UFO Expert Jeremy Corbell Marines Know More About Mysterious Sighting ... Won't Release Data

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RELEASE THE TAPES!!!
TMZSports.com

Jeremy Corbell believes the U.S. military is covering up evidence of an eerie UFO sighting over a Marine base in the California desert.

The UFO expert and filmmaker joined us Wednesday on "TMZ Live," to dig deeper into the bombshell footage he released this week showing a huge triangular-formation of lights hovering over the Camp Davis in Twentynine Palms, CA.

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LIGHTING UP THE SKY
Weaponized with Jeremy Corbell & George Knapp

Jeremy says the Marines he's talked to all told him they could see the shape of an aircraft in the night sky ... and he says the fact the sighting happened over a Marine base means the government is sitting on tons of data that might reveal what was up there.

While skeptics were quick to dismiss the footage as flares, Jeremy says that's just not the case -- he says the Marines fired flares at the UFO to illuminate the craft, but when the flares got close, the UFO vanished into thin air.

Jeremy says there were at least 50 witnesses, mostly Marines ... but he's hoping other folks who were out in that part of the California desert that April night in 2021 will come forward with their own footage.

After all, Jeremy and George Knapp are seasoned UFO investigators ... and they're not going to let the government stop them from getting to the truth.

Hulk Hogan I Feel Better Than Ever Thanks To CBD ... Launching Mushrooms, THC, Cannabidiol Brand

hogan weed
HOGAN'S HASH
TMZSports.com

Hulk Hogan has endured 28 surgeries over the last decade after years of wrestling injuries ravaged his body ... but the WWE Hall of Famer tells us thanks to his THC and CBD use, he feels better than he has in 45 years!

"I always joke about I didn't get the memo that this stuff was 'fake' and after the 10 back surgery and two knees and two hips, it's just a situation of you do get hurt out there all the time," Hogan told Babcock on the TMZ Sports TV show (airs weekdays on FS1).

Hogan continued, flat out saying ... "I feel better than I've ever felt at 69 years old, I feel like I'm 25 again."

If you know anything about Hulk's physical ailments (Hogan's publicly talked about enduring horrific pain on a daily basis), it's truly an incredible comeback.

"It definitely helped me because as I said the slow walk back from the prescription drugs ended with me downing the Tylenol and the Advil and Aleve's and finally even that wasn't working for me," Hogan said.

"As I moved away from that and got into the CBD world, it really changed the game from my sleep to the inflammation, the way my wrists and my joints hurt, across the board, it helped me with my health."

In fact, Hulk is such a proponent of THC and CBD, he's actually launching his own brand with the company behind Mike Tyson's "Tyson 2.0" and Ric Flair's "Ric Flair Drip," Carma HoldCo.

"When I saw what Ric and Mike were doing, I instantly wanted to get on the team because you use CBD for energy, for sleep, for fitness -- it just made sense. It's a logical extension of where I already was but this is the safe way to approach things instead of that wild card way of doctor's prescription stuff. It just didn't make sense anymore."

Hulk's new partner, Chad Bronstein, Carma's President, also joined us to preview the new health and wellness brand ... which he says will feature not just CBD and THC products but also "functional mushrooms."

The release date of Hulk's new company is not yet known ... but suddenly, Aaron Rodgers is very interested! 😅

Gilbert Arenas To Ja Morant Sacrifice Fun For Greatness ... Like Kobe And LeBron!!!

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GIVE HIM GUIDANCE
TMZSports.com

Gilbert Arenas says Ja Morant can move past his two gun incidents and salvage his legacy ... telling TMZ Sports all the young NBA star has to do is follow Kobe Bryant and LeBron James' blueprint and focus on being great.

Morant's on-court success is currently being overshadowed by his off-court issues -- which include his most recent weapon-flashing video that's resulted in a second suspension.

Agent Zero knows a little bit about what the Memphis Grizzlies guard is going through -- in 2010, he was suspended indefinitely by then-NBA Commissioner David Stern for admittedly bringing guns into the Wizards' locker room and having a standoff with his teammate, Javaris Crittenton.

Arenas was hit with a hefty suspension over the whole ordeal ... and he tells us it's something that tarnished how people view his own career, despite all his accomplishments.

"What do you want your legacy to be?" Arenas asked. "I did 99 things right. I did one thing wrong. Everybody remembers the one thing. No matter how many championships, how many scoring titles you win. They're going to remember this moment in this time."

