MMA

UFC star Paige VanZant says her USO military tour wasn't just laughs and choking exhibitions ... one of the bases she visited was attacked while she was there!

"We got shot at," Paige said on the "TMZ Sports" TV show (airs weeknights on FS1) ... "One of the bases we were at got shot at!"

"We all had to like duck and hide under the table until it was all clear ... until they could deflect the fire coming into the base."

Unclear which U.S. military base took the fire -- but Paige says the attack went down last month, while she and Max Holloway were visiting troops in several countries ... including Japan and Afghanistan.

"It was really scary," Paige said ... "but it was awesome and it was worth it because I got to see what our troops go through every single day."

Hi kids. Do you like violence?

If the answer is "Yes," you're probably a fan of NFL-players-turned-MMA fighters -- because Nick Diaz says they tend to have the most entertaining [aka violent] fights.

We spotted Nick leaving Warwick nightclub in West Hollywood when we asked how he felt about Greg Hardy's upcoming UFC debut.

"Football players, they actually do the best in MMA," Diaz said.

Diaz explained how the sport attracts a lot of wrestlers -- but they tend to be one dimensional and develop bad habits. Also, most people want to see traditional martial arts -- packed with striking.

The takeaway ... ex-football players have a tendency to wanna bang more -- leading to more entertaining fights.

Yes, this is REAL!!!!!

UFC superstar Paige VanZant was giving a rear naked choke demonstration to U.S. troops during a USO event with Max Holloway ... when she actually CHOKED OUT THE DUDE UNCONSCIOUS!!!

VanZant had selected a volunteer who agreed to let Paige apply the choke in front of a crowd of very excited soldiers.

But, just a few seconds after she began to squeeze, the soldier's lights went out -- and when Paige released the hold, he collapsed to the floor.

John Gotti Jr. -- a guy known as one of the toughest guys ever -- says there's actually one person in the family even tougher than him ... his MMA fighter son, John III.

If you don't know who John Gotti Jr. is then we're assuming you don't know who John Gotti Sr. was ... and to be honest, we're not sure if we can tell you (google it, and let them be the rat).

John Gotti III is an MMA fighter whose first pro bout is May 4 at a Classic Entertainment & Sports show in New York -- and at a recent workout at Powerhouse Gym in NYC said he's got a clear dream opponent.

"Who wouldn't wanna fight Conor McGregor?"

John Jr. was on hand for the workout and said it's actually tough to watch his kid get in there and bang -- but was quick to give it up to his son, saying he and other MMA fighters are the "real" tough guys.

"I have an immense amount of respect for anyone who climbs into that cage, those are the tough guys. Because those are the guys that gotta get in there in front of all these people and inflict harm, and be harmed."

Did you google it? Yeah, told you, now keep your mouth shut.

And now ... "Street Fighting Stories with Marlon Wayans!"

This time, Marlon is telling us all about the time someone picked a fight with UFC star Nick Diaz -- and it ended with VIOLENCE!

Marlon was leaving Catch in West Hollywood over the weekend -- where Nick Diaz had also been hanging out -- and it reminded Marlon about the one dumbass who tried to fight the Diaz Brothers in front of him.

"I said 'Brah, you f***ing with the wrong dude.' He goes 'F*** that bro. You don't know me. I'm gonna f*** [him up].'"

Marlon says he TRIED to warn the wannabe tough guy ... to no avail.

"Nick grabbed his ass ... Pop! Pop! Pop! Three elbows. Pop! Pop! Two knees. Fight was over. Blood everywhere."

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.