MMA

Matt Serra says his SHOCKING TKO of Georges St-Pierre at UFC 69 in '07 was the real-life version of a 'Rocky' movie -- ONLY BETTER ... 'cause he knocked GSP's ass out!

Serra -- who's gonna be inducted in the UFC Hall of Fame in July -- talked to TMZ Sports about his iconic win ... one most UFC fans consider the most stunning upset in the history of the sport.

In case you forgot ... Serra -- a heavy underdog -- unleashed a fury of punches on the then-welterweight champ ... forcing "Big" John McCarthy to stop the beating in the 1st round.

"I've always said that I really, truly lived my 'Rocky' movie with that fight." Serra told us.

Ali, Marciano, Tyson ... when it comes to great runs in boxing, Floyd Mayweather beat 'em all -- so says Dave Chappelle.

FYI, Dave is a HUGE boxing fan -- and has attended a bunch of Floyd's fights in person.

So, when we saw the comedy legend out in L.A., we had to ask about Mayweather -- and if he supports Floyd possibly jumping into the Octagon.

"I think Floyd had a great record and the greatest run in the history of boxing," Chappelle said ... "I don't know, whatever makes him happy, but I think he did his thing."

Floyd's run was legendary ... he was a champ in 5 different weight classes and made more money than any other athlete on the face of the planet.

Also, his fights have generated more money in PPV sales than any other fighter in history.

Luke Rockhold was one of the special VIP guests at a pretty crazy fight in Miami last night -- with supercars, celebrities ... and a brutal knockout.

Luke was ringside at Karate Combat: Inception -- where the fighters are driven to the ring in Rolls-Royces and then walk through a parking lot of supercars before actually fighting.

The guest list was invite only -- and Rockhold made the cut to watch Dionicio Gustavo take on Alexandre Bouderbane, a part-time fitness model.

Things turned brutal when Gustavo cracked Bouderbane with an overhand right -- sending the model crumpling to the ground.

Nick Diaz says the Floyd Mayweather shooting was "f*cked up" -- especially because he knows a couple of guys in Floyd's entourage who were in the van during the attack.

"That was my boy that got shot I think," Diaz said before sending a message to the guy -- "I hope you feel better, you got shot."

As we previously reported, Mayweather's longtime TMT bodyguard, Greg La Rosa, was hit in the leg when a gunman ambushed Floyd's crew in Atlanta. Greg is recovering and should be okay.

Diaz said there's really nothing Mayweather's team could have done to prevent the shooting -- explaining, "Sometimes it's just gonna go down."

"When it goes down, it goes down."

If Greg Hardy fights his way into a UFC contract, one of the biggest stars in his division wants a piece of the ex-NFL star ... with Derrick Lewis saying, "I like knocking wife beaters out."

Hardy is reportedly getting his shot during the UFC Contender Series -- in which up-and-coming MMA fighters compete for a chance at a UFC contract. It's where UFC star Sean O'Malley got his start.

Hardy (who's 3-0 as an amateur) would obviously compete in the heavyweight division -- where Derrick "The Black Beast" Lewis is ranked #6 in the world.

So, how does Lewis feel about a potential showdown somewhere down the line?

"He's a wife beater ... I'd like to get in there with him."

Lewis is referring to Hardy's domestic violence case -- in which he was initially convicted of attacking his then-girlfriend. The conviction was later thrown out when the alleged victim stopped cooperating with prosecutors.

Still, Lewis ain't letting Hardy off the hook.

"I'll fight Greg Hardy ... It'll be like vice versa him beating on a woman. I'll be beating him like he was a woman."

Why so much animosity?

"I grew up watching my mom and my stepdad fight," Lewis says ... "Fistfighting every day for stupid stuff. I don't tolerate stuff like that at all."

First things first ... Lewis has a brawl with Francis Ngannou lined up at UFC 226 on July 7 ... about a month after Hardy gets his UFC shot.

Stay tuned ...

Not exactly the homecoming Conor McGregor imagined ...

The UFC star has finally returned to Ireland after that violent bus attack in Brooklyn ... but instead of soaking up the spotlight (as usual), he shot photogs the 1-finger salute.

