MMA

Nate Diaz tells TMZ Sports he's considering dropping out of UFC 230 over a serious dispute with the UFC ... telling us he'll only fight if he "feels like it."

Diaz stormed out of the UFC media event on Friday while Dana White announced the Conor McGregor comeback fight against Khabib Nurmagomedov ... and we got him outside.

Nate claims he's been ineligible to fight due to a legal dispute with his former manager. As we previously reported, The Ballengee Group sued Diaz, claiming he never paid them their cut for negotiating his deal for the McGregor fight at UFC 202.

This seems to be the case Diaz is referring to.

Diaz is upset, claiming White has been "bad-mouthing" him by saying he's turned down multiple fight offers over the past 2 years. Nate insists he's "never turned down a fight in my life."

Diaz says he finally settled his lawsuit last month and can fight again -- which is why he agreed to fight Dustin Poirier at UFC 230 in November.

But, something at the media event rubbed Diaz the wrong way and now he tells TMZ Sports ... the UFC "better start acting right and start over-promoting [me] instead of under promoting."

There's more ... we also asked Nate who he's got in the Conor vs. Khabib match -- and he replied, "I whipped one's ass and I slapped the f*ck out of the other one so they're both my little bitches."

Diaz then told us about an incident in which he smacked Khabib in the face in front of "all his Russian friends" and they "didn't do sh*t."

Here's how 36-year-old Tyron Woodley feels about fighting 25-year-old Darren Till:

"I'm 10 years older than this dude. I've got underwear his age!"

The UFC welterweight champ took some time away from training camp to shoot this week's episode of 'The Hollywood Beatdown' ... where he told us how he's gearing up to defend his belt at UFC 228.

"Man, I'm ready to f*** Darren Till up, man. I'm not gonna bulls**t."

There's a lot more ... Woodley also tells us why he's not mad at Cody Garbrandt for using the n-bomb on his Twitter page and why he can't hate on Nate Diaz.

Make sure to watch all the way to the end of the clip when Tyron tells us how he stays motivated and focused in the gym ... it'll get you fired up!!!

Dana White says it's 100% on ... Conor McGregor vs. Khabib Nurmagomedov is set for Oct. 6 at UFC 229 in Las Vegas!!!

It'll undoubtedly be the biggest fight of the year for the UFC -- Conor's first fight back in the Octagon since his boxing match with Floyd Mayweather.

The last time Conor fought for the UFC was back in 2016 when he avenged his loss against Nate Diaz.

Got a gambling problem? Wanna make a few bucks wagering on UFC?

Well, here's UFC Hall of Famer Urijah Faber spelling out why he thinks Conor McGregor will walk away with the W if/when he faces Khabib Nurmagomedov in October.

Backstory ... Faber accurately predicted Nate Diaz to beat Conor when they fought for the first time back in March 2016.

In fact, Urijah says he ALMOST fought Conor at UFC 196 -- but McGregor chose to take on Diaz at UFC 196 instead.

Demetrious Johnson wants to fight the winner of this weekend's scrap between Cody Garbrandt and T.J. Dillashaw ... as long as the UFC ponies up a helluva lot of cash.

We asked DJ -- who's fighting in the co-main event at UFC 227 this Saturday in L.A. -- whether he'd be down to battle T.J. or Cody ... should he take home his 14th straight win in the Octagon this weekend.

"Obviously, if the money's right. I've always had an interest in it. If the money's right, then we'll make it happen."

That's music to fight fans' ears ... who have long wanted to see Demetrious -- who has dominated the flyweight division (125 lbs.) -- be part of a superfight against Cody or T.J.

DJ knows that's what fans want ... but dropped an obscure analogy using the movie "Spawn" to dampen expectations that it'll actually go down.

"Sh*t, hell, I wanted a 'Spawn 2' with f**king Michael Jai White, but the box office didn't do so well. So, I didn't get a 'Spawn 2.'"

Khabib Nurmagomedov says Conor McGregor ain't worthy of stepping inside the Octagon with him ... but would love the opportunity to kick his ass ... and get paid for it.

TMZ Sports talked to Khabib in NYC on Thursday ... and when we asked him for an update on the super fight ... he unloaded on Conor.

"I'm the undefeated, undisputed UFC lightweight champion. I no need him. He need me. His last 4 fight is like 2 and 2. He don't fight 2 years. He don't deserve this title shot."

Still ... don't get it twisted, Khabib says he want this fight.

Colby Covington promised he'd make it out to see Donald Trump "unlike the Filth-a-delphia Eagles" after winning his championship fight last month ... and he finally made good on that on Wednesday.

"Like Donald Trump always says: Promises made. Promises kept," Covington said of the visit.

"Pleasure to finally meet you Mr. President. Thank you for always putting America first!"

Remember ... the UFC superstar beat up on Rafael dos Anjos at UFC 225 -- and took a shot at the NFL's Super Bowl champs while promising a White House visit afterward.

"I told everybody I was going to make the welterweight division great again, and now I’m going to celebrate how a real American should celebrate winning a world a title," Covington said.

"And that’s going to the White House to see Mr. Donald Trump and put this on his desk, unlike the Filth-a-delphia Eagles disrespecting our flag and kneeling for the national anthem.”

If Conor McGregor ever wants to make the jump to the squared circle, he'll have Ronda Rousey to thank ... so says Sheamus, who tells us Rowdy paved the way for MMA stars in WWE.

TMZ Sports spoke with the Irish superstar about Ronda's transition into pro wrestling ... and Sheamus says he wouldn't be surprised if more UFC fighters follow her lead.

