suing him, he's downright terrified of him -- so much so, he's asking a judge to order the music mogul to stay away ... TMZ has learned.

Dr. Charles Sophy filed for a temporary restraining order Friday in L.A. County Court ... citing the alleged threats he says Dre texted him over the course of 18 months. Sophy, who had served as a marriage counselor for Dre and his now ex-wife Nicole during their divorce, wants the court to force Dre to stay 100 yards away from him and his 22-year-old son.

According to the docs, obtained by TMZ, he also wants Dre to stop contacting him altogether ... whether by phone, text or email. Sophy's fear is evident in the documents -- he says Dre knows where he lives, and has previously been inside his home.

"Fully Torqued" star Steve Pazmany is issuing a warning in the aftermath of Elon Musk's Cybercab debut last night ... claiming the new product could be the end of Uber and other ride-shares.

TMZ's obtained video of the History Channel personality at the Hot Rod Power Tour in Scottsdale, Arizona, where he reacted to Elon's pitch for a driverless future. While the invention may be good news for the Tesla boss, Steve said the autonomous developments could mark the end of ride-share apps ... and thousands of jobs across the globe.

He added ... "I think that's going to come sooner than later. If I was an Uber driver, I'd be worried about my job right now. The future is here and to say autonomous driving isn't gonna succeed eventually ... I don't know. I'd be nervous."

Benzino and Eminem were among the first participators of the diss track-throwin' 2024 Rap Wars that saw Megan Thee Stallion vs. Nicki Minaj, Kendrick Lamar vs. Drake, and beyond ... but Benzino says he's serious about burying the beef. FOREVER.

He thinks it makes all the sense in the world for him and Eminem to be friends ... they're both in their golden years and need to break bread one good time for the culture, of course.

Benzino tells TMZ Hip Hop he was serious about the passionate congratulations he showered on Em in light of news Slim Shady's daughter Hailie Jade is expecting her first child.

"Love Is Blind" star Nick Dorka may've accidentally dropped a major season 7 spoiler ... hinting he and fiancée Hannah Jiles may already be over.

We caught up with the reality TV star at LAX, where Nick touched on the extensive vetting process contestants undergo to get onto the show ... suggesting some are just luckier than others when it comes to finding "The One."

Here's where Nick appeared to slip up, though ... when asked why he selected "Love Is Blind" over another dating series, like "The Bachelor," ND made it clear he's still open to competing on the ABC dating competition.

Nick later clarified to us he was joking about the Bachelor comment and said he had just gotten off a 6 hour flight and a 8 hour work day so he was having fun with it.

Nightmare scenario for Joe Exotic ... he tells us he's been infected with a painful skin condition, part of a huge outbreak at the Texas prison where he's doing time.

The "Tiger King" star tells TMZ ... He's among 300 inmates in quarantine at FMC Forth Worth. Joe says he's one of 140 inmates with confirmed cases of scabies.

According to the CDC, scabies is a skin infestation caused by a human itch mite ... and it causes intense itching and a pimple-like skin rash.

Cardi B gave herself an early birthday present with a lavish stay at a luxury short-term rental in Paris ... and the place looks fit for a queen.

Sources tell TMZ ... last week, Cardi B shacked up at a super exclusive Airbnb in Paris, a penthouse overlooking the Eiffel Tower.

We're told the place costs around $50,000 per night and is not typically listed for public bookings ... instead, it's generally only available for high-end clientele.

Garcelle Beauvais is encouraging people to get out and vote in the upcoming Presidential election ... with the "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" star singling out Black men in particular.

We caught up with the actress outside Craig's on Thursday evening, where GB had only one thing on her mind ... rallying voters for Kamala Harris ahead of November 5.

As Garcelle put it ... this election is "risky," as it's currently too close between Vice President Harris and former president Donald Trump.

Donald Trump isn't going to Aurora, Colorado to stoke tension between Americans and undocumented immigrants ... he's going to bring more awareness to gangs reportedly taking over buildings there -- according to one city councilmember, that is.

We spoke with Councilwoman Danielle Jurinsky -- the woman who originally leaked the shocking video of alleged members of Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua forcing their way into an apartment with guns -- about Trump's scheduled rally in the city Friday.

The rally is garnering controversy 'cause many feel the former POTUS will use it to stoke trouble for immigrant communities in the area. The Denver-metro city's mayor Mike Coffman even came out and said his city of 400,000 ain't a "war zone," as Trump's campaign has called it.