Bodybuilding Star Shawn Rhoden Making Return At 'Arnold Classic' ... Amid Rape Allegations

Bodybuilding superstar Shawn Rhoden -- 2018 Mr. Olympia -- will return to competition for the first time since being accused of rape ... and it's all going down at Arnold Schwarzenegger's big event.

Rhoden has DENIED sexually assaulting a female bodybuilder back in Oct. 2018 -- but the mere allegations led to the org. behind Mr. Olympia to suspend him indefinitely.

Just a few weeks ago, the 44-year-old had told us he was unsure about his future in bodybuilding ... but now, he's making his return at one of the biggest muscle events of the year.

It's called the Arnold Classic -- every year, the top muscleheads from around the world take over Columbus, Ohio, to flaunt their bods for coveted titles and prizes. It's one of the most prestigious events in the sport.

FYI, the last winner of the Arnold Classic, Brandon “The Prodigy” Curry, earned $130,000 for first place and got a personal congratulations from Arnold himself.

Rhoden isn't just competing at the event, he's one of the faces of the overarching Arnold Sports Festival ... and they're using his face and body on promotional material.

In fact, Rhoden posted the flyer for the event, saying -- "Ready or not here we come."

As for Shawn's chances ... last time we saw him out, he was looking big as hell -- and HAS to be considered one of the favorites to win the event.

Shawn Rhoden
JUST CHILLIN'
TMZSports.com

Chargers' Austin Ekeler 1-Armed Pull Ups While Reading a Book!!!

Austin Ekeler
LIGHT REPS
@austinekeler

LA Chargers star Austin Ekeler isn't just jacked ... he's 1-armed-pull-ups-while-reading-a-book jacked ... and the dude put it on full display in a crazy video on Instagram!!!

Fresh off scoring the game-winning TD against the Chicago Bears on Sunday ... the 24-year-old celebrated a "peaceful victory Monday," complete with a workout and some literature.

FYI -- Austin and his GF, Taylor are OBSESSED with fitness ... and the couple likes to incorporate their relationship into some unique workouts.

Hey, the dude has been putting up numbers this season ... racking up 8 touchdowns, more than 250 rushing yards and 500 receiving yards.

So, instead of just chillin' on the couch tonight, be more like Austin and kill 2 birds with one stone!!!

Rob Kardashian Sober and Slimmer ... At Kim's 39th Bday

Rob Kardashian
SLIMMED DOWN

Rob Kardashian's been using his time out of the public eye to focus on his health and drop some pounds ... and a lot of it's thanks to saying no to alcohol.

The Kardashian bro was spotted in Kim's Instagram Story from her birthday celebration Monday night, clearly looking a lot leaner than he used to.

Sources close to Rob tell TMZ ... he quit drinking recently and has been focusing on making better diet choices -- including cutting down on fast food. We're told he's also exercising on the reg and playing a lot of basketball to get in shape.

All of this combined has led to him shedding a lot of weight -- our sources say in the ballpark of 20 lbs. ... maybe more compared to a couple years ago.

We're told Rob's in the best place he's been mentally in a long time too ... fully devoted to raising his daughter, Dream, and making sure she's growing up happily.

Along with this positive development, Rob's also managed to avoid any dust-ups with his baby mama, Blac Chyna, for the past several months ... and that's good for everyone's health.

As for Rob's sister's 39th birthday party ... it was pretty sweet. The fam got a "home cooked meal" from Carousel Restaurant -- which cooks up Middle Eastern cuisine -- and Kim was showered with gifts.

The best one, though, came in the form of a million-dollar donation from Kanye in her honor ... to support some of her favorite charities.

Andy Ruiz 'Biggest Loser' Trainer Advice ... Keep The Fat On!!!

Dolvett Quince
LOOKIN' GOOD, WIN OR LOSE
TMZSports.com

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!!

Andy Ruiz Jr. 10/16/2019
LOOKING SLIM

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!"

As for the fight itself ... it takes place on Dec. 7 -- maybe sneak in at least a few cheat days between now and then, Andy???

Mike Tyson Shadowboxing at 53 ... Still Scary As Hell!!!

He hasn't fought in almost 15 years, but 53-year-old Mike Tyson can still hit like a mack truck ... and here's the video to prove it!!
HASN'T LOST A STEP

HE'S STILL GOT IT!!!

He hasn't fought in almost 15 years, but 53-year-old Mike Tyson can still hit like a Mack Truck ... and here's the video to prove it!!

Mike was hosting a bunch of UFC stars at Tyson Ranch earlier this month -- including Ottman Azaitar, a rising MMA star from Morocco.

During the meeting, Ottman and Tyson were talking about striking -- specifically a stick-and-move technique, when Mike decided it was time for the jacket to come off and the guns to come out.

UFC's Khabib Nurmagomedov Swims In Freezing River In Dagestan ... Insane Training Video!!!

Khabib Nurmagomedov
GOIN' WITH THE FLOW

He's wrestled live bears and sprinted up mountains, but now Khabib Nurmagomedov is taking his training to the next level ... swimming a freezing cold Dagestani river!

Oh, and he's swimming against a pretty strong current!!!