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CAUGHT RED-HANDED
Instagram / @_dtap2

Ultimately, Agent Zero believes Morant needs people in his corner who will hold him accountable and challenges the embroiled point guard to reflect on what he wants to be remembered for when he's no longer in the NBA.

Gil name-dropped Kobe and LeBron as perfect examples of guys who did it the right way ... explaining they sacrificed fun and certain friendships for their love of the game.

Arenas says Ja will have to cut ties with some people in order to get back to being considered superstar status like Jayson Tatum, Luka Doncic and more ... but there's no doubt in his mind it can happen.

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EXPERIENCING THE OTHER SIDE
TMZSports.com

Gil spent 12 seasons in the NBA and has pivoted to being a media personality in retirement, talking all things hoops on his "Gil's Arena" podcast on the Underground Fantasy Content Network.

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TMZ INVESTIGATES

There's a lot more great stuff from Arenas on the Ja situation ... so check out the whole clip.

Conor McGregor Could Be Bare-Knuckle Star!!! ... Says BKFC's Houston Alexander

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CAN'T STOP, WON'T STOP
TMZSports.com

If Conor McGregor would ever throw down in a ring without gloves ... BKFC star Houston Alexander tells TMZ Sports the dude would be a problem!!!

Alexander -- a former UFC and Bellator fighter who's been brawling professionally without mitts since 2021 -- says Conor is so skilled with his hands ... he thinks there'd be no issues for The Notorious if he chose to eventually go from the UFC to the BKFC.

Of course, the topic came up because Conor sure appeared to be interested in making the switch after watching Mike Perry's BKFC fight against Luke Rockhold back on April 30.

You'll recall, McGregor stepped into the ring following the tilt ... and he seemed to be down to fight Perry without mitts at a future date.

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TALKING SMACK
Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship

Alexander clearly believes it'd be a great fight despite Conor's inexperience without gloves ... something that seems to be quite the compliment, considering Alexander doesn't feel that way about most MMA guys.

"If you've got MMA guys who just concentrate on just kicking or jiu-jitsu, please don't get in this type of sport," Alexander told us. "Because it's going to expose your boxing and you're going to get hurt."

As for Alexander's own fighting career ... the 51-year-old is still going strong -- he's got another big BKFC fight on May 19 against Jeremy Smith -- and he tells us he has absolutely zero desire to retire anytime soon.

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TMZ INVESTIGATES

"I know Father Time is undefeated," he said. "We know this already. But, until then, let me hold Father Time off a little bit, man, and enjoy me!"

Anthony Smith Win Over Johnny Walker Sets Up Fight W/ Alex Pereira

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ATTRACTING NEW VIEWERS
TMZSports.com

Anthony Smith, the 5th ranked UFC light heavyweight, is fighting 7th ranked Johnny Walker this Saturday ... and while he doesn't think a win will earn him an immediate title shot, "Lionheart" believes it'll put him on a collision course with Alex Pereira, and set him up for a crack at the elusive belt!

"Two months ago I would've told you the winner gets a title shot. Alex Pereira really throws a wrench in that for all of us. I'd like to be able to tell you a win here gets me a title shot, but it probably earns me a fight with Alex Pereira."

Of course, 35-year-old Pereira, the former middleweight champion, recently lost his UFC rematch to Israel Adesanya ... and announced shortly after he'd move up to the 205 lb. division, where making weight will be significantly easier.

Pereira has not yet been added to the UFC's light heavyweight rankings (he's still #1 at middleweight) ... but it's clear Smith believes Alex is going to be fast-tracked to the front of the line.

For Anthony (who's won 3 of his last 4) to be the one to get the Alex fight, and presumably secure an opportunity to earn a title fight by beating him, Smith must defeat the 6'6" Walker, who is coming off two straight wins (Ion Cutelaba in 2022, Paul Craig in 2023).

Smith believes he's got the clear skills advantage over Walker, who at one time was considered a lock to be champ, but Anthony says that doesn't always equate to a win in the Octagon (check out the clip -- Anthony previews the matchup).

Lionheart also joked ... "Only in the UFC is your reward for beating Johnny Walker a tougher fight with Alex Pereira."

Despite Pereira's incredible power and kickboxing, Anthony is pumped for the would-be fight.

"I like it. I like Alex. I'm a fan. I think he has obvious holes in his game and I think that those are going to be exposed a little more at 205. But looking at it from the outside, I'm a fan of that guy. I love the style. I love his aura. He's got this serial killer aura."

