MMA

Conor McGregor is hitting the beach after hitting the bus ... jetting down to the Bahamas to relax after getting approval from his bail bondsman, TMZ Sports has learned.

Sources connected to McGregor tell us ... the UFC star flew out of NYC on Saturday bound for the islands.

The issue -- because of his pending criminal charges against him in the bus attack case, Conor needed his bail bondsman to approve travel plans before leaving the country.

We spoke with Conor's bondsman, Ira Judelson, who tell us he did in fact sign off on McGregor to travel -- but wouldn't confirm the destination to TMZ.

Judelson also noted McGregor has been "100% compliant" with the terms of his bail package, so far -- which has essentially required Conor to check in and stay out of trouble.

You scared homie?

Here's Nate Diaz getting his party on at Coachella over the weekend -- where he took a few seconds to throw some shade at Conor McGregor.

We spotted Nate rollin' around the desert with his crew and had to ask if there's been any movement toward Diaz vs. McGregor III.

"Scared for his life," Diaz told us while shadow boxing.

We also asked about getting the money side of the trilogy -- "Getting paid regardless!"

Dana White has previously said he's super doubtful Nate ever takes a fight in the UFC again despite offering him several fights.

And don't forget -- Tyron Woodley has also been calling for Nate's head.

CM Punk will NEVER step foot inside the Octagon again after he gets embarrassed at UFC 225 -- so says the fighter who's planning on embarrassing him.

We spoke with Mike "The Truth" Jackson now that Punk vs. Truth is official ... and he told us he's gonna show the world the ex-WWE superstar doesn't belong in MMA.

"I'm just going in here to beat him up a little bit and show him it's not for him," Jackson told TMZ Sports.

That said, Mike's backtracking on his violent threats from last month ... saying he really doesn't wanna hurt the guy.

As for why he thinks he got the call to fight Punk -- "If you bring in someone else ... it's not gonna get this type of buzz. It's getting this type of buzz because of me."

"This is a storyline not even Vince McMahon could write."

Really, bro?

Bruce Lee's the most legendary martial artist to ever live ... but UFC rising star Zabit Magomedsharipov is already EVEN BETTER than him -- so says his manager.

We got Ali Abdelaziz fresh off Zabit's savage Fight of the Night victory at UFC 223 ... and he heaped the highest praise on the Russian, saying he's never seen a more complete MMA fighter.

FYI, Ali reps current and former champions like Khabib Nurmagomedov, Frankie Edgar and Fabricio Werdum -- so that's a bold statement.

But, not nearly as bold as what he said next -- "(Zabit's) a much better version of Bruce Lee ... that's the truth. Bruce Lee cannot do the stuff he does."

"I love Bruce Lee, I respect him, but he's Bruce Lee on steroids."

Yeah ... probably not the best choice of words, but point taken.

Of course, being that he's the modern-day Dragon, Ali says Zabit could beat all the UFC's top 145-pounders RIGHT NOW.

Conor McGregor, Georges St-Pierre, Tony Ferguson ... Khabib's next opponent is way up in the air, so UFC star Dustin Poirier says not to sleep on him skippin' the whole damn line!

We spoke to Dustin ahead of his scrap with Justin Gaethje this weekend ... and he told us things are so crazy atop the UFC's 155-pound division, he could get the nod with a violent W at UFC on Fox 29.

"I go out there and perform Saturday night, I'm a huge step closer, and maybe I'm next," Poirier told TMZ Sports. "Maybe one more after that, we'll see. But I can't look past this fight."

Smart man. Gaethje's the UFC's "King of Violence" ... but Dustin's also been putting bloody beatdowns on fools his whole career.

The UFC rising star being hailed as "The Next Jon Jones" says he's sick and tired of it ... and wants everyone to know he's an original.

We got undefeated 185-pounder Israel Adesanya before his second UFC fight this Saturday on FOX ... and he told us why being measured up with one of the GOATs is a diss, not a compliment.

"I don't want to be anyone's second banana or in anyone's shadow."

