MMA

Kamaru Usman says Jorge Masvidal's BMF belt IS on the line when they fight Saturday -- and he already knows where he'll keep it after he wins.

"After I go out there and beat his ass and ragdoll him, that sh*t is coming home with me so I can throw it in my closet."

Of course, Kamaru is the UFC's reigning welterweight champ -- and he was originally set to defend that belt against Gilbert Burns in the first main event on Fight Island.

But, when Gilbert tested positive for COVID and pulled out the fight over the weekend -- Masvidal stepped in and took his place.

Now, Kamaru says he's ready to rock ... and considers his new opponent nothing more than a "minor change."

"At the end of the day, when you’re in training camp, the way that I train, you see no face," Usman tells TMZ Sports.

"When I cross into that Octagon, I have to turn on the Nigerian nightmare and leave Kamaru Usman on the outside. And, so I see no face by the time I'm in there anyway."

"Now it's a little extra push to get in there and really do some damage."

Usman says he's the champ for a reason -- and Masvidal will learn the hard way that he's "definitely not Ben Askren."

Remember, Jorge's stock exploded when he slept Askren with a flying knee in the opening seconds of their fight at UFC 239.

Usman says Masvidal won't pull that crap on him.

"I'm smarter than doing something that silly and being put in that situation. So, I'm definitely not Ben Askren and he's definitely going to have to figure that out the hard way."

There's more ... Usman also told us why he thinks the Masvidal fight came together so quickly (in just a matter of hours).

Dustin Poirier is clearly rooting for Justin Gaethje to beat Khabib when they battle in Sept. -- telling TMZ Sports it simply gives him a better road to a title shot.

Dustin -- who's still recovering from that WAR with Dan Hooker over the weekend -- is now the #2 ranked UFC lightweight, right behind Khabib and Justin.

Poirier has fought both of 'em already -- he beat Justin in 2018  but lost to Khabib in 2019.

Now, with Justin and Khabib squaring off at UFC 253 on Sept. 19, Dustin's in a pretty solid spot to fight the winner.

Dustin knows there are no guarantees in the UFC ... but he's convinced a Gaethje victory would put him in a much better position for a title shot.

"It’s more of a guaranteed lock for me to fight for the belt is Justin wins," Dustin says.

"I'm the last guy to beat him. I'm the only guy still in the organization who beat him. So it would make a lot of sense. And, I know he wants that fight as well."

So, how can Justin stop the seemingly indestructible Dagestani champion?

Dustin's got some ideas ...

"If Justin can keep his back off the fence, I believe he can out-scramble Khabib in the open."

"He just has such a pedigree in collegiate wrestling and that open mat area is going to be where Justin shines in the wrestling."

"If Khabib can get him against the fence, I believe Justin will be in trouble but we’ll see if he can stick to the game plan."

"I would assume that's gonna be his game plan -- to stay in the middle, make Khabib wrestle in the open and throw big punches."

And, if Khabib wins, Dustin says he's already been thinking about how he can correct the mistakes he made in the first fight and get the "W" in the rematch ... if Dana White gives him the shot.

There's more ... Dustin also told us about his plans to auction off his fight gear from the Hooker fight to help the less fortunate.

Good stuff.

Conor McGregor's longtime coach says the UFC star is really retired -- "as far as I can tell" -- but admits things can change in a heartbeat.

Of course, Conor announced his retirement from MMA earlier this month -- the 3rd time he's "retired" in 4 years -- but nobody really believes he means it.

So, when John Kavanagh decided to host a quick online Q&A this week -- he was peppered with questions about Conor's career.

QUESTION: Is Conor retired?

ANSWER: "Yes, he is as far as I can tell. It's what he said, isn't it!?

QUESTION: Can you convince him to come back?!

ANSWER: "I can't convince Conor to do sh*t. Conor will tell Conor what he's gonna do and who knows what's gonna happen in the future. But, for now, he's retired."

