MMA

Turns out Jon Jones' next bout isn't against Alex Pereira OR Tom Aspinall ... the UFC heavyweight champ is picking a fight against a far more powerful entity -- the American healthcare system!

TMZ Sports has an early look at a Super Bowl commercial starring Bones -- slated to run during Sunday's Chiefs vs. Eagles game -- where he takes aim at the industry.

"Thanks for joining me today. This next fight for me is a personal one, but it's not just for me. It's for every American who's ever been bullied, robbed, or deceived. It's arguably the most important fight of my career. My next opponent will be the American healthcare system," Jones says in the commercial.

Governor Chael P. Sonnen ... coming shortly to the Oregon state capitol building?!

Hell yes, if you ask the MMA legend, who matter-of-factly told TMZ Sports this week ... "I will be governor soon!"

47-year-old Sonnen was born and raised in Oregon -- where he lives to this day.

12:30 PM PT -- Mitchell's boss, UFC honcho Dana White, unloaded on his comments at a Power Slap press conference just now ... in which he labeled the fighter "probably one of the dumbest human beings."

"We've obviously reached out to Bryce and when we read what he said and let him know what we feel about it, we are beyond disgusted," White said.

He went on to say Mitchell apologized ... but when asked about a potential punishment, White said it's free speech.

"That's the beautiful thing about this business," he continued. "For all of you who hate Bryce Mitchell, you get to see him hopefully get his ass whooped on global television."

UFC fighter Bryce Mitchell complimented Hitler and denied the Holocaust in a wildly offensive podcast episode, saying the former Nazi leader simply attempted to "purify" Germany from the "greedy Jews."

If the BYU crowd was extra loud Tuesday night, thank Conor McGregor for the raucous atmosphere ... The Notorious was in the house as the school's hoops team beat Baylor, and he had the student section FIRED UP!

Mystic Mac was courtside for the Cougars game vs. the Bears at the J. Willard Marriott Center ... and it sounds like McGregor had a blast!

"I've always wondered what the college game would be like, and I am very, very, very impressed," McGregor said.

Dana White and Joe Rogan won't be the only UFC representatives at the presidential inauguration on Monday ... Jon Jones will also be in attendance after receiving a personal invite from Donald Trump!

"Donald and Dana White have become pretty good friends, and it's a really cool time to be in the UFC, being American, being a champion, getting an invite from the president. It's quite a big deal," the UFC heavyweight title holder said after touching down in the D.C. area.

To anyone who criticizes his attendance at the historic event, Bones says this:

Frontier Airlines is adamant they were NOT in the wrong when they booted UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov off a flight this weekend ... claiming the 29-0 fighter ignored a flight attendant's instructions before takeoff.

But, TMZ Sports just spoke to someone close to Khabib, who says that's simply false.

First, Frontier's side of things. The airline says Khabib -- who was seated in an exit row -- failed to indicate he was willing and able to assist in the event of an emergency.

Now entering the UFC Octagon ... Mark Zuckerberg?!? Don't laugh -- the Meta billionaire just revealed he still fully intends on taking a professional MMA fight!!

Zuck doubled down on the plan during his sit-down on Joe Rogan's podcast this week ... and brutal ACL injury be damned, he hasn't given up on showing the world he can kick serious ass.

The Facebook founder -- who's usually a jiu-jitsu guy -- explained he's warmed up to the idea of branching out to different combat styles in MMA ... especially with all the strain on joints that comes with grappling.

Conor McGregor's Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship partner is sticking by his side following his civil case ... saying he will continue to work with the former UFC champ through thick and thin.

David Feldman -- founder of BKFC -- shared his reaction to McGregor's November court loss in an interview with MMA Fighting ... electing not to get into the details of the case, but making it crystal clear the results will not affect their business.

"We don't want to go into what happened but at the end of the day, we’re with him,” Feldman said.

Conor McGregor's return to the UFC Octagon has been put on the backburner ... as the combat sports legend says he's got some other business to handle first -- a boxing exhibition with Logan Paul.