THIS IS INSANE!!

Khabib -- who recently defeated Dustin Poirier -- is gearing up for a tough fight (presumably against Tony Ferguson) and he's not wasting any time getting into fight shape.

Which is why he ended up taking a dip in a river in Kizilyurt -- a small town in Dagestan.

Khabib's pal (who goes by King Farruh) shot the footage and gave his account of the session.

"Hard work and dedication from champ khabib_nurmagomedov. Today was very cold, he doesn’t care."

"Water was very cold I tried to put my feet and almost freeze my a$$ off. Tony you’re in trouble!"

Khabib is 28-0 as a pro MMA fighter with signature wins over guys like Conor McGregor, Rafael dos Anjos, Edson Barboza and Al Iaquinta.

Kenyan Runner Eliud Kipchoge 1st-Ever to Finish Marathon In Under 2 Hours!!!

Kenyan runner Eliud Kipchoge achieved an historic milestone -- becoming the first person to run sub-2 hour marathon ... EVER!!!

Kipchoge completed the monumental feat Saturday in Vienna, running a 26.2-mile path that was specifically charted for this attempt, and as such ... isn't technically viewed as a sanctioned marathon course. Because of that, this new time won't be recognized as a world record --  but still, the guy can say he did it ... clocking in at 1:59:40.

BTW, he holds the official world record for a marathon time at 2:01:39, which he set in Berlin just last year. He came up short on this very same challenge -- dubbed the INEOS 1:59 Challenge -- a couple years back, finishing at 2:00:25.

Shawn Rhoden Working On Mr. Olympia Comeback ... Amid Rape Allegations

Shawn Rhoden
JUST CHILLIN'
TMZSports.com

Bodybuilding superstar Shawn Rhoden ain't giving up on a return to the Mr. Olympia contest ... he tells TMZ Sports, "I'll be back competing in no time."

Rhoden famously beat legendary bodybuilder Phil Heath for the Mr. Olympia title last year ... but he was banned from this year's contest after he was accused of rape.

But, Rhoden -- who VEHEMENTLY denies the allegations -- says he's not giving up on his quest to win Mr. Olympia again, telling us this week that he's still working in the gym.

Tim Tebow Destroyed In Push-Up Contest ... During Prison Visit

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GETTIN' SMOKED

Here's something you've never seen before ... Tim Tebow got dominated in a push-up battle -- all while he was spending time with inmates at a Texas prison!!!

Tim -- who's been preaching religion to people behind bars for YEARS -- visited the Alfred D. Hughes Unit in Gatesville, TX on Thursday to talk with the guys.

But, at some point ... Tim put down the mic and put his arms to the test -- 'cause the ex-NFL QB went one-on-one with an inmate in a push-up contest ... and got DESTROYED!!!

The former Heisman Trophy winner actually threw up some amazing numbers ... in about a minute, he got his body up and down 71 times.

Arnold Schwarzenegger Pumpin' Iron ... With Kawhi Leonard!!!

Kawhi Leonard is REALLY embracing the Hollywood life now that he's an L.A. Clipper -- because his new workout partner is ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER!!

The NBA superstar hit up the legendary Gold's Gym in Venice Beach on Tuesday ... where Arnold was ripping off a set of 1-arm preacher curls.

The two were seen chatting it up in the gym while a camera crew captured the entire interaction. Unclear what the guys were filming, but they looked like they were having fun.

Fun Fact: The Gold's Gym in Venice is the ORIGINAL Gold's Gym ... made famous in the 1977 bodybuilding flick, "Pumping Iron," which featured Arnold in all of his shredded glory.

So, does this mean Ahnald roots for the Clippers over the Lakers this year?! Not so fast ...

Gymnast Katelyn Ohashi Naked Photoshoot Was Stressful ... 'Took A Lot Of Courage!!!'

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PORTRAYING VULNERABILITY
TMZSports.com

Ex-UCLA gymnast Katelyn Ohashi -- one of the stars of ESPN's Body Issue -- says she was nervous as hell to strip down for cameras, telling TMZ Sports, "It took a lot of courage!!!"

Ohashi had a meteoric rise to fame this past year ... after an awesome floor routine at UCLA in January (59 MILLION people watched it!!!) -- she became a household name.

So much so, ESPN's producers asked her to appear in the buff in their magazine ... and even though she absolutely killed it -- she says it was terrifying!!!

Waiting for your permission to load the Instagram Media.

But, Ohashi says it was all worth it ... telling us she's been trying to convey the message that it's okay to be vulnerable in your own skin -- and she thinks the shoot was able to accomplish that.

"I try to portray that on social media in general, like exposing my flaws and struggles and hardships," Katelyn says. "And, to be able to get in front of a camera and do that ... you quickly become at ease."

Ohashi has been open and honest about her body throughout her time at UCLA ... with the 22-year-old admitting she's battled eating disorders and body shaming for years.

But, Katelyn says she's happy and healthy now ... and wrote on social media this month, "i’m proud of my body and all its imperfections, that’s all i have to say."

Damn right!!!

Ivan Drago and Apollo Creed Rematch at Venice Beach!!!