Someone asked how Conor would fare against the reigning welterweight champ Kamaru Usman -- and Kavanaugh gave an interesting answer to that as well.

"That would be interesting," John said ... nothing that "a very motivated Conor" could beat anyone around his weight class.

He included Colby Covington in that list -- but didn't mention Khabib.

Earlier this year, Kamaru warned Conor about trying to pick a fight with him -- promising he'd beat the Irishman worse than Khabib did!

As for life outside of the Octagon ... Conor's kept busy hanging with his family, drinkin' his Proper 12 whiskey and jetskiin' all over the world.

UFC's Dan Hooker admits he was initially "hesitant" about fighting in Nevada over the weekend due to the looming COVID threat ... but says he trusts Dana White to keep everyone safe.

30-year-old Hooker -- the #5 ranked UFC lightweight -- hails from New Zealand ... where the COVID numbers are incredibly low.

In fact, New Zealand has essentially been unscathed by coronavirus ... with only 1,170 confirmed cases, and 22 deaths.

To compare, the U.S. has more than 2.5 million confirmed cases ... with 126,000 deaths.

Nevada alone has roughly 11 times the number of cases as all of NZ.

"We have no cases actually in New Zealand and then coming over here I was a little bit hesitant to know about the safety precautions," Hooker tells us.

So, Hooker had a serious decision to make when White offered him the chance to fight Dustin Poirier on June 27 to headline UFC Fight Night at the APEX center in Vegas.

Hooker says he was reluctant to fly right into the COVID hornet's nest ... but ultimately he swayed after learning about the UFC's intense screening process.

"I feel comfortable. I've been here for 3 days and soon as we arrived, we got tested. Getting tested again [Friday], we get temperature checks every morning and they got security at every single door making sure that people can't come and go," Hooker says.

"I'm very confident in the precautions that the UFC has in place."

Now, Hooker is focused on Poirier -- the #3 ranked UFC lightweight ... and a win could put Hooker in the mix for a title shot.

FYI, Hooker is on a tear at the moment ... winning 7 of his last 8 fights over guys like Gilbert Burns, Paul Felder and Al Iaquinta.

Dustin Poirier says he's only interested in taking fights that will help him get closer to a title shot -- and a rematch with Conor McGregor wouldn't help his cause.

Remember, Poirier fought Conor bad in 2014 and lost in the 1st round -- but Dustin's been an ANIMAL ever since, beating stars like Justin Gaethje, Anthony Pettis and Max Holloway.

In fact, Dustin is currently the #3 ranked UFC lightweight fighter -- with Conor behind him at #4.

Poirier tells TMZ Sports he thinks a win over Dan "The Hangman" Hooker on Saturday will get him closer to a title shot ... but he might need one more victory to seal the deal.

So, we asked if he'd be interested in McGregor after Hooker -- but Dustin says it just doesn't make sense.

"I mean I'd love to for the financial part of it but I'm not chasing grudge matches at this point in my life," Poirier says.

"I'd rather fight Tony Ferguson and get closer to the title but we'll see what happens."

Plus, as Dustin pointed out ... McGregor says he's retired from MMA ... so, it's not on the table anyway!

As for Dan Hooker -- who's on a 3-fight win streak -- Dustin says the key to victory is patience.

Jon Jones says there's a silver lining to his March drunk driving arrest -- "it set me free in so many ways" -- and now he's focused on staying clean.

"It embarrassed me, it reality-checked me," Jones said on Steve-O's "Wild Ride" podcast ... "I've never been on camera drunk for the public to see like that."

"It was humiliating, and somewhat of a bottom for me -- and I'm ready to snap it into high gear."

As we previously reported, Jones was arrested around 1 AM on March 26 after cops responded to reports of gunfire in the Albuquerque area.

When cops found Jones alone in his Jeep, he appeared intoxicated and admitted to drinking earlier in the evening.

32-year-old Jones later plead guilty to DWI and was sentenced to 1 year probation, ordered to house arrest and forced to wear an ankle monitor.

