MMA

Luke Rockhold has two hands and he wants to use them to punch Jake Paul.

Hard.

TMZ Sports ran into the 38-year-old (retired, for now, at least) former UFC champion at LAX on Friday ... and asked him about the Problem Child's foray into MMA.

"Stop trying to fight little dudes. F***ing [155] pounders. You're a middleweight. If you want to fight a middleweight, I got hands. We can do anything we want. I really don't care. I'd beat that guy in my sleep."

As we previously reported, 26-year-old Paul recently signed a multi-fight, multi-year deal with PFL ... and wasted no time by calling out Nate Diaz for a boxing and MMA fight.

Diaz hasn't yet accepted the challenge ... and if he doesn't, Rockhold is more than ready to step in.

"I got some freedom to do some things and as you can see, I like throwing hands these days," Luke said, adding, "fight people your own f***ing weight. Straight up. And champions, a real champion, a real contender. A real someone who can put you on your ass. not old guys, 55-year-olds, or lightweights. You can't even get above a welterweight, dog, So, step up."

Of course, Jake's 6-0 as a professional boxer ... with wins over Ben Askren, Tyron Woodley (twice) and Anderson Silva.

Paul also recently started training in jiu-jitsu ... and was an amateur wrestler through high school.

Luke and Jake have some history. Paul was critical of Rockhold after his last UFC fight in August, when he lost a decision to Paulo Costa.

Jake tweeted, calling Luke's performance "dog s**t", saying it was an "embarrassment for the sport."

Boxing star Austin Trout is fighting UFC legend Diego Sanchez in a bare-knuckle boxing match next month -- one of multiple BKFC fights the former champ plans to take -- while still pursuing another title in the squared circle.

TMZ Sports talked to 37-year-old Trout, the former WBA light middleweight title holder, ahead of his February 17 bare-knuckle fight with 41-year-old Sanchez ... and asked him if this was something he planned to do more than once.

"Don't get me wrong, I'm still very much trying to pursue a world title in the boxing world. But, there's no reason I can't be a champion in both. I hope it can be a lasting relationship because I like what they're doing in the BKFC," Austin told us.

Trout has a professional boxing record of 36-5-1 ... while fighting some of the best fighters in the world, including Canelo Alvarez, who Austin took on the full 12 rounds with back in 2013.

Of course, Diego is a UFC Hall of Famer who beat everyone from Nick Diaz to Clay Guida ... over his illustrious career.

Naturally, you'd think Trout, a world-class boxer, would have the advantage over a guy whose best weapon was wrestling -- and that may be true -- but it's not how Trout is approaching the fight.

"I'm not gonna think that way. I have to make sure I prepare for the best Diego can give me, and if he makes it an ugly fight, real rough and tough, it's gonna be a long night for me," Austin said.

"So, not only do I have to be able to neutralize that, but I also need to be able to whoop his ass if he decides to come inside and square up with me. We gotta make him pay in every aspect."

We also talked to Diego and asked him how he planned to hang with an elite boxer.

"BKFC is not boxing. For all those people out there hating on me saying, 'Oh, what's BKFC thinking? Diego in there with Austin Trout?'"

"C'mon guys, boxing is different. MMA is different. BKFC is definitely different. Austin has been picking his own opponents for the past couple of years. I was fighting nothing but beasts at the end of my UFC career."

Despite the strong words, it's clear Diego and Austin, who have known each other for years, have absolutely no bad blood between them.

Jamahal Hill's fighting Glover Teixeira for the UFC light heavyweight title Saturday night ... but he's already got an idea of who he wants to scrap with once he's the champ -- Jiri Procházka.

TMZ Sports talked to 31-year-old Hill ahead of his UFC 283 main event fight against the legendary Brazilian fighter ... when we asked the 11-1 striker if he was bothered by people saying he doesn't deserve to fight for the strap.

"From the consensus that I've been hearing a lot of, it's I 'don't deserve the title shot.' I think even Jiri said that which is crazy as hell to me because he only had like 2 wins and he got a title shot. That's weird, know what I'm saying?" Hill asked, making his point.