First things first ... Smith vs. Walker goes down Saturday afternoon on ABC! 👊

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PROVING MYSELF
TMZSports.com

There's more -- we also chatted with Jairzinho Rozenstruik ... who is headlining the card against Jailton Almeida.

Aljamain Sterling Cejudo Is No Longer 'Triple C' ... Now He's 'Henry'

aljamain sterling
ENDING THE CRINGE
TMZSports.com

"I think he's now 'Double C.' Maybe even just 'One C' now. Maybe he's just Henry. He's just Henry now. He's just Henry. I took his gold medal. I took his gold belt. I don't know, there's not much left."

That's 33-year-old UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling, who just defended his belt (for a record 3rd straight time) against future Hall of Famer Henry Cejudo ... joining Babcock on the TMZ Sports TV show on Monday (airs weekdays on FS1), and crowning Triple C with a new nickname.

Henry.

Of course, Cejudo's Triple C moniker derives from his propensity to win titles ... starting with his 2008 Olympic gold medal. A decade later Cejudo beat the legendary Demetrious Johnson for the UFC flyweight title, before defeating Marlon Moraes for the bantamweight strap in 2019.

Cejudo -- who many believe is in the MMA G.O.A.T. convo -- returned after a 3-year layoff ... and now that Aljamain beat an all-time legend, he's eager for fans to finally pay him the respect he deserves.

"'You're supposed to be the greatest of all time. So what happens when I beat you? What does that say about me?' So I need the fans to keep that same energy, the ones that were doubting me, and said I had no chance."

Aljo continued ... "He's a two-division champ and an Olympic gold medalist, and my wrestling 'sucks' compared to him. I'm like guys, I am now the Olympic champion. I beat the Olympian in a wrestling match. Four takedowns, baby. How many takedowns did he get?"

We also talked to Sterling about the judging ... which the champ believes was trash.

FYI, he officially won via split decision ... though Aljo thinks it should've been unanimous.

There's more ... Sterling also talked about his next scrap with rival, "Suga" Sean O'Malley.

Dana White indicated he wants that fight to happen on August 19 in Boston ... but Sterling says he has other ideas of when and where they'll settle the score.

As for Cejudo ... a parting shot from Aljo.

"I tip my hat off to Henry, but I think I did the universe a favor and finally ended the cringe."

Triple C ➡ Henry Cejudo

The D.O.C. AI's Cool, But I ❤️ My Voice!!! And Suge's Claims About Dre Are BS

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CHANGIN' THE GAME
TMZ.com

Dr. Dre's OG secret rap weapon, The D.O.C., has been trying to get his life story out into the world, and thinks he's nearing the finish line after a bit of friction.

TMZ Hip Hop spoke to the "No One Can Do It Better" rapper in the wake of his outburst over the delay of his self-titled film, which screened during the Tribeca Festival ... damn near a year ago.

D.O.C. tells us the forces standing in the way of releasing "The DOC" have subsided, and he's now looking for a suitable distributor for the film. He wants fans to know it features appearances from Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Ice Cube and Dre that are life-changing ... to the core.

The Dallas rapper turned West Coast transplant, infamously damaged his vocal cords in a 1989 car accident, but has since resumed his rap career ... raspy flow and all. Just last month, he rapped on Codefendants' rap/rock mash-up track, "Fast Ones."

It's because he's gotten back on the mic, D.O.C. tells us he's at peace with not using AI to answer the "what if" on his career course -- even though his inbox is flooded with daily requests to license his voice for an AI recording.

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A LIVING LEGEND
TMZ.com

Having been around during the glory and the gory days, we also got D.O.C.'s take on Suge Knight's claim Daz Dillinger actually produced Snoop's "Doggystyle" and let Dre take the credit.

Similar to Daz's pushback, D.O.C. also ranks Dre's production skills as the greatest the world has ever seen, and says the Aftermath legend is too capable to ever clout chase anyone!!!

Jesseca Dupart Genetics, Not Race Decided Our Baby's Donor And Brat's 'Jiminy Cricket' Joke Was 👎🏾

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WHERE Y'ALL AT?
Instagram / @darealbbjudy

Da Brat's wife Jesseca Dupart is attacking the notion they intentionally chose a non-Black sperm donor for their upcoming baby ... and her explanation is pretty in-depth.

On Wednesday, Jesseca came through with a boatload of receipts and broke the whole thing down. The couple recently conducted an interview where they openly admitted their baby's donor wasn't Black after realizing they had limited choices in the gene pool.