It was like 1985 all over again when Dolph Lundgren and Carl Weathers came face-to-face in Venice Beach this week ... and we could only think one thing -- RUN, APOLLO!!!!!!

Remember, a juiced up Ivan Drago beat Apollo Creed to death during that exhibition bout in "Rocky IV" ... why didn't you throw in the damn towel, Rock!?!

But, here we are 34 years later ... Apollo died after secretly knocking up a woman who had a kid named Adonis ... and the rest is history!

There were rumors Carl Weathers was upset at Sylvester Stallone when the Rocky franchise came back with Creed ... and Apollo Creed wasn't a part of it -- but all of that seems to be overblown.

Of course, Lundren's Drago character DID come back to train his own gigantic Russian son in "Creed II" ... a movie that made more than $200 mil at the box office.

Carl is now 71, Dolph is 61 and they both still lift ... they ran into each other at the legendary Gold's gym in Venice!

So, who would win in a real fight ... Carl, Dolph or Sly?!

Jenny Craig Hauls In a Fat $22M ... for Beachfront Pad!!!

Jenny Craig has a new license to splurge after unloading her enormous beach pad.

The weight-loss guru sold her Del Mar, CA beachfront home for a whopping $22 million. A huge figure ... considering she bought the place back in 1986 for a relatively paltry $3.25 million.

The 5-bedroom, 7-bathroom pad sits on 7,625 square feet and it spans an impressive 80 feet of ocean frontage. The wraparound beach deck is just steps away from the blue Pacific and sweeping views from La Jolla to San Clemente.

The compound also features tons of privacy and an impressive driveway that can accommodate up to 18 cars. If you wanna stay away from the salt ... soak up the sun in the pool and spa. There's also a full-size culinary indoor-outdoor kitchen.

Jason Barry from the Catherine and Jason Barry team represented the buyer. Zach Weinger of Willis Allen Real Estate has the listing.

Lenny Dykstra BAGEL GUY FIGHT TRAINING BEGINS!!! ... Hits NY Boxing Gym

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BAGEL BASHING
TMZSports.com

Lenny Dykstra's new fight training video shows the ex-MLB has real knockdown power ... because he almost put HIMSELF on the mat throwing a left hook!!!

Nails hit a boxing gym in NYC to train for his upcoming celebrity boxing match against Chris Morgan, AKA Angry Bagel Guy ... and he's working on everything from jabs to power shots.

Lenny is cocky as hell ... and with good reason, he's a former world-class athlete and Bagel Guy ... well, he's just angry.

072419_chris_morgan_v3_kal
TRAINING THE TEMPER

But, remember, Bagel Guy has been training with legit UFC superstars -- and he's taking the fight very seriously.

So is Lenny from what we're told ... he's been working with Mel Millington, a former Marine-turned-boxing trainer.

Lenny's jabs looked pretty decent but his footwork needs help -- dude almost fell down throwing that hook.

It's all going down Sept. 28 at the Showboat Hotel in Atlantic City -- and Lenny says if/when he pummels Bagel Guy, he wants his NEXT fight to be against Mickey Rourke.

Remember, Dykstra and Rourke have been beefing for years -- they HATE each other -- and since Mickey's taken fights before, it would be real interesting to see those guys beat each other up.

Lamar Odom I'm Done Watching Porn!!!

Lamar Odom, Sabrina Parr
ROAD TO RECOVERY
TMZSports.com

There's one less Brazzers and Bang Bros subscriber in the world ... 'cause Lamar Odom says he's officially DONE WITH PORN ... telling TMZ Sports he's given up the the habit for a healthier lifestyle.

Of course, LO has been very open about his sex addiction ... claiming he's knocked boots with more than 2,000 women -- including strippers and prostitutes -- in his book, "Darkness to Light."

But, Odom -- who was kicked out of the BIG3 last month for being out of shape -- says he's actively working to change his life in several ways ... telling us he's eliminated candy and porn from his day-to-day.

"I'm trying to be better," Lamar told us at LAX ... saying it's been about a month since he's indulged.

But, the ex-NBA superstar ain't doing it alone ... he's got his fitness guru girlfriend, Sabrina Parr, helping him with his diet and workouts.

Parr says the porn ban has helped in the bedroom ... and it looks like it helps outside the bedroom as well ... 'cause they can't keep their hands off each other.

Lamar Odom
LOCKIN' LIPS
TMZSports.com

Kristaps Porzingis I'm a Jacked Freak of Nature Now

No, you're not looking at Ivan Drago ... you're looking at a totally shredded Kristaps Porzingis, who's clearly taking no days off during his time off the court -- 'cause the dude is JACKED.

The 24-year-old Dallas Mavericks star posted the gym pic to IG on Wednesday ... jokingly saying it's the angle that is making him look extra buff.

Of course, 7'3" KP tore his ACL as a member of the New York Knicks back in February 2018, and hasn't been on the court since ... but it looks like the dude has been living in the gym during recovery.

Just look at the difference between his rookie year in 2015 and the pic from today. Dude is yolked.

Mavs fans gotta be itchin' to see the center finally suit up in Dallas ... and Mark Cuban's gotta be happy to see his star staying busy.