"Not just that, it's all love and all respect to Glover and everything like that, but at the same time, bro, if you lose your title and don't defend your title, why do you deserve a title shot? Why do you deserve an immediate rematch for a title shot? It's just funny."

Jamahal, who is in the midst of a 3-fight win streak (Jimmy Crute, Johnny Walker, Thiago Santos), is particularly interested in 30-year-old Procházka.

"I've wanted the Jiri fight for years. I'm hearing his shoulder isn't as bad as they thought it was. He can be back by the summer. S**t, run that. That's a thousand percent what I want," Hill told us.

"I've been ready to show him the levels to even the style that he thinks he's good at."

We also talked to Glover ... who won the belt in October 2021, taking it from Jan Blachowicz, before himself losing to Procházka in June 2022.

Let's just say Glover isn't content with having been champ once ... he may be 12 years older than Jamahal, but he's hungry as hell!

Flyweight champ Deiveson Figueiredo and interim flyweight champ Brandon Moreno are also on the card ... fighting for a record 4th time.

#5 ranked welterweight Gilbert Burns and #12 ranked Neil Magny will also battle in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil ... home country of Glover, Gilbert, and Figgy.

The car crash that killed pro wrestling star Jay Briscoe on Tuesday also left his two daughters in critical condition ... cops announced on Wednesday.

According to Delaware State Police, the wreck happened in Laurel at around 5:09 PM ... when the driver of a 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 suddenly veered into Briscoe's lane, and slammed head-on into his 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 2500.

Cops say the driver of the Silverado 1500, 27-year-old Lillyanne Ternahan, and Briscoe (real name Jamin Pugh) were pronounced dead at the scene ... but Briscoe's two passengers, his 9-year-old and 12-year-old girls, survived.

Both, however, were taken by ambulance to a nearby hospital in critical condition.

Ashley Pugh, Briscoe's wife, said in a Facebook post on Wednesday morning that the family needed prayers.

"Gracie is on her way into surgery on her back," Ashley said. "Jamin would want the whole world praying for his little girl. WE BELIEVE IN THE POWER OF PRAYER!! Pray for the doctors and everyone working on her! Pray for her precious legs to move again! Pray for Jayleigh who has some pretty serious injuries, but is stable and resting!"

"Pray for strength for all of us!" she added. "We have a long long road ahead of us!"

"Sitting in a room discussing how to overcome fear with two of the greatest athletes of all time! Was truly life-changing!"

That's director Deon Taylor talking about a panel discussion that went down earlier this week in Los Angeles ... where Floyd Mayweather, legendary 50-0 champion, and Scottie Pippen, 6x NBA champion, opened up about something they rarely discuss -- fear.

We're told Floyd got personal ... speaking about his father leaving as a teenager, which he says taught him to be fearless.

Mayweather also spoke passionately about what he believes is a lack of support for other Black people in the Black community. Floyd told the audience he sees other groups of people supporting each other, while he said he often sees Black people tear other Black people down.

Floyd also turned to Pippen and told him people don't recognize that Michael Jordan never won a title without him.

The discussion, moderated by Van Jones, was also attended by Deon's wife, film producer Roxanne Taylor and actress Ruby Modine.

Taylor put on the event to promote his upcoming thriller, "Fear," starring Joseph Sikora. Deon directed the movie.

Mayweather isn't in the movie but is working with Deon on another project, Floyd's "The GOAT" series. Producers James McNair and Jona Rechnitz were also at the event.

"If we learn to overcome our fears -- we will see that there is nothing we cannot accomplish! Fear is the scariest film of the year -- simply because you can't out scary the human mind," Taylor told us after the panel wrapped.

Logan Paul's former pig is now being cared for by the famous, Gentle Barn ... and he's thanking the rescue org. for saving the animal.

Here's the deal ... the famous animal sanctuary in Santa Clarita, CA posted a TikTok Monday about rescuing a pig with tattered ears and a potentially-life threatening infection who was found alone in a field next to a dead pig ... and it turns out the pig has a connection to Logan.

The pig, Pearl, was owned by Logan a few years ago ... and says he thought it was a "mini pig" when he bought her. The pig is now huge.

