UFC

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.

Former UFC star Nate Diaz has been charged with battery ... after he was accused of striking a Las Vegas nightclub employee in the face during an altercation earlier this year.

According to court documents, obtained by TMZ Sports, the alleged incident took place back on Aug. 25 -- just after midnight -- while Diaz and some of his acquaintances were trying to get into the Omnia at Caesars Palace.

Cops say in the docs witnesses told them that Diaz and his crew were holding up the cashier line ... and when an Omnia guard came to try to see if there was an issue -- Diaz got physical with him.

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.

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."

Dee Devlin just went scorched earth on Conor McGregor's sexual assault accuser ... lighting her up in a series of Instagram posts on Tuesday afternoon.

In the IG Stories, the UFC superstar's longtime partner called Nikita Ni Lamhain -- who just won her civil case against McGregor in Ireland last week -- a liar ... and said straight up, "My sons will be warned women like you exist in the world."

Devlin claimed that back in 2018, prior to Ni Lamhain's suit against McGregor, Ni Lamhain would send "messages and pictures of herself over and over to my man" ... despite knowing he was in a committed relationship.

Conor McGregor is being dumped by the whiskey empire he helped build -- with Proper No. 12 telling TMZ Sports the UFC superstar will no longer be part of its marketing campaign following his civil case.

A spokesperson for Proximo Spirits tells us ... "Since 2021, Proximo Spirits has been the 100% owner of Proper No. Twelve Irish Whiskey. Going forward, we do not plan to use Mr. McGregor’s name and likeness in the marketing of the brand."

The news comes on the heels of a jury finding McGregor liable for the assault of Nikita Ni Lamhain ... who accused him of raping her in 2018.

Conor McGregor is owning up to his past mistakes after his civil case ... sharing his remorse for cheating on his longtime partner, Dee Devlin -- but reaffirming his actions six years ago were entirely consensual.

The UFC superstar released yet another statement on the results of the month-long case ... this time, he admitted he's far from perfect and never should have entertained Nikita Ni Lamhain's "outreaches" following a 2018 Christmas party.

"I should have shut the party down," McGregor said. "I should never have stepped out on the woman I love the most in the world. That’s all on me."

The developers of the super popular "Hitman" video game franchise are severing ties with Conor McGregor in wake of his civil assault case loss last week.

IO Interactive -- which put the controversial UFC superstar in its "Hitman" universe via an update earlier this year -- wrote in a post on X that it will begin removing all of its McGregor-related content this week.

"In light of the recent court ruling regarding Conor McGregor," "Hitman" officials said, "IO Interactive has made the decision to cease its collaboration with the athlete, effective immediately."

Jon Jones is NOT the most dangerous heavyweight MMA fighter in the world, despite dominating Stipe Miocic at UFC 309 ... according to Francis Ngannou, who says that distinction belongs to him!

TMZ Sports spoke with the former UFC heavyweight champ turned PFL MMA and boxing star following Bones return to the Octagon on Saturday at Madison Square Garden ... and we asked him, promotion aside, whether JJ was the best out there.

"You can't deny what [Jon] has done as a heavyweight," Ngannou said, "but I personally cannot classify him as the best heavyweight of all time. C'mon, man."

Conor McGregor didn't hold back Saturday morning ... just a day after he was found liable for assault in his civil rape case in Ireland.

CM first responded to an X post from the Irish Independent newspaper about the outcome of his case, which included the line, "Justice has been served."

The MMA star replied, "Justice was served for James Lawrence, yes! Deplorable what they done. Nikita hand, vicious liar! APPEAL!"

9:46 AM PT -- Conor McGregor tells TMZ Sports ... he is planning to appeal Friday's decision.

In a statement, the UFC superstar said, "The judge's instruction and the modest award given was for assault, there was not an award for aggravated or exemplary damages. I am disappointed that the jury did not hear all the evidence that the DPP reviewed."

He added, "I am with my family, focused on my future."

Conor McGregor has lost his civil rape case in Ireland ... a jury just found him liable for assault.

Dee Devlin -- Conor McGregor's longtime partner -- showed up to an Ireland court on Friday to support the UFC superstar as he continues to fend off a sexual assault lawsuit.

The 36-year-old fighter has been facing his accuser, a judge and a jury in the civil case throughout November... as a trial over the allegations first began back on the fifth.

The case centers around a woman, Nikita Ni Lamhain, who alleges McGregor and another man had sex with her against her will following a holiday party back in 2018.

Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson was one for the record books ... as the massive event generated one of the biggest gates for any boxing or MMA spectacle in U.S. history!!

Paul's Most Valuable Promotions dropped the official numbers Tuesday morning ... saying total ticket revenue for the fight was $18.1 million -- which beat the previous Texas record of $9 milli held by Canelo Álvarez ... and is the most for any combat sports event outside of Las Vegas.

Overall, it came out as the ninth-highest combat sports gate America has ever seen.

Former UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz hasn't tapped out of his career just yet ... as the future Hall of Famer tells TMZ Sports he wants to put on the gloves one last time and step back into the UFC Octagon.

We caught up with 39-year-old Cruz, who is currently in Mexico City at the UFC Performance Institute, and he said he is in the process of "building myself up" for a bout.

"I'll tell you, I think I got a last dance," he said. "I want one last dance in me. Just go out there and have fun. And when I say fun, I mean fight to the bitter death and see what I have in me."

Mike Tyson's iron buns are quickly backing their way into the cultural zeitgeist ... 'cause at least one musician saw his backside and thought it'd be perfect for her concert.

Alison Wonderland -- a popular Australian DJ -- shared clips from her Saturday night concert in Tacoma, Washington ... and, in the middle of it she gave fans a glimpse at four full moons, all belonging to the former undisputed heavyweight champ.

You have to see it for yourself ... during one hard drop, Mike's backside -- taken from the now-viral gaffe made while Netflix was interviewing him before his fight with Jake Paul -- hits the screen, and a collective groan from the audience fills the venue.

Jake Paul celebrated his big win against Mike Tyson in a major way ... throwing a fun-filled after party with his brother, Logan, and other familiar faces -- and we have footage from the wild festivities.

The influencer turned professional boxer, who handily beat Tyson in their much-hyped Friday night bout on Netflix, gathered with friends and family at the soiree thrown by his sports betting company, Betr, at a private house in Dallas, Texas.

In addition to Logan and his fiancé Nina Agdal, Jake's girlfriend Jutta Leerdam topped the guest list along with rapper 1900 Rugrat, boxer Derek Sullivan, deejay E-V and "Hawk Tuah Girl" Haliey Welch.