"Not all black people look the same, contrary to popular belief," Adesanya told TMZ Sports.

Izzy says the only reason Jones isn't being compared TO HIM is 'cause he broke in with the UFC first ... and once fans see more of "The Last Stylebender," they'll know what's up.

To be clear, Izzy ain't holding it against Bones -- and says he'd actually love to meet up and swap skills.

Conor McGregor was an awesome rags to riches story ... before he went nuts and attacked a damn bus -- so says UFC star Justin Gaethje.

We spoke with Justin -- one of the top fighters in McGregor's 155-pound division -- and he told us Conor's an extreme example of broke fighters who get too much, too soon.

"McGregor wasn’t rich 5 years ago. Now, you put $100 million in his pocket and you see how it changes people," Gaethje told TMZ Sports.

"It’s a crazy world, this MMA game -- especially being at the top in the UFC."

With that in mind, Justin does NOT wanna see McGregor banned from fighting. He'd rather kick his ass, personally.

"He’s gonna pay multi-millions of dollars to people and that’ll be punishment enough."

There's more -- Gaethje told us why Khabib Nurmagomedov's no more of a champion than Conor ... and put an expiration date on his own MMA career (and it's sooner than you think).

Justin also dished on his scrap with Dustin Poirier this Saturday at 'UFC on Fox 29' ... and considering his last bout was 2017's Fight of the Year, we suggest you tune in.

If Conor McGregor ever returns the UFC, Khabib Nurmagomedov will be ready -- so says Khabib's manager.

We asked Ali Abdelaziz about the grudge match on the heels of Khabib winning Conor's lightweight title at UFC 223 ... and Ali told us he'd "of course" try to broker the big-money fight.

Conor's gotta face the music for his UFC bus attack first, though ... and Khabib has already made it clear he wants to fight GSP before he gives McGregor a shot.

Speaking of the attack ... Ali tells TMZ Sports he really ain't that pissed at Conor for Thursday's incident at the Barclays Center -- instead pointing the finger at McGregor's crew of yes-men.

"I don't think Conor McGregor's a bad guy," Abdelaziz said. "F**k his team, his whole entire team ... they're using Conor to get to places."

Ali also told us Conor's goons are lucky the rest of Khabib's team wasn't with them on that bus, 'cause if they were -- "we would've been burying bodies."

Nick Diaz just posted a cryptic message on social media strongly hinting he's stepping back inside the Octagon after over 3 YEARS away from the UFC.

And the timing couldn't be better ... 'cause Nick's eligible to fight in 8 days!!

You might've seen the news -- Nate's older bro accepted his retroactive punishment from the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency the other day ... a 1-year ban for his "whereabouts failures" from 2016-2017.

In other words -- Nick flipped USADA the proverbial bird instead of checking in like he was supposed to.

But, seems like things are all good now, going off this photo Diaz shared with the caption -- "Back where we left off."

Remember -- Dana White told us Nick was interested in fighting a couple months ago ... so it really seems like this is happening.

Now, pleeeeaaaase don't go crazy on 4/20, bro!

Conor McGregor will almost certainly cop a plea in his malicious mischief case, and the deal may include a felony ... law enforcement sources connected with the case tell TMZ.

McGregor has been charged with felony criminal mischief in addition to 3 counts of misdemeanor assault and attempted assault. Conor did $8,000 worth of damage to the tour bus when he threw a dolly at the vehicle, shattering the window and injuring 3 passengers.

Our law enforcement sources say as of now ... there's a good chance the deal offered will be felony criminal mischief. In other words, prosecutors will make the offer and Conor will have 2 choices ... accept it or go to trial.

One source in contact with Conor and familiar with the case says the UFC fighter's team is well aware ... going to trial is too risky ... a conviction is all but certain.

If Conor pleads no contest or guilty to felony criminal mischief, he could go back to court after 1 year and ask the judge to reduce the conviction to a misdemeanor, assuming he keeps his nose clean.