Anyway ... Logan sent an email, obtained by TMZ, to Gentle Barn ... thanking them for caring for Pearl and explaining how the pig's been rehomed a few times.

Logan says Pearl lived at his home in Encino until April 2020 when he moved to Puerto Rico. He says Pearl was rehomed to a horse ranch in Santa Clarita, where he thinks she lived for 10 months until being rehomed to the farm across the street "with the purpose of care."

But, when Gentle Barn found the pig, they say she had clearly been through more trauma than they could imagine.

A source close to Logan tells TMZ ... he was very upset to learn of Pearl's condition and is truly grateful to Gentle Barn.

Kevin Lee says Jake Paul vs. Nate Diaz ain't happening, but there's another MMA star who is down to book a fight with "The Problem Child" -- "The Motown Phenom" himself tells TMZ Sports he wants to fight JP!

"If Jake Paul is serious about [MMA] and if he really wants to fight. If he wants to have that respect, he wants to have that attention, he wants people to take him seriously, he's going to have to fight a serious fighter," 30-year-old Lee told us in the aftermath of Jake signing with PFL (Professional Fighters League).

"He's going to have somebody for real, for real. I'm the best option for that. I'm in my prime. I've fought the whose-who of MMA. I've fought six different world champions."

FYI, Kevin's fought everyone from Charles Oliveira, Edson Barboza, Tony Ferguson and Rafael dos Anjos, among a bunch of other top-line guys.

After announcing the signing, 25-year-old Jake, 6-0 as a professional boxer, issued a challenge to Diaz -- a boxing match followed by an MMA fight -- against the combat sports superstar from Stockton, CA.

It's not that Kevin doesn't like Jake vs. Nate ... he's actually into the fight.

"Nate Diaz is a good fight. I'll give him that, but there's two problems with the Nate Diaz fight. Nate Diaz ain't going to take that fight, let's be honest. They're going to go back and forth for months and years," Kevin said, explaining Diaz would first need to sign with PFL, which Lee says will not happen.

Kevin says if they make it happen, that's great for them ... but if Jake wants to fight a top-of-the-line MMA fighter in the near future, Lee's the guy.

"If he makes the Nate Diaz fight happen, great but I don't see that happening within the next year or so and if he wants to fight this year then he should fight somebody that's on the roster and already making it happen. Nate Diaz is a good fight, though. I ain't hating."

We asked Lee, who says he's on the verge of signing with PFL, whether he had a message for Paul.

"Let's make it happen. Be a man. Put your money where your mouth is. Step in there. You might lose. You're going to lose. It's going to happen but I'm gonna shake your hand afterward and let's make some money."

Rising undefeated MMA star Victoria "The Prodigy" Lee -- who competed in ONE Championship in Asia -- passed away last month, her family announced. She was only 18.

Lee's older sister, MMA fighter Angela, broke the sad news via Instagram on Saturday ... saying Victoria died on Dec. 26.

"She has gone too soon and our family has been completely devastated since then," Angela said in the caption.

"We miss her. More than anything in this world. Our family will never be the same. Life will never be the same."

Angela added her baby sister was the best person she knew ... and she was beautiful inside and out.

"We love you Victoria. I love you Sprout. Until the end of time."

Lee was an up-and-coming mixed martial artist ... but recently put her career on hold to focus on graduating from high school.

ONE Championship CEO Chatri Sityodtong said she was an "extraordinary martial arts prodigy" and "watched her blossom over the years as a martial artist and a human being."

"I will always remember Victoria for the beautiful and precious soul that she was. May you rest in peace, Victoria. We will all miss you."

Victoria was also a Junior World Champion ... and IMMAF Junior State and World Champion.

Besides Angela, Victoria's brothers -- Christian and Adrian -- are also MMA fighters.

Lee had an undefeated record of 3-0 and dedicated her last win to her parents.

"I am so lucky to have such incredible parents," Lee said in an IG post. "This victory goes 100% to you mom and dad."

Shawne Merriman's bringing back Lights Out Xtreme Fighting -- after more than a year of being dormant -- and the former NFL star and promotion founder tells us won't rule out taking a fight!