During Steve-O's podcast, Jones said he's been thinking deeply about his life ever since his arrest ... and he's trying to cut out the bad influences who have led him astray in the past.

Jones also says the COVID-19 pandemic is helping him learn how to stay away from the party scene -- "detach from the nightlife."

"The coronavirus really helped though -- it helped me learn how to stay home on Fridays and Saturdays."

"Before the world got put on hold, I had this fear of missing out ... and coronavirus helped me realize 'Jon you're not missing anything out there.' And, anything that really matters is happening during the day time with your wife and kids."

Jones also talked about his work with the C.A.R.E. project -- which is raising money and support for communities impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic in NM.

"He asked out 9 times! This isn't goddamn Bloodsport!!!"

That's UFC fighter Anthony Smith going off on Max Rohskopf's cornerman for not stopping Saturday's fight after the 25-year-old repeatedly told him to "call it."

Rohskopf was taking on Austin Hubbard -- a short notice fight he only accepted 5 days in advance -- and was getting beat up pretty badly.

In between rounds 2 and 3, Rohskopf told his cornerman, Robert Drysdale, "I don't have it" and made it clear he didn't want to continue.

Drysdale seemingly ignored Max's pleas to stop and tried to talk him into continuing. Finally, an official from the Nevada State Athletic Commission who overheard Rohskopf stepped in and ended the fight.

Enter Smith ... whose cornerman took a lot of heat for not stopping Anthony's fight with Glover Teixeira last month, despite Smith taking major punishment and losing teeth during the brawl.

Smith says the difference is he WANTED to continue in his fight. Rohskopf didn't.

"Not all of us think the same. Not everybody is me. It's just different. He's a young kid and he wanted out, get him the f*ck out of there!"

"He wanted to go home. He said he didn't have it. He said he didn't want to do this any more. That's different from just being down on yourself and needing a pick me up."

Smith says he respects Drysdale -- but says it's important to call him out when he's so clearly in the wrong.

"I did everything I could to stay in there and [Rohskopf] was doing everything he could to get out -- get him out!!"

For his part, Drysdale is defending his decision -- telling ESPN, "I stand by what I did. I expect excellence from the people I train because I love them."

UFC fighter Rachael Ostovich was hit with a 1-year suspension Thursday after testing positive for a banned substance.

The 29-year-old flyweight tested positive for Ostarine -- a prohibited substance similar to an anabolic steroid.

Technically, "Ostarine is a non-Specified Substance in the class of Anabolic Agents," according to the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA).

USADA says Ostovich tested positive through a urine sample during an out-of-competition collection on January 3, 2020.

Ostovich told officials she unknowingly consumed Ostarine while trying a supplement at a World Anti-Doping Agency-accredited laboratory in Salt Lake City, Utah.

However, the supplement Ostovich consumed DID list a different banned substance on the label ... and Rachael took it anyway, not realizing it was prohibited.

Bottom line ... she messed up -- but USADA had mercy on her, only giving her a 1-year ban, with a 4-month credit for cooperating with the investigation.

The ban dates back to Jan. 3rd, the date of her positive test -- and will last 8 months from that date.

Ostovich was supposed to fight Shana Dobson in New Zealand in February 2020 -- but she was mysteriously taken off the card. Now we know why.

Wanna see Steve-O ollie over the greatest MMA fighter ever???

Good ... 'cause TMZ Sports has obtained video of the former "Jackass" star boarding over Jon Jones at a New Mexico skate park this week -- and it's both awesome AND terrifying!!!

Check out the footage ... Jones laid down on a ramp and let Steve-O skate over him -- and the first attempt nearly cracked Jon's ribs, it's pretty damn scary!!

But, Steve-O eventually nailed the trick ... and Jon couldn't have been happier.

There's much more in the clip ... Steve-O can REALLY skate -- and Jon even tried his hand at going up and down a ramp a few times, too!!!

