Fitness & Exercise

Bodybuilding superstar Dallas McCarver -- aka "Big Country" -- has died after apparently choking on food at his Florida home, TMZ Sports has learned.

We spoke with McCarver's girlfriend, WWE superstar Dana Brooke, who says the 26-year-old was found unconscious just after midnight Tuesday morning by a friend at his home shortly after they spoke on the phone.

McCarver was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. Law enforcement sources tell TMZ Sports there appears to be no signs of foul play.

Brooke says McCarver told her he was about to make dinner and the last thing he said to her was, "I love you. Goodbye."

Brooke says the cause of death is believed to be choking on food ... and it does not appear McCarver was trying to harm himself.

McCarver had worked out earlier in the day on Monday and seemed to be doing just fine ... no signs of a medical problem while hitting a chest press with 160 lbs dumbbells.

McCarver burst on to the bodybuilding circuit when he was 21 and immediately began winning big competitions. He was a 6'1", 300-lb beast who was crazy strong in the weight room.

Just last year, McCarver placed 8th in the 2016 Mr. Olympia competition.

McCarver had a health scare back in March when he collapsed onstage at the 2017 Arnold Classic Australia ... but he appeared to be doing much better recently.

Brooke tells us the message to McCarver's fans is to stay strong -- that's what he would want.

R.I.P.

Antonio Brown's longtime personal trainer has completely cut ties with the Steelers superstar ... saying working with A.B. is "bad business."

A.B. and Florida-based fitness expert Bo Smith were inseparable for years ... and the duo had documented their intense workouts on social media.

But that's all come to an end ... with Smith sharing news of the messy breakup on Instagram, saying "I had to walk away & remove myself from the bulls**t! Be a MAN of your WORD and own up to your WRONGS as a MAN should, Communication is KEY!"

He added ... "I've learned to walk away from anything or anyone that THREATENS my PEACE of MIND, SELF-RESPECT, VALUES, MORALS or SELF WORTH."

Unclear exactly what caused the rift -- but it doesn't sound good.

The situation sounds similar to Brown's split with his personal chef -- who split from the NFL star last year in a public, bitter breakup.

Smith should be able to rebound -- he's trained a laundry list of big athletes including Chad Johnson and Geno Smith.

Even Floyd Mayweather's closest friends don't think the boxer has a real shot of knocking out Conor McGregor next weekend ... just ask Justin Bieber.

Mayweather told the media last week he's gunning to finish the UFC star long before the 12th round when they clash on August 26. Tons of boxing experts are also predicting a K.O.

But not Biebs.

The singer hit up Runyon Canyon for his own workout when he poo-poo'd the knockout talk -- though it's clear he's still pickin' Floyd to get the W.

Bieber's been hardcore Team Mayweather for years -- and even walked the boxer into the ring for the Pacquaio fight.

Bodybuilding superstar Rich Piana is alive and fighting for his life after a medical emergency in Florida this week ... so says his girlfriend.

TMZ Sports has learned ... Piana's fitness model girlfriend, Chanel Jansen, was with Piana when he collapsed and hit his head on Monday afternoon.

Sources tell us ... Chanel administered CPR on the massive 46-year-old until help arrived.

He was transported to a nearby hospital where he was put in a medically induced coma.

There were rumors that Piana died from his injuries -- but Chanel says that's just not true.

" I just want to be clear [Piana] is STILL ALIVE," Chanel says ... "All myself and his family are asking for is POSITIVE thoughts, prayers, and love."

Piana is a former Mr. California who went on to become a huge Instagram sensation -- racking up more than 1 million followers with pumped up photos and videos.

He's a staple on the bodybuilding circuit and has worked out with some of the biggest stars in the sport -- including the guy who plays The Mountain on "Game of Thrones."

Paige VanZant won't let a massive bloody wound keep her from fighting -- she's already stitched up the gash on her foot and got back on her grind.

The UFC superstar opened up a gnarly hole in her foot on Wednesday -- but one day later, she was back working out ... hitting a set of crunches with a fresh set of stitches.

VanZant is rumored to fight Jessica Eye at UFC 216 in October -- and at this point, it doesn't appear she's gonna let the injury keep her out of the Octagon.

Miss BumBum 2017 contestants scored on each other ... and the entire planet cheered.

You know Brazil takes its fútbol seriously when part of the bootyful contest also means getting down and dirty on the pitch for some awesome girl-on-girl action. They kicked it. They banged it. They kneed it and they even put their asses into it ... literally.

Jay Cutler might have the fast-track to getting in shape for the Dolphins ... courtesy of the other Jay Cutler!!

Jay Cutler, the famous bodybuilder, has heard it all from the QB's fans (and haters) throughout his name-bro's career ... and he knows the spam's comin' back strong now that the longtime Bears signal-caller is back in the NFL.

But buff Jay ain't holdin' a grudge against the softer Jay -- the four-time Mr. Olympia's such a good dude ... he told us the QB's got an open invite to come hit the weights with him.

No doubt all of Miami's hoping he accepts the invite!

Here's the latest installment of the LeBron James Challenge ... courtesy of LeBron James!!