"I'm not opposed to [fighting]," the former Pro Bowler told Babcock and Mojo on the "TMZ Sports" TV show (airs nightly on FS1), saying "I would fight the right former athlete, another guy in the WWE, something that people would pay to see in Lights Out."

The 38-year-old former NFL star continued ... "They got my Instagram. They got my number. If anybody really thinking about it and it's a good fight and people wanna see it, come on and step in Lights Out. I got no problem!"

Of course, Shawne wouldn't be the first former football player to transition to fighting. Former NFL star Greg Hardy, who had no combat sports background, fought in the UFC.

Matt Mitrione, former Giants, 49ers and Vikings defensive lineman, was a UFC and Bellator star. Matt beat heavyweight legend Fedor Emelianenko, amongst a bunch of other top fighters. Not to mention Brock Lesnar ... and the list goes on and on.

6'4" Merriman would have had the best football career (though Hardy was dominant on the gridiron, too) of all players if he fought. Shawne played around 265 lbs. and was an athletic freak. He ran a 4.68 40-yard dash and put up 25 reps of 225 lbs. before he was drafted 12th overall in 2005.

Merriman, a huge MMA fan, founded Lights Out (his nickname during his playing days) in 2019. They've had 7 events -- all taking place in southern California -- with the last going down in December 2021.

But, the promotion is back ... "Lights Out Xtreme Fighting 8: The Return" goes down on Saturday in Riverside, CA. The event preliminaries will stream at 6 p.m. PST and the main event will stream live at 7 p.m. PST on Fubo Sports as well as the network's Instagram, Twitter and YouTube plus on Shawne Merriman’s social channels

Merriman says he's signed some super-talented fighters and his only hope is they don't leave for Bellator or UFC.

"I know Scott Coker and [Dana White], I've been around this space for a long time. They all know I have a big appetite for growing and being big in the space but ultimately, it's about giving guys, these fighters more eyeballs. Giving them a platform to fight."

"UFC, Bellator, great organizations. They're actually what made me get into the fight game and watch from the beginning. With Lights Out, I think we have an opportunity to come in here and give these fighters an opportunity to go and take care of their families, be legends in the sport, be champions in the sport," Merriman says.

Jake Paul is officially kickstarting his MMA career -- the Problem Child just signed a multi-year, multi-fight deal with the Professional Fighters League ... and he's already making his first offer to Nate Diaz.

Paul shared the news on his YouTube channel early Thursday morning ... saying not only is he going to fight for the PFL, but he will also serve as the organization's Head of Fighter Advocacy, where he will help market fighters and recruit new talent.

Paul says he wanted to be an MMA fighter before he ever ventured into boxing ... given his wrestling background growing up in Ohio.

Paul has shown off his MMA training in the past ... posting videos from Jay Glazer's Unbreakable gym. It doesn't sound like Jake is immediately ready for a fight ... but makes it clear he's serious about the new journey.

Paul says he is also teaming up with PFL honchos to launch the PFL PPV Super Fights division ... which will give fighters 50% of revenue.

In his announcement video, Paul -- who's 6-0 in the ring, with impressive wins over former UFC stars like Tyron Woodley and Anderson Silva -- disclosed a two-fight offer he made to Nate Diaz ... where the two would first face off in a boxing match, and then fight in the PFL six months later.

"Nate Diaz, I'm down to fight you in your own damn sport," Paul says. It's a two-fight deal. Let's make it happen."

"I've already disrupted boxing," Paul says. "And now, it's time to disrupt MMA. I know this is such a tough sport, and it's not going to be easy. But, if I can do it in boxing, I can do it in MMA."

Dillon Danis and KSI will NOT be facing off in the ring -- at least not next weekend -- the MMA fighter has allegedly pulled out of their boxing match just 10 days before the event was slated to go down.

The two were supposed to scrap at OVO Arena Wembley on Jan. 14 ... which would have been Danis' first competition since 2019.

But according to Misfit Boxing's Mams Taylor, folks who doubted Danis would actually go through with the fight were right to be skeptical.