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Brat also quipped one of the donors looked like Pinocchio's pal Jiminy Cricket.

So, yeah ... you can see how that got lumped into all the donors being cricket-faced killas!!!

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Jesseca revealed her existing medical conditions also cut down her chances of carrying a healthy baby, and noted the lack of Black donors in general.

She even cited a Fox5 NY article from March that reports Black men make up less than 2% of sperm donors nationwide!!!

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CONSTANT CRAVINGS
TMZ.com

After weighing their options, Jesseca says she and Brat went with the best match, regardless of race.

In spite of the backlash, Jesseca didn't hesitate to scold Brat for the Jiminy joke ... she agrees with the social media protests the remark was in poor taste.

Carrie Fisher's Brother I Have Every Right to Be at 'WOF' Ceremony ... But I'll Let the Snub Slide

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FAMILY FEUD
TMZ.com
UPDATE

2:48 PM PT -- Carrie's daughter, Billie Lourd, claims her Uncle Todd knows exactly why he was left off the guest list for Carrie's Walk of Fame ceremony. She told us it all goes back to how Todd, as well as Carrie's sisters, publicly mourned her.

UPDATE

Billie says she's pissed they did interviews and wrote books about Carrie after she died, and she openly admits she's the one who made the call to officially ban them from the W.O.F. festivities.

Carrie Fisher's brother says he'd be well within his rights to show up to her Hollywood Walk of Fame Ceremony and cause a fuss over getting snubbed from attending ... but he's opting to keep things "classy" in honor of his late sister.

Todd Fisher joined us Wednesday on "TMZ Live" and we asked him why he and Carrie's sisters are officially off the guest list for the big event Thursday on Hollywood Blvd.

Todd says he doesn't know what's behind the snub ... but strongly hinted it's Carrie's daughter, Billie Lourd, calling the shots. He admits they don't really have a relationship these days, but seems genuinely puzzled as to why.

There's definitely some bad blood ... Carrie's sisters, Joely Fisher, and Tricia Leigh Fisher ripped Billie on social media for the snub. Todd seemed to be trying to play nice, as he would only say he hasn't talked to his niece since she ghosted an invite almost 3 years ago to visit a dying relative.

Todd says he's the one who got the ball rolling on Carrie getting her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and was shocked when he found out he didn't make the 30-person guest list.

But, if the status quo doesn't change, Todd says he's prepared to sit this one out ... telling us Billie's people have made it clear to him he should back down.

Henry Cejudo Win Over Aljamain Sterling Puts Me On MMA's Mt. Rushmore

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BACK IN THE GAME
TMZSports.com

Henry Cejudo believes he's one win away from securing a spot as one of the greatest four fighters in MMA -- joining legends Demetrious Johnson, Jon Jones, and Anderson Silva -- and all that's left to do is beat champion Aljamain Sterling.

36-year-old Triple C joined Babcock on the "TMZ Sports" TV show (airs weekdays on FS1) ... where he talked about his return to the Octagon after 3 years away, and what a win would mean for his legacy.

"I think that puts me on the Mount Rushmore of MMA. I'm probably not better than Demetrious or Jon Jones or Anderson Silva, but I think that puts me at number four," Henry said.

"I think that puts me in a league, I'm a two-division champ, Olympic champ. I come back three years later, I do believe in my heart that I am the greatest combat athlete of all time, just by my resume, just by my accolades, but I think this fight right here puts me on Mount Rushmore."

Of course, Henry hasn't fought since he beat the legendary Dominick Cruz at UFC 249 in May 2020. He was in the midst of a 6-fight win streak, including dubs over Mighty Mouse, Marlon Moraes, and T.J. Dillashaw.

FYI, Cejudo won an Olympic gold medal in freestyle wrestling back in 2008 in Beijing.

Now, Henry will look to earn that spot on Mt. Rushmore ... with a win over bantamweight Aljamain Sterling at UFC 288 on May 6.

If he gets past Aljo, Henry says he'd like to fight rival "dirty Q-tip Ronald Meth-Donald" 'Suga' Sean O'Malley.

Once he does all that, Cejudo believes there is a path to becoming the greatest ever, period. In order to do that, he believes he needs to beat current pound-for-pound king Alex Volkanovski for a third belt ... which has never been done before.

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I'VE GOT THE EDGE
TMZSports.com

"I think you beat a guy like Volkanovski, then you become the greatest of all time. Three divisions."