LBJ posted yet another shirtless workout vid Friday morning ... vibin' out to Meek Mill's new "Wins & Losses" album. This time, the King raps, sings and even maniacally laughs at his haters.

LeBron's been mocked by pretty much the entire Internet -- including Steph Curry -- for his first viral gym sesh, so it's only a matter of time before your timeline gets flooded with new challenge vids.

At one point, LBJ makes sure to point out one of Meek's lyrics directed at the President -- "Trump ain't feelin' us" ... which makes sense, considering Bron's never hidden his feelings towards POTUS.

As for LeBron's singing ... it's never too late for lessons, bro.

Ryan Reynolds and Josh Brolin are ABSolutely at war now over their sick "Deadpool 2" physiques ... thanks to the guy who got Ryan in rock hard condition.

Trainer Don Saladino threw down the challenge, telling Josh ... "You still have some work to do." He attached that statement to the ridiculous photo of Ryan's blood-splattered abdominals. It's definitely a direct response to the the pic Josh posted of his chiseled features ... major abs included.

Josh has been working out like a fiend for his role as the mutant, Cable, in the 'Deadpool' sequel -- and, to us, it seems ABsurd for anyone to say he needs more "work."

Still, the gauntlet's been thrown down. So, we gotta ask?

Justin Bieber's hockey skills are getting BETTER -- the pop star hit two penalty shots on the same ice where the Kings train and we gotta say ... the stick work is pretty good.

Bieber was playing a couple of games at the LA Kings Valley Ice Center when he was tapped to take a penalty shot in 2 different games.

He faked out the goalie -- both times -- going to his backhand to put the puck in the back of the net.

With The Rock revealing that he considered a UFC career roughly 10 years ago, we wanted to know which WWE superstars have the chops to compete in a REAL mixed martial arts fight.

For the answer ... we went right to the Nature Boy Ric Flair -- who didn't even hesitate when he fired out one name, Kurt Angle.

He's probably right ... Angle famously won an Olympic gold medal for freestyle wrestling at the '96 Games after he took 1st place at the world wrestling championships in '95.

Accomplished wrestlers tend to do pretty damn well in the UFC ... Cormier, Lesnar, Jones and Velasquez to name a few.

Still, we were talking this out in the office and could all agree on one pro wrestler we woulda loved to see in the Octagon -- Andre the Giant.

Close your eyes, Clippers fans ... here's the first footage of James Harden & Chris Paul hooping together since CP3 joined the Rockets, and the guys look pretty freakin' good together.

The game went down in L.A., and Paul and Harden weren't the only NBA guys playing -- they were joined by Rockets teammate Trevor Ariza and NBA champion JaVale McGee.

It's a pretty sick video uploaded by YouBall Training honchos Thomas Scott and Anthony Davis (not that one).

Ready to call 'em a superteam yet?

James Harrison is the KING of crazy strength training videos ... but an NFL rookie might be comin' for the throne.

In the blue corner ... 39-year-old Steelers LB pushing a sled weighing OVER 1,800 POUNDS -- that's one plate for each year of his life.

In the red corner ... 22-year-old Falcons LB Duke Riley pulling an SUV weighing AT LEAST 5,500 POUNDS -- a 2017 Yukon Denali plus his buddy in the driver's seat.

James takes a few tries. Duke did his easy.

Keep in mind, though ... pushing is harder than pulling -- and Duke has wheels workin' for him too.

Demi Lovato says Conor McGregor is straight LOCO ... and his insanity is what gives him a legit shot to shock Floyd Mayweather.

"Conor's crazy! And sometimes you can't beat crazy," Demi told TMZ Sports outside Break Room 86 in L.A.'s K-Town while promoting her new single "Sorry Not Sorry."

Demi's a HUUUUGE fight fan -- she's been training at Jay Glazer's Unbreakable Gym in L.A. with some of the top fighters in the world ... and Jay says she's no joke. We've seen video. He's right.

But when it comes to the Floyd, Conor thing -- Demi says she's siding with the Irishman ... explaining that a McGregor victory would be massive for the sport she loves.

Kim Kardashian's sports bra was hanging on for dear life as she trudged up an L.A. canyon.

Kim and the girls went for a walk Thursday in Fryman Canyon near her Bel Air home. Her pal, Carla DiBello, and her personal trainer, Don-A-Matrix, were by her side, and their focus was broken just once ... to greet some adorable pooches.

As we reported, Kim and Kanye have made a deal with a surrogate for baby #3.

Odell Beckham got all sorts of love at UCLA on Thursday after an intense summer workout on the Bruins' intramural fields ... but ya gotta watch the exit, when the NFL star hops fence like a ninja warrior.

The NYG wideout spent a few hours doing some speed training down in Westwood -- and a crowd of students gathered around to watch (why not, right?!).

After the workout, Odell invited the crowd over for a massive Instagram photo sesh -- where he signed autographs, shook hands and just bro'd out with the fans.

But the best part is when it's time to leave ... and Odell decides to jump the fence with his Giants helmet on.

Dude's a freak athlete.