"The real reason is, from what they said to me, is that he's underprepared, he has no coach, he might be struggling with weight," Taylor said on Wednesday.

"For someone who cares about his reputation as much as he does, or what people think of him, I didn't think that this would be something, despite many people saying the opposite. Like, 'Look, he's not going to show up to the fight.'"

"They were right."

KSI isn't giving up on the whole event, though ... as he just tweeted, "The show must go on. I’m still fighting January 14th."

Former UFC star Phil Baroni was reportedly arrested for allegedly killing his girlfriend in Mexico over the weekend ... and the details are terrifying.

According to the Mexican outlet, Tribuna De La Bahia, police found Baroni's girlfriend naked and unresponsive in bed with a sheet covering her. The report says cops noticed bruises and markings all over her face and body ... and she showed no sign of life.

When authorities looked at Baroni's body, they reportedly noticed his hands were red. They took photographs.

As for what Phil said transpired, the retired fighter tracked down authorities and told them he got into a drunken argument with his girlfriend in their hotel room when things turned physical.

Baroni reportedly told police he was upset after finding his GF slept with another man, so he told her to take a shower -- but she refused.

Baroni claims he then grabbed the woman by her arms and forced her into the shower ... which led to her hitting her head.

The 46-year-old -- who was reportedly under the influence of drugs and alcohol -- reportedly claimed the woman couldn't get out of the tub by herself, so he assisted. She then complained of being cold, so Baroni said he took her to bed, removed her clothes and wrapped her in a blanket.

Baroni then says he went out for cigarettes and beer, per her request.

When he got back, Baroni reportedly told authorities he believed the woman was asleep. Tragically, she was deceased.

Authorities are planning to conduct an autopsy on the alleged victim to determine her cause of death.

Baroni was arrested for murder ... and is currently behind bars.

The former MMA star fought for a bunch of top promotions during his career ... including the UFC, Pride and Bellator. Baroni last fought in September 2019 ... where he lost via submission.

90 Day Fiancé star Biniyam Shibre hopes Dana White is listening ... the TV star and amateur fighter tells TMZ Sports he wants to turn pro -- and the UFC is his dream!

"It's not about money. It's not about my dream. It's my goal. I love this sport. I wanna do it," Biniyam said when we asked if he wanted to fight professionally.

For the time being, 32-year-old Biniyam -- who with his partner Ariela Weinberg, starred on the reality show -- is an amateur fighter with a 4-0 record. None of Shibre's fights have gotten out of the 2nd round.

In fact, he ended his last fight with Jorge Masvidal-type quickness ... knocking out his opponent with a perfectly placed kick just 6 seconds into the scrap.

Shibre says the ultimate goal is Dana White's promotion, telling us ... "UFC is very interesting to me. I'm not a UFC fighter, but every time I wear a UFC T-shirt, because it'd be a dream come true."

Bini says people ask him if he's a UFC fighter ... to which he responds, "I'm not, but I'm trying. It's my dream."

We also talked to the 90 Day Fiancé star about exposing the sport to his home country of Ethiopia ... where Bini believes there's a bunch of undiscovered talent.

Of course, some of the best fighters in the world -- like Francis Ngannou, Israel Adesanya and Kamaru Usman -- come from Africa.

Zion Clark, the former all-American wrestler born without legs, tells TMZ Sports that Conor McGregor's praise after his MMA debut victory was a surreal feeling ... while still trying to remain levelheaded because he knows there's room for improvement.

"It’s a good feeling," Clark said when he joined the "TMZ Sports" TV show (airs daily on FS1), adding ... "I'm trying to stay humble about it because there’s a lot of work for me to do with my team and my coaches."

"But coming from Conor, it’s an honor to have his kudos and have his respect for the level of skill that I have and to have someone prove that this is legit. I’m really excited about it."

It was after the fight that McGregor took to social media, writing ... "Absolutely fascinating to hear about this man’s debut and now see it. Lighting entry on the low single. Wow! You should not connect to him in any shape or form. Frames only. Frame to strike. Fascinating! Congrats and so much respect to that man Zion Clark! MMA is the best sport!"