"I think anything is possible now with Ronda in the WWE ... Ronda's killing it, so the door's open for anybody."

BTW -- Conor and Sheamus had a huge Twitter feud back in 2014 after the Notorious claimed he would "whoop his ass" in a fight.

Canelo Alvarez and Gennady Golvkin had real beef when they came together to shoot a promo for their upcoming fight ... sources tell TMZ Sports there was "real hatred" and real trash talk on the set.

The two had to be in the same room at the same time for the promo shoot in mid-July -- and even had to throw fake punches at each other. You can see in the video ... the mood on set was tense.

Remember, getting the deal done for this fight was not easy -- the sides went to war over how to split the profits ... with Canelo and his promoter, Oscar De La Hoya, threatening to walk several times.

With Ronda Rousey's movie career taking off, the UFC legend says she's aiming high -- and wants a very specific role if Quentin Tarantino goes forward with a 3rd installment of "Kill Bill."

We got Rousey in NYC where she was promoting her new flick "Mile 22" -- where she stars alongside Mark Wahlberg and John Malkovich. Ronda thinks the movie has a real shot to win an Oscar.

But, moving forward, Rousey says she REALLY wants to play a "grown-up B.B. in 'Kill Bill 3.'"

Of course, B.B. was Beatrix Kiddo's (Uma Thurman) daughter in the original movies.

Tarantino has talked about possibly making a 3rd 'K.B.' flick -- but there's nothing in the works.

T.J. Dillashaw ain't the only one that's gonna get it from Cody Garbrandt Saturday night ... Cody's wife better watch out too, 'cause he's been holding out on the lovin' and says ... after the fight, IT'S TIME!!!

Garbrandt and Dillashaw have a date at UFC 227 in Staples Center this weekend, and it can't come soon enough for Cody ... who's been holding out from the boom boom for his entire fight camp.

"My poor wife," Cody said when we got him out in L.A., telling our guy he just doesn't believe in gettin' down during training camp.

How long has it been? 3 MONTHS according to Cody, who also said his post-fight celebration won't be at a club or a bar ... it'll be in his own bedroom.

"Saturday night, I'm gettin' it in, that's my after-party."

Conor McGregor says he's very close to finalizing the deal to fight Khabib Nurmagomedov in 2018 -- and he's bragging that he's already in fighting shape.

The UFC superstar was wrapping up his workout in NYC Monday when he updated Adam Glyn on fight negotiations with Khabib -- a fight expected to go down in October.

Conor raved about how much he loved the city of New York -- in the wake of his plea deal in his bus attack case -- but says the fight will most likely take place in Vegas ... not Madison Square Garden.

There's more ... McGregor also praised his former opponent, José Aldo, for his victory against Jeremy Stephens this weekend. Remeber, McGregor seemed to break Aldo's spirit with that legendary 13-second KO in 2015.

He even says ... "the whole [nation] of Ireland was happy for José Aldo that night."

McGregor hasn't fought in the Octagon since his victory over Eddie Alvarez at UFC 205 which, at this point, seems like an eternity ago. Of course, he fought Floyd Mayweather last year.

As for his claim to being in great shape ... just check out his human being squats in the park. Yeah, we believe him.

Conor McGregor took his Monday workout to the next level -- throwing a grown ass man on his back for a set of squats in Central Park ... and TMZ Sports has the footage.

The UFC superstar is still out in NYC after his court hearing last week in which he agreed to a plea deal in his bus attack case that will keep him out of jail.

So, what's Conor doing with his free time? Seems to be prepping for his next fight ... with a grueling workout all over the city.

After the squats, Conor knocked out some ab work before going on a run -- dude looks to be in pretty solid shape.

Daniel Cormier says he considers himself the Michael Jordan or LeBron James of the UFC ... but when it comes to the greatest heavyweight of all time -- that title goes to Cain Velasquez.

Of course, DC is reigning heavyweight champion of the world -- but tells TMZ Sports he doesn't feel he's done his best fighting at that weight.

Cain -- on the other hand -- is a 2-time UFC heavyweight champ with impressive victories over guys like Brock Lesnar, Junior Dos Santos and Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva.

He also has the record for most knockouts in the UFC heavyweight division!

Ex-UFC star Rashad Evans is ready to move on from sparring to starring ... in a Hollywood role -- and he's revealing his dream gig -- playing Cuba Gooding Jr.'s brother!!

We got the former light heavyweight champ out at LAX and he told us now that his days in the Octagon are done ... he wants a career in movies.

Of course ... he's already gotten started on that dream -- playing a role in Mel Gibson's upcoming flick, "Boss Level."

But, Rashad's got his eyes on a bigger prize ... and it includes possibly playing a relative of Rod Tidwell himself.

BTW ... Rashad ain't the only Evans who has his future mapped out -- his kids are just as driven as Pops.

Conor McGregor didn't have to say anything in response to the manager of his mortal foe Khabib ... his expression did all the talking.

Conor was in NYC Friday night when a photog asked what he thought about the manager's comment -- that the champ would be safer in jail than fighting Khabib. Check out Conor's reaction.

TMZ Sports broke the story last week ... that Conor was about to dodge a major bullet in his criminal case -- the one where he threw the dolly into a UFC bus, injuring 3 fighters.

This week a judge accepted a plea bargain that kept Conor out of jail. Under the deal the felony was reduced to a misdemeanor -- if that didn't happen Conor could have been deported.

Conor had a strong reaction Friday night to the plea bargain ... check out the video below.