As we previously reported ... after McGregor was released from jail on April 6, he flew to the Bahamas for a little R&R with his girlfriend, Dee Devlin, and his kid, Conor McGregor Jr.

But now, Conor has returned back to Ireland ... and he doesn't look too happy.

Maybe it's because he's due back in court in Brooklyn in June ... or because some of his fellow countrymen feel he brought great shame on his country.

Did you know ... NFL tight end Marcedes Lewis is a BEAST when it comes to MMA?

It's true ... both UFC champ Tyron Woodley and Jay Glazer have said he's got what it takes to compete in a pro MMA fight.

But will we ever see Marcedes in a cage?

"Never say never," Lewis tells TMZ Sports.

Look, Lewis kept it all the way real -- telling us as long as he's in the NFL, there's no chance he'll take a pro fight. But once he retires ... he'll definitely considering it.

We asked if he would ever fight Greg Hardy -- a former NFL star who's undefeated as an MMA fighter ... and Lewis agreed it would be a helluva spectacle.

"It would be something to see, right?!"

As for his NFL career, Lewis is currently a free agent -- but he definitely has a team in mind he wants to sign with.

UFC fighter Brad Tavares is doubling down on his weekend call-out of Michael Bisping ... telling TMZ Sports the ex-champ is ducking him 'cause he's terrified of getting THRASHED.

"I think he’s scared ... scared to get his ass beat," Tavares said. "What else could it be?"

FYI, the Hawaiian went looking for Bisping backstage after he merked Krzysztof Jotko at UFC on FOX 29 ... to call out the UFC legend for his retirement fight.

Bisping LOL'd at Tavares' challenge -- telling the top-10 middleweight to "get the f**k out!"

But, Brad ain't giving up -- saying there's no better option for him unless he's gunnin' for Conor McGregor (yeah ... ain't gon' happen).

Conor McGregor's lucky UFC star Kevin Lee wasn't in the bus he attacked -- 'cause if he was, K-Lee says he would've gone full Dark Knight on his ass!!

"It would have been totally different -- totally different story," Lee told TMZ Sports. "I would have jumped out like Batman when he threw the dolly through."

Kevin doesn't give a damn Conor was flanked by a full goon squad -- saying all of McGregor's wannabe gangsters would've tasted his hands.

But, "The Motown Phenom" doesn't want Conor to leave the UFC ... 'cause he wants that "easy money" fight inside the Octagon!

But, before Kevin tries to win the McGregor sweepstakes, he's got a date with nasty striker Edson Barboza at UFC Fight Night: Atlantic City this Saturday ... and he told us why it's gonna be fireworks.

Tekashi69 needs to be careful ... because if his feud with Adrien Broner turns into a REAL fight, Broner would knock his ass out in ONE PUNCH -- so says Tyron Woodley.

Tyron was trying REALLY hard to warn Tekashi on "The Hollywood Beatdown" that his hands aren't on the same PLANET as Broner when it comes to fighting ... and the proof is in that weak ass LAX brawl earlier this year.

In fact, Tyron says Broner needs to ignore 6ix9ine and focus on his REAL business -- beating Jessie Vargas at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn on Saturday night (live on Showtime).

There's more ... Tyron also reacts to a videotaped message from Daniel Cormier about his fighting future.

Plus, Woodley rips Danielle Bregoli, Woah Vicky and Lil Tay for that stupid YouTube star brawl in L.A.

UFC fighter Aljamain Sterling loves to rage -- so once he's done kickin' ass inside the Octagon this weekend, he says he's gonna TEAR UP Atlantic City with his boy, Al Iaquinta!!

“Oh yeah ... we’re going to be getting into some trouble. We’re ragin'! Ragin'!” Sterling told TMZ Sports ahead of his UFC Fight Night 128 bout with undefeated Brett Johns.

If ya hadn't heard, Iaquinta got hammered and wrecked his hotel room after winning at UFC 183 ... and Aljamain says Round 2 would've happened if Ragin' Al upset Khabib at UFC 223 earlier this month.

Instead, he took an L -- but Aljo says they'll party on after he beats Johns in their own backyard (they're Jersey bros).

Aljo also told us why Iaquinta steppin' up vs. Khabib inspired the hell outta him ... and changed the way he's approaching his fights.

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.