Clark's truly one of the most inspiring people in the world. He was born with caudal regression syndrome, a birth disorder that impairs lower body growth. Despite whatever perceived disadvantages he's faced, Zion's accomplished so much.

And, his incredible work ethic is part of the reason why he's been so successful ... and that's carrying over to MMA. Even though he won, Zion said ... "I definitely have things I can work on."

ZC also told us he's forged a relationship with Mike Tyson ... saying he recently got to meet "Uncle Mike" and "pick his brain." In fact, Clark says the boxing outfit he wore into the cage for his MMA debut was made for him by Iron Mike.

"It really meant a lot to wear that going in," Zion said, "because I was representing something bigger than myself."

Clark, who was a wrestling star at Kent State, says he releasing a memoir on his incredible life (so far) in 2023 called "Work with What You Got," which tells the story of Zion's life, highlighting his amazing journey from being born without legs, to bouncing around from home to home in the foster system, to becoming one of the greatest and most impressive athletes in the world.

UFC fighter Angela Hill's grandfather and wife claimed they were abducted in one of the most famous UFO encounters ever, and now Barack Obama and his production company are making a Netflix movie on the notorious incident.

And, Angela tells us she wants to be a part of the project!

If you're not familiar, Barney and Betty Hill claimed they were both abducted by extraterrestrials in a rural area of New Hampshire in mid-September 1961. The incident called the "Hill Abduction," was the first widely publicized abduction.

The Hills said they were driving when they witnessed a flying saucer-type object with humanoid figures inside, watching them ... which eventually shot some sort of light at their vehicle. They came to two hours later, 35 miles away from their last known location and with little recollection of anything that occurred.

Now, Barack and Michelle Obama's Higher Ground Productions is reportedly creating a movie titled "White Mountain" that's based on the encounter.

We asked Hill, who posted on social media earlier in the week about her desire to be a part of the project, if any reps for the former president or anyone else had reached out.

"No, no. I just put it out there because it's not the first thing I've heard," Angela said, adding, "Ever since they released those documents, the UFO documents that they were hiding for so long, ever since that, I think it was about two years ago, I've been seeing a lot of Barney and Betty Hill stuff in production."

37-year-old Hill added ... "It sucks when you see something being produced and it's already greenlit, it's ready to go and you're like man I really wish my family was part of it because we've pretty much been written out of that part of the story. I think it's one of the parts that make it more interesting."

Details outside of the Obama's involvement and name of the project are not yet known.

We also asked Hill what she'd say to the people behind the movie.

Add "Catcher" to Forrest Griffin's resume -- the UFC Hall of Famer and VP of Athlete Development has landed an important new gig -- he's the man responsible for catching Power Slap athletes as they careen towards the floor!

"I'm gonna be a head catcher," Forrest said, describing the person standing at the ready behind slap competitors, waiting to pounce when an athlete's rocked.

Dana White recently launched Power Slap -- taking slap fighting from the underground to the mainstream. The UFC honcho already locked down a TV deal for his new organization.

Power Slap hasn't debuted yet, but if social media's any indication, there's tremendous interest in PS ... teaser videos online have gone viral!

If you've never watched the sport, competitors go back and forth, slapping each other with all their might until someone quits or goes to sleep ... and when they do get knocked down or out, it's important someone's there to stop them from hitting their heads and sustaining trauma.

Enter Forrest.

"That double impact," Griffin said, explaining why the job's so important ... "You’ve taken the first trauma and when your head hits the ground, bang bang, both sides of your brain actually bounce against your skull. We want to prevent that and make it just the initial impact and have that be what causes you or not causes you to win or lose the competition."

Of course, as a fighter, Forrest was the guy doling out the knockouts, not preventing them. He has wins over all-time greats like Tito Ortiz, Rampage Jackson, Shogun Rua and more MMA legends. Since retiring, he's dedicated his life to the health, safety and development of the UFC's athletes.

Needless to say, Griffin is the perfect person for the job.

Forrest even showed off some head-catching skills ... on 6'2" 200 lb. Evan (he looks familiar), a Power Slap exec.

All jokes aside, Griffin's doing everything in his power to make the sport as entertaining, but also safe as possible.