Michael J. Fox I Probably Won't Live Past Age 80 ... Details Parkinson's Battle

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LITTLE TIME LEFT
CBS Sunday Morning

Michael J. Fox says he doesn't think he's going to be around in 20 years as he continues to battle Parkinson's disease -- which is making his life more difficult by the day.

The beloved actor -- who was diagnosed with Parkinson's in 1991 -- sat down with CBS Sunday Morning for a new interview that's hard to watch ... because he says, in plain terms, he honestly doesn't think he's going to live past the age of 80 the way things are going.

Check it out ... MJF heartbreakingly describes how the disease continues to wear on his body -- which results in more accidents, falls, and injuries as he gets older. Despite this, he actually calls Parkinson's a gift ... albeit, one that keeps on taking, as he puts it.

Mike says he's fortunate to have resources around him to help him deal with it -- but notes, not many people have lived with Parkinson's for as long as he has ... over 30 years.

And yet, the guy continues to keep up an incredibly good attitude -- maintaining his sense of humor ... and carrying a positive outlook, big picture. There's a telling mantra he upholds -- with gratitude, optimism is sustainable. In other words, he says if you have something to be grateful for ... you have something to look forward to. And Fox says he's grateful for a lot.

There's a touching story he shares about watching "Back to the Future" recently on TV ... which he hadn't seen in years. As he took the movie in anew, he says his wife asked what he was doing, and he told her. He says he quipped to her, "I'm really good in it."

Yeah, understatement of the year. Bust out the tissues for this one ... Mike's a treasure, folks.

Mercedes Moné Can't Wait To Smoke With Snoop Dogg ... When I Return To U.S.

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MERCEDES WILL RETURN
TMZSports.com

Mercedes Moné is no longer the IWGP Women's Champion ... but the wrestling star already knows how she wants to get over the devastating loss when she returns to the United States -- by smoking a blunt with her cousin and WrestleMania 39 host, Snoop Dogg.

"I cannot wait to come back to the U.S.A. so I can roll up a big one, smoke one, roll one again, and go to Long Beach, baby, where you can go to my cousin's house, Snoop Dogggggggggg," Mercedes told Dean "Mojo" Muhtadi during an interview with TMZ Sports.

Moné lost her IWGP Women's Championship to Mayu Iwatani at the Stardom All Star Grand Queendom event in Tokyo, Japan. Still, despite dropping the title, Mercedes told us that wrestling fans in Japan treat her like royalty.

Mercedes -- formerly known as Sasha Banks in the WWE -- told us she got rocked early into her contest with Iwatani, resulting in her having difficulty seeing, and described the fight with Iwatani as the "hardest-hitting" match of her 13-year career.

"I got this big ass balloon on my face in the first five seconds, and I just couldn't believe it," Moné said. "But I told myself, 'Mercedes, you have to finish. You're in Japan. The fans are chanting for you.' This balloon in my eye, I couldn't f****** see. That's why I couldn't kick out."

Mercedes told us she has one match left on her contract with New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) on May 21 in Long Beach at Resurgence, meaning she'll be a free agent again and have to decide where she wants to continue her wrestling career.

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FUTURE IS BRIGHT
TMZSports.com

When we spoke to Mercedes in March, "The Mandalorian" TV star told us she recently inked a deal with United Talent Agency (UTA). Since then, Mercedes says her success inside the squared circle has translated outside the ring, and things are aligning for her as an actress.

"I have so many auditions in the bank," Moné said. "I have movies coming up. I have TV shows coming out. I don't know what's next in my chapter, but I know that I have so much lined up ... I can just expect that it's going to be the absolute best."

Warren Moon Sorry, Jets Fans ... Bills Still Top Dogs In AFC East!!!

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DIVISION WINNING TEAM
TMZSports.com

A trade for Aaron Rodgers does NOT make the Jets the favorite to win the AFC East ... at least, that's according to Hall of Famer Warren Moon, who tells TMZ Sports he's still got the Bills at the top of the division.

Don't get it twisted, Moon wasn't knocking New York's new signal-caller ... he just clearly believes Buffalo is that much more talented than the Jets still.

"They still have a great roster," Moon said of Buffalo.

The 66-year-old, though, did admit the Rodgers acquisition does certainly bring NY closer to the Bills at the top of what many are expecting to be a highly competitive AFC East in 2023.

But Moon wasn't ready to call the Jets legitimate Super Bowl contenders quite yet ... telling us he thinks the AFC is just too loaded this year.

