MMA

10:46 AM PT -- Turns out Aaron didn't shade Donald Trump at UFC 302 Saturday night. Instead, it seems he got a little face time with the former prez -- posting a pic to IG where he's shaking his hand. So, seemingly no beef between them.

Aaron Rodgers seemed to diss Donald Trump in a very public way.

Aaron and Trump were both front and center Saturday night at UFC 302 in Newark, New Jersey.

At one point Trump, who got a thunderous ovation, walked right past Aaron, who never got out of his seat and never acknowledged the ex-Prez.

Donald Trump was in the building at UFC 302 Saturday night -- just 2 days later and 10 miles away from the NYC courtroom where he was convicted this week -- and the former president received a rousing standing ovation from the packed crowd!

Trump walked into the Prudential Center shortly after the main card kicked off, flanked by UFC honcho and close friend, Dana White, and a gang of Secret Service agents.

45 was shown on the big screen inside the Newark, NJ arena, and many of the near-17k MMA fans lost it!

Khabib Nurmagomedov wasn't in Islam Makhachev's corner for his last fight, but he will be Octagonside for Saturday's title scrap vs. Dustin Poirier ... and he's doing it for free!

TMZ Sports talked to Khabib and Islam's longtime manager, Ali Abdelaziz, this week ... and while all MMA fans are well aware of Nurmagomedov's exploits inside the cage, we asked about his talents as a coach -- and how it's impacted Makhachev's preparation heading into UFC 302.

"[Islam] had one of the greatest coaches you can ever have in your corner, Khabib. He's been coaching in the whole camp," Ali said, adding, "He had some of the best training partners you can ask for mimicking Dustin. We're fighting a dangerous opponent. You know, Dustin Poirier is a dangerous opponent, but I feel right now Islam is a hard guy to beat, you know?"

"And, he's going there for the kill. Everybody talks about Dustin Poirier, he's killed or to be killed. Tomorrow, Islam is going to be turned into a killing machine."

Typically, coaches receive a percentage of a fighter's pay ... but not Khabib, not this time.

"Khabib came to camp. He's not making money. He's not getting a percentage. He's spending his own money for his own flight just to help his brother."

Of course, Khabib, 29-0 (BTW, one of those wins came against Poirier), retired after beating Justin Gaethje in 2020 ... shortly after the tragic death of his father, Abdulmanap.

Since, Nurmagomedov has dedicated himself to coaching ... although he has stepped aside at times (he wasn't in Islam's corner for the Volkanovski fight at UFC 294).

Check out the clip. There's much more with Ali on Islam, Khabib, and some of his other star fighters.

Terry Crews plans to pull up to Anderson Silva's boxing match in June ... but, he's not going to fight the MMA legend as he recently implied on social media -- he's simply going to support his buddy!

In case you missed it, the shirtless actor went on Instagram last week and delivered a message for the UFC legend, saying he's been training and is ready to see him June 15.

Fans figured Crews was throwing out a potential fight, but the 55-year-old told TMZ Sports that's simply not the case.

Dustin Poirier has accomplished just about everything during his legendary career as an MMA fighter. Just about. But, there's one thing left to do -- win the UFC championship!

35-year-old Poirier joined Babcock on the "TMZ Sports" TV show (airs weekdays on FS1) -- about a week before his UFC 302 main event title fight against champion and current pound-for-pound king, Islam Makhachev. We asked Dustin how important it was for him to be crowned champ.

"It's greatly important," Dustin said.

Everyone knows kids can be cruel, but nowhere was that more evident recently than in a video making the rounds on social media showing a boy getting choked out by an adolescent bully.

Check out the horrific footage posted to X by MMA Fighter Dillon Danis ... the vid opens with the bully coming up behind the boy as someone else films them.

The bully then orders the boy to tilt his head back before putting him in a headlock. The helpless youngster asks for the bully to stop if he says to.

Christy Martin's happy Sydney Sweeney's lacing up her boxing gloves ... saying she's thrilled Syd's playing her in a new biopic, and she wants to make sure her ring moves look authentic.

The boxing legend tells TMZ ... she's excited for Syd's performance, especially because she has a background in MMA and combat sports -- and says the actor's performance can prove dynamite comes in small packages!

Martin maintains she had no say in casting, and while she hasn't spoken to Sweeney yet ... she's anxious to let her know how honored she is she's taking the role.

Christy says she'll definitely be involved with Sydney's boxing training, specifically to help the star with her left hook ... giving her championship-level tools for the flick.

It's official -- Conor McGregor is now in the knucklin' business ... putting pen to paper on his Bare Knuckle Fighting Championships ownership papers!!

Notorious was joined by BKFC founder and president David Feldman at McGregor's Black Forge Inn in Dublin on Thursday for a bit of a ceremonial signing ceremony ... and the two looked thrilled about the big moment.