Things got very real for Ronda Rousey during a session with Tyler Henry -- when the "Hollywood Medium" made a connection with her father ... who took his own life when she was only 8-years-old.

Henry -- a self-described "clairvoyant medium" -- told Ronda he was seeing imagery connected with a a vehicle and someone's final moments.

Ronda instantly become emotional and revealed that her father took his own life inside of a car after suffering from a debilitating medical condition for years.

The UFC legend (turned WWE superstar) began recalling memories of her father and started to tear up during the episode which airs Wednesday on E!.

UFC star Paige VanZant says she was gang raped in high school by a bunch of boys who got her drunk and assaulted her when she couldn't defend herself.

The 24-year-old described the incident and the impact it had on her life in her new book, "Rise: Surviving the Fight of My Life."

"They move me around ... They change my position. I fail each time I try to resist, my limbs like wet cement on my body, my brain a heavy fog. I am awake and conscious, but my body feels dead."

"I know what is happening but can do nothing to stop it. I have no voice or choice but to submit and pray that it ends soon."

It's unclear if VanZant went to the police. We're trying to find out.

Paige says the bullying she experienced after the rape was unbearable -- and led to her changing her last name from Sletten to VanZant because the kids at school nicknamed her "Slutton." Her family ultimately moved from Oregon to Nevada to give her a fresh start.

Here's Conor McGregor trying to convince you he's a not a monster who savagely attacks innocent people ... he's just a family man doing the best for his kid.

You buyin' it?

Clearly aware that his image is in the garbage right now ... McGregor went to social media and posted a photo with his girlfriend, Dee Devlin, and their 11-month-old son, Conor McGregor Jr.

Conor is calculating -- so don't think for a second there isn't a plan behind the posting ... he wants to convince you he's not the wild animal he appeared in the bus attack video.

You know ... this bus attack video -- where he threw a dolly at a UFC bus at Barclays Center, injuring Michael Chiesa and Ray Borg so badly they had to pull out of their fights.

Conor McGregor took a giant dump on the UFC and MMA -- so says Bruce Buffer, who's sick to his stomach over the Irishman's violent bus attack.

We got the legendary Octagon announcer after he had a few days to stew on McGregor's window-smashin' rampage ... and he wasn't about to let Conor off the hook.

"It's an insult, it's disgusting," Buffer told TMZ Sports.

"In my 22-plus years of being in the UFC and doing everything I can in my life to build this great brand, to support this fantastic sport ... you s**t on all of us with that one move."

Bruce added that he was "shocked" and "horrified" when he first saw the footage of Conor and his entourage wreaking havoc at the Barclays Center ... and is urging fans not to judge the UFC off this one isolated incident.

He's got two black eyes and bruises all over -- but UFC fighter Al Iaquinta wants ANOTHER crack at Khabib Nurmagomedov ... telling TMZ Sports he's convinced he can win!!

First off ... LOVE THIS GUY!!!

Al not only agreed to fight Khabib just HOURS before UFC 223 this weekend -- but hung in all 5 rounds against a guy many people are calling the most violent fighter alive.

Now ... Al says he truly believes with a proper training camp and the right mindset going into the fight, he'd BEAT Khabib!

Al knows UFC won't just hand him a rematch -- he needs to earn it -- and his plan is to fight his way to the top of the division.

And to the haters who think Khabib carried Al all 5 rounds to give the fans a show, Iaquinta says that's a load of B.S. ... and breaks down why he had a real shot to win the fight.

Conor McGregor should get a 1-way ticket back to Ireland after his violent bus attack -- so says George Lopez.

Like the rest of the world, George saw Conor's dolly-throwing rampage at Barclays Center last week ... and says he was shocked by the UFC mega-star's actions.

"What is that?" Lopez told TMZ Sports. "If you got that much cash, why are you throwing hand carts through the window?"

Our guy then brought up the possibility of McGregor getting a lifetime boot from the US of A, and he voted "yes" ... before making light of Trump's Mexican border wall.

Not sure how exactly that applies to Conor ... but his bottom line -- get the Irishman the hell off American soil!!