"It's going to be tough on the Jets to win their division and get in the playoffs and advance," Moon said. "But Aaron Rodgers at least gives them a fighting chance to be able to do that."

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FEELS LIKE A REUNION
New York Jets

As for if Moon has any advice for Rodgers on how to improve his chances following a trade ... the former NFL superstar -- who was once famously dealt to the Minnesota Vikings in his career -- urged Aaron to get into NY offseason workouts ASAP.

Bill Maher Elon, You've Changed the World ... And I'm a Big Fan!!!

Elon Musk has taken nothing but heat for a while, but he had an ally Friday night -- one Bill Maher.

Elon appeared one-on-one with the 'Real Time' host, and Bill was more than complimentary. He essentially said, like him or not, Elon Musk is changing the world in profound ways.

As Bill says, the most transformative things in society have come from technology ... the printing press, the light bulb, the phone, the internet, flying, and on and on.

BM gave Elon mad props for his work with reusable rockets, electric cars, the Neuralink, just to mention a few.

Elon was actually funny in the interview, getting laughs and applause from the audience.

As for Twitter, Musk explained he bought the platform because it was censoring too much. As he said, it's easy to allow speech you agree with -- the point of free speech is to allow people to make remarks you may find abhorrent ... presumably still within limits.

They get into cancel culture, politics, the works.

Interesting interview.

Mike Tyson Psychedelics Would've Made Me A Better Boxer ... I Swear!!!

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WISH I HAD 'EM SOONER
TMZSports.com

Mike Tyson was a BEAST in his day, but he would've been an even bigger problem in the ring if he'd used psychedelics in his prime, so says the legend himself!

The 56-year-old recently joined Babcock on the "TMZ Sports" TV show (airs weekdays on FS1) and spoke all about his experience with the drugs ... and he made it clear he wishes he would've done hallucinogens when he was competing for titles back in the day.

Tyson said they help alter his mind and perception and affect cognitive processes in a way that has really changed him for the better ... all things he could've used in his 20s.

"Psychedelics is an enhancement more than a de-enhancement," he told us. "It allows you to go in that realm of just comfortability, relaxness, and prepare to reach your highest level. It's just an amazing feeling."

Tyson loves psychedelics so much that he used them during a recent training session and told us that if he had used them in the 1980s and '90s, he would've been a far superior pugilist (amazing when you consider Mike's one of the most dominant fighters of all-time).

In fact, Tyson recommends all athletes should try mushrooms or weed, saying he's living proof that they work.

"I'm capable of talking to everybody in the sporting world because that's basically where it's needed," Tyson said.

"We always thought cannabis was a de-enhancer, made you tired, made you weak, but it actually made you more alert and more studious to your field, to your profession."

'Platinum' Mike Perry On Bare Knuckle Fight ... I'll Turn Rockhold Into 'Luke Out-Cold'

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IT'S ALL ON THE LINE
TMZSports.com

Mike Perry and Luke Rockhold are taking off the gloves ... the MMA stars are fighting bare-knuckled, and Platinum believes the former UFC champion is underestimating him in a big way!

"I do think he is in for a rude awakening because I don't think he thinks I have what it takes [to beat him]. I think he thinks so highly of himself that he's just too big for me," 31-year-old Perry told TMZ Sports this week.

FYI, Luke has a few-inch height advantage, and likely a few pounds on Mike, too.

Perry continued ... "I'm looking to be ferocious and jump all over him quickly. Bareknuckle is not like normal boxing where the fight really starts around the 6th round. These are 5 to 6, 2-minute rounds."

In other words ... except violence as soon as the bell sounds.

"I'm gonna try to cut him up a lot and make him quit," adding ... "I'm gonna try to hurt him badly, quickly."

Platinum, 2-0 in Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (one of those wins came against Michael "Venom" Page), also plans to give Luke a new nickname.

"Luke Out-Cold."

And, Perry and Rockhold aren't the only big names on the BKFC 41 card ... 'cause former UFC champions Eddie Alvarez and Chad Mendes are also fighting.

We also talked to Mendes ahead of what is his second bare-knuckle scrap (Chad won a fight last February), but Alvarez is certainly a step up in competition.

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EASY PEASY
TMZSports.com

This time around, Chad tells us he has a secret weapon to reduce cuts ... a side effect when bare-knuckle boxing.

His secret ... pickle juice! 🥒

Check out the clips!