By the way, Steve-O tells us he was scared out of his mind to let Jon on the board, saying, "a wave of panic swept over me for the possibility that I might be responsible for the career-ending injury of the greatest mixed martial artist of all time."

But -- both dudes ended the sesh OK ... and Steve-O added, "so glad we got away with it!"

Us too!!!

By the way, if you're wondering why the duo are spending time together in New Mexico ... it's all for a great cause.

Steve-O joined the UFC champ to help his efforts with the C.A.R.E. project ... raising money and support for communities impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic in New Mexico.

Matt Frevola says he's officially been pulled from his "UFC Fight Night" bout this weekend -- after his cornerman tested positive for COVID-19

30-year-old "Steamrolla" Frevola -- a lightweight fighter with an 8-1 record -- was set to fight Frank Camacho on UFC on ESPN 11 Saturday night in South Carolina.

Frevola, along with all members of his team, were all tested for COVID this week as part of the UFC's strict screening protocol ... and his cornerman Billy Quarantillo came back positive.

Frevola says his own test was negative -- but the UFC decided to pull him anyway out of an abundance of caution.

FYI, Frevola -- who earned a UFC deal on Dana White's Contender Series -- and his team aren't the first to be pulled from a match over a positive COVID test ... "Jacare" Souza was scratched from UFC 249 in May after he and 2 of his cornermen contracted the virus.

As for Saturday's fight, Camacho has accepted a new opponent on short notice -- Justin Jaynes (15-4) -- but Frevola says if that falls apart, he's down to make this fight happen on an upcoming card.

"I’m willing to rebook this fight ASAP or when ever [Frank] wants. I’m sorry to everyone who was excited to watch me fight and supports me along this journey, I really felt the love."

They've got style. They've got charisma. They've got insane knockout power ... and that's why Sean O'Malley says he ain't mad at the recent comparisons to Conor McGregor.

"Anytime you're getting compared to someone great like that, you're doing something right," the undefeated 25-year-old tells TMZ Sports.

Of course, O'Malley's stock has been on the rise after flattening his last two opponents in sensational fashion. Most recently, a phenomenal 1-hitter quitter KO over Eddie Wineland at UFC 250.

"I take that as a compliment, getting compared to Conor. As far as the skill set wise, I think I have more skills when it comes to the striking."

Hey, O'Malley definitely doesn't lack confidence!

"I can stand southpaw and throw anything the same as I can stand orthodox and throw anything. I'm very, very dangerous from every position."

"He's mainly a southpaw with a bomb left hand and he throws left heaves and some decent spinning stuff. I feel like I have more tools in the toolbox than anybody in the MMA as far as coming up with striking."

O'Malley jokes that he only hopes the comparisons stop when it comes to some of the outside the Octagon activity Conor's been involved with ... like the arrests.

"I don't wanna be compared to him as I'm on TMZ going to jail! I'm gonna try to avoid those situations as much as I can."

The man who manages Justin Gaethje and Khabib Nurmagomedov has a warning to Conor McGregor -- you won't get a title shot until you fight a top-tier opponent like Tony Ferguson.

Ali Abdelaziz -- who also reps champs like Kamaru Usman and Henry Cejudo -- says he's sick and tired of Conor always trying to strong-arm himself into title fights that he doesn't deserve.

"Right now, he's on punishment for his bad behavior," Ali tells TMZ Sports ... "Right now, he needs to sit down."

"Go fight Tony Ferguson, stay busy, stay active. Go fight Jorge Masvidal. Stay active, I want to see activity. Remember, he used to say that to all of us, guess what? Payback is a bitch."

Obviously, Ali doesn't believe Conor's recent retirement announcement will stick -- he thinks it's just another attention grab.

"Same old prostitute, he wants attention."

Ali says he's unsure if either Khabib or Justin would even give Conor a shot -- but an impressive performance against a guy like Tony Ferguson or Jorge Masvidal would help his case.

Ali also talked about the upcoming UFC 251 main event between his two clients Kamaru Usman and Gilbert Burns -- and how they won't let their friendship stand in the way of a ferocious brawl on Fight Island.