Notorious dropped the bombshell news early Tuesday morning ... denying rumors he's slated to take on featherweight champion Ilia Topuria in Dana White's organization.

Instead, he says he's got his sights set on the WWE Superstar ... and it sounds like they're far along in negotiations, as McGregor claimed he's in "preliminary agreements" with the extremely wealthy Ambani family to take a boxing match with the Maverick in India.

Conor McGregor and Dee Devlin put on a united front during a night on the town ... with the UFC superstar's partner sharing snaps from a romantic date just a few weeks after the conclusion of his civil case.

The longtime couple looked inseparable in the pictures Devlin posted of the outing -- they were cozied up, holding hands and laughing at what appeared to be a dinner.

Devlin had an all-denim look for the night ... while McGregor elected for a matching green short-sleeve button-down and pants.

Colby Covington twice fought for the UFC's welterweight title ... and now the 6th ranked 170 pounder, inspired by the soon-to-be 47th President of the United States, tells TMZ Sports the comeback is on!

"I'm super excited," Covington told us, adding ... "I've been hearing some of the chatter, people saying that 'Chaos' is dead. They have no idea what's coming on Saturday night. I'm going to put the best performance in my career."

"I'm super inspired by Donald Trump taking back the White House and his work ethic. I mean, he's in three different states a day. Guy doesn't sleep. So Saturday night, I'm going to make the UFC 'Great Again.' And January 20th, when Donald Trump gets inaugurated, he's going to make America great again."

Paige VanZant's certainly on the naughty list this year ... dressing up as sexy Santa Claus alongside several other models -- with just the tiniest bikinis covering their bodies.

The OnlyFans star shared several photos ... red holiday hats and lipstick matching their bikinis as they pose by the pool.

The group of ladies spread some holiday cheer while laying out spread-eagle on several beach chairs posing seductively.

Ian Machado Garry had Shavkat Rakhmonov on his mind before he ever signed on to fight the undefeated contender ... telling TMZ Sports he told the UFC he wanted to serve as backup for the UFC 310 main event before Belal Muhammad pulled out with an injury.

TMZ Sports talked to the No. 7-ranked, 15-0 fighter just days before his title eliminator vs. 18-0 Shavkat, the No. 3-ranked challenger.

"For me, it wasn't a hard decision whatsoever. I had told UFC six weeks prior that I would be willing to be the backup for the world title fight," Garry said, explaining people were turning him down, and he just wanted a fight.

Bryce Hall is returning to the ring ... and he's fighting MMA star turned boxer, Kevin Ferguson Jr. -- son of the street fighting legend, Kimbo Slice!

TMZ Sports has learned the 25-year-old TikTok star turned fighter will throw down with the former Bellator MMA star at BKFC's KnuckleMania V event next month at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia.

Eddie Alvarez vs. Jeremy Stephens -- both former UFC stars -- will be the main event.

"Baby Slice" last fought in April 2023 with Misfits Boxing ... losing via second-round TKO to Okemka Jibunor.

Kai Asakura is fighting for the flyweight title in the main event of UFC 310 -- his first-ever bout in the United States -- and the Japanese MMA star says there's one special person he'd love to see Octagon-side ... Shohei Ohtani!

TMZ Sports recently chopped it up with 31-year-old Asakura before his UFC debut -- a title bout vs. Alexandre Pantoja going down December 10 in Las Vegas -- and the 21-4 fighter hopes the newly minted World Series champ can squeeze in a trip to Sin City.

"I have never met [Ohtani]," Asakura told us through a translator. "But I'd love him to come and watch my fight."

Dakota Ditcheva is one win away from being crowned the promotions flyweight champion -- and from stacking a million bucks -- so, what's the plan if she emerges victorious Friday night?!

Shopping spree!!!

TMZ Sports caught up with the 26-year-old ahead of the big PFL Championship card on November 29 in Saudi Arabia, with the English-born fighter saying she already has plans for the $1 million prize.