MMA

Daniel Cormier says the clock is ticking on a Jon Jones rematch ... 'cause he's retiring when he turns 40 (next March), period.

We got the UFC light heavyweight champ on the "TMZ Sports" TV show ... and asked if there was any way he'd make an exception for his hated rival -- who could be on the shelf past then 'cause of his steroid suspension.

"If I'm not gonna do it for guys that I really like, I won't do it for somebody that I don't like," Cormier said. "So, if he doesn't come back before that date, our time will have passed."

DC also told us why Conor McGregor wouldn't stand a chance against his boy, Khabib ... and why ya gotta tune in to him and Stipe Miocic (a guy he likes waaaaay more than Jones) coaching this season of 'The Ultimate Fighter.'

Catch the full interview with Cormier -- and the premiere of 'TUF Season 27' -- Wednesday night on FS1!

Forget Conor McGregor ... UFC star Dustin Poirier says he should be the first guy to fight Khabib Nurmagomedov for his strap -- and he's making a damn good case.

"I'm locked on Khabib," Poirier told TMZ Sports. "It's time. I've earned it. No more denying me."

He ain't lyin'. Dustin put on a Fight of the Year contender this past weekend on FOX, taking out Justin Gaethje with a vicious 4-round TKO ... and with Conor and Tony Ferguson shelved, that could make him first up.

Of course, "The Diamond" took some SERIOUS damage himself -- dude's getting his hands, knee AND "boomerang shape" nose checked out by UFC doctors -- so he's gonna need some R&R.

But once his face ain't broken, he wants Khabib to know he's comin'.

"Shine that belt up nice, hang on to it tight, 'cause it's gonna come home with me."

Dustin also updated us on his fight gear auction for the Gaethje fight -- so if you dug the scrap, check it out!

Canelo Alvarez just got slapped with a 6-month suspension for his failed performance enhancing drug test that he blamed on tainted meat ... the Nevada Athletic Commission just announced at a hearing in Vegas.

The commission only took minutes to deliberate on Alvarez's case ... ultimately giving him half of a maximum 1-year ban, noting that he's been "cooperative with investigators."

Canelo's May 5 rematch with Gennady Golovkin has already been scrapped ... but, this opens the door for Alvarez vs. Golovkin 2 to happen in September -- a time frame GGG previously told TMZ Sports he's gunnin' for.

As we previously reported ... Canelo got popped for the PED Clenbuterol in March from a test administered on Feb. 17. Because his ban is retroactive to the date of the test, Alvarez is eligible to fight as soon as Aug. 18.

Canelo has maintained his innocence throughout the process ... blaming Mexican beef for pumping 'roids into his veins.

Forget the Pacers ... the Cavs are gonna smash on EVERY NBA TEAM standing in the way of their quest for another ring -- so says UFC heavyweight champ Stipe Miocic.

We got Stipe -- a proud Cleveland native -- after the LeBrons got rocked in Game 1 of their series with Indiana ... and he told us everyone needs to chill the hell out.

"They're fine. It's one game. It happens," Miocic told TMZ Sports. "They'll start smashing people."

Stipe was so confident, he even Guaran-Sheed the Cavs would crush any Western squad that makes it to the Finals (so, the Warriors or Rockets).

"It's my Cavs, of course they're gonna win."

We also spoke to the champ about the 'Ultimate Fighter: Undefeated' reality show he coached on that premieres Wednesday on FS1 ... and he told us why the fighters this season are must-see TV.

If you think Conor McGregor's bus attack pissed people off in New York, wait 'til ya get a load of this old lady from Ireland ... who went NUCLEAR on Conor at LAX!!

THIS CLIP IS HILARIOUS!!!

Our photog was asking Brandon T. Jackson a question about McGregor when this woman came outta nowhere, hijacked the interview and unleashed hell on the Irishman.

"Absolutely disgusting man. Nobody likes him in Ireland," she told TMZ Sports.

She continued -- "Absolute disgrace. And if Mayweather ever sees him again, I hope he kicks his ass!"

There's a lot more .... and Brandon loves it!

"You about to get a whoopin' by grandmama right here ... I got my money on her, Conor," the "Tropic Thunder" star said.

Yeah ... might wanna look into extending that vacay.

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!.