"Best two fighters in the division that's gonna fight. Buy the Pay-per-view and you're gonna find out."

She's beaten everyone.

Ronda Rousey. Cris Cyborg. Holly Holm. Miesha Tate. Valentina Shevchenko (twice!).

But, Amanda Nunes is still often excluded from "Greatest Of All Time" conversations. And, Dana White thinks he knows why ...

"I think it's because she's a woman, to be honest with you."

32-year-old Nunes currently holds belts in TWO divisions -- bantamweight and featherweight -- and hasn't lost a fight since 2014.

But, after that "L" to Cat Zingano, Nunes has been on an 11-fight win streak ... defeating some of the biggest names in the history of women's MMA.

Most recently, Nunes dominated Felicia Spencer at UFC 250 ... just months after a 5-round victory over Germaine de Randamie.

"It's getting very hard now for people not to start respecting her, especially after this last performance," White says.

"When she fought Germaine de Randamie, people were like 'Ohh she looked awful human in that fight.' She looked human?!! What?!? She fought the greatest female striker ever and she won the fight. What do you guys want from this woman?! And, this last fight against an unbelievably tough durable Spencer, she put on an absolute clinic."

So, who's next for Nunes? Some have been calling for a 3rd fight with Valentina Shevchenko (who's a beast) or even a boxing match with undefeated champ Claressa Shields.

White weighed in on both situations ...

First, Claressa ...

"The hard part with a fight like that is where do they fight? Do they box or do they do MMA?"

"I know Clarrisa's been training [in MMA] but she couldn't possibly be at the level as Amanda Nunes."

Still, White says he likes Claressa and recently met with her manager ... but they've gotta figure out how to make a fight work.

As for Shevchenko ...

"'Well, maybe we throw Shevchenko at her again' is what people are thinking. And, I don't like anything about that because they already fought twice and Amanda beat her twice."

Officer Tito Ortiz?!

Maybe ... because the MMA legend tells TMZ Sports he's not kidding around about making a career switch to law enforcement.

"I plan on it," Ortiz says ... "It just depends on what ranking I want to do. Do I want to be a sheriff or do I want to be a police officer? I haven't made my decision yet."

The 45-year-old UFC Hall of Famer says he's been doing a lot of research -- and actually set up a police ride-along in the coming days to help guide his decision.

So, why?

Tito says with his MMA career winding down, he wants a job that won't just keep him excited but also wants to serve the community.

"I'll be fighting one more time this year. I want to hang 'em up. But, I want to do something else that will not just keep that excitement going but just do what's right for the country. Do what's right for the city, for my city."

Tito says he was always told cops are the "bad guys" -- but as a grown-ass man, "I came to realize that the cops are the good guys."

Sugar vs. No Love!?!

UFC rising star Sean O'Malley tells TMZ Sports that's a fight that will "100% happen" -- even if it takes a few years to get there.

Of course, Sean and Cody both fought at UFC 250 on Saturday -- and KO'd their opponents with unbelievable 1-hitter quitters!

They each got a $50k performance bonus -- and now, the hype to get these guys into the Octagon TOGETHER has begun.

"He's a dangerous fight, for sure," O'Malley tells us ... "Anyone that throws a right hand like that is dangerous."

"We'll fight someday. 100% fight someday. He's still pretty young so I think that's gonna be a potential big, BIG fight, that's a big pay-per-view fight here in the next years."

"He keeps winning, I keep winning. That's a big f**king fight."

O'Malley says he's got tons of respect for Garbrandt after he came back from a 3-fight skid to KO Raphael Assuncao ... but he did notice one interesting change about Cody's look.

"Grew his beard out a little bit, try to add maybe a little cushion there and it might have worked -- but I'll slice right through that f**king beard!"

As for Sean's killer KO of Eddie Wineland -- "Sugar" breaks down the punch that ended the fight ... and it's awesome.