"Rocket to the moon, brother," Conor said. "Take off the gloves and fight, bitch!!"

If MMA promotions didn't exist, and A.J. McKee could choose any fighter in the world to scrap with, who would it be?! TMZ Sports asked the former Bellator world champion.

"My dream in mixed martial arts has always been [Max] Halloway. He's just such a technician and a stud. That's the best of the best," 29-year-old McKee told Babcock during a sitdown interview at the TMZ office this week.

Of course, barring a big shakeup, it's unlikely it'll happen. Max -- who just beat Justin Gaethje -- is signed to the UFC, while A.J.'s under contract with PFL/Bellator.

3:07 PM PT -- Paige is now firing back at Danis ... unloading on the guy and claiming his whole Vegas affair story is complete B.S.

Former Bellator MMA star Austin Vanderford just publicly called out Dillon Danis for a fight ... telling Logan Paul's nemesis he's ready to throw hands for going after his wife, Paige VanZant.

The drama started earlier this week ... when PVZ claimed Danis is not a "real fighter" during an interview for her upcoming Misfits boxing match against Elle Brooke.

Danis got wind of Paige's comments ... and clapped back by threatening to air some dirty laundry that he claimed would ruin her marriage.

"How fast they forget!" Danis (2-0 in MMA) said on X. "Haha, relax, Paigey baby, just because I didn’t wife you doesn’t mean you have to be petty. Don’t make me bring up our two trips to Vegas and ruin your marriage."

Enter Vanderford (11-2) ... who came to his partner's defense on Thursday -- telling Danis he's willing to settle things in the cage or the ring.

"Dillon, guy ...," Vanderford said on Instagram. "Let's just fight. Paige's comments seemed to upset you. We are the same weight. We can box or do whatever you want."

Vanderford already predicted Danis' potential responses ... saying the guy will probably say he doesn't have enough of a following to make it worth his time.

Danis is known for being ruthless on social media -- as we previously reported, Paul's fiancée, Nina Agdal, sued him leading up to last year's fight ... saying the incessant trolling and posting about the Sports Illustrated model resulted in humiliation, emotional distress and reputational harm.

Former UFC champ Sean Strickland just proved yet again he's not one to play with ... flashing a gun on some pranksters who had just ding-dong ditched his home.

Strickland -- who last fought in the Octagon in January -- said the incident happened over the weekend ... at around 1 AM Saturday morning.

According to the fighter, some kids jumped out of a car near his pad, ran to the side of the house, and made a loud bang -- before bolting from the area.

The fighting world is rallying around Francis Ngannou following the death of his son ... with many combat sports stars -- including Manny Pacquiao and Anthony Joshua -- sending their prayers and condolences his way on Monday.

The heartfelt notes were left on Ngannou's Instagram page ... in the comment section of a post where the former UFC champ mourned the loss of Kobe, his 15-month-old son.

"How do you deal with such a thing?" Ngannou said in the post. "How can you live with it?"

12:58 PM PT -- Francis Ngannou released a statement on the loss ... and it's incredibly emotional.

"Too soon to leave but yet he's gone," he said. "My little boy, my mate, my partner Kobe was full of life and joy. Now, he's laying without life. I shouted his name over and over but he's not responding."

Ngannou added Kobe made him his "best self" ... and he's now lost without him.

La superestrella de los deportes de combate Francis Ngannou está de luto por el trágico fallecimiento de su hijo de 18 meses esta semana, expresando su dolor desgarrador en redes sociales.

"¿Cuál es el propósito de la vida si lo que estamos luchando con uñas y dientes para alejarnos es lo que finalmente nos golpea más fuerte?". Ngannou publicó en X el lunes. "¿Por qué la vida es tan injusta y despiadada?".

"¿Por qué la vida siempre nos quita lo que más queremos? Estoy jodidamente cansado".

Islam Makhachev is putting his lightweight title on the line at UFC 302 ... but, it's a low-risk fight according to the champ, who tells us he's an awful stylistic matchup for Dustin Poirier.

"[Dustin's] problem is his style. That's one problem the guy has. His weak point is wrestling and grappling," 32-year-old Makhachev told TMZ Sports, adding, I have the key for the easy fight. And I think if I follow the plan, I can beat him easy."

Poirier is regarded as a well-rounded fighter who is a great striker, and solid on the ground ... which happens to be the area where Makhachev excels.

Paddy "The Baddy" is now a daddy (say that five times fast) ... 'cause the UFC star and his wife just welcomed twin girls -- and they are adorable!!!

The 21-3 lightweight MMA fighter introduced his baby girls to the world on Instagram, announcing April 17th was the day he and Laura Gregory's lives changed.

"All worth it for you 2 perfect little girls Betsy and Margot Pimblett ❤️," Paddy wrote on Instagram.