TMZ Sports - Page 50

Stipe Miocic says the guy Conor McGregor attacked at a pub back in April is one badass dude ... telling TMZ Sports he's got a CHIN OF STEEL!!!

The UFC superstar says he's seen our vid of Conor clocking the bar patron for rejecting his whiskey ... and Miocic has gotta give props where it's due -- saying the guy soaked in that hit like a pro!!!

"I give that guy a lot of credit, he ate that [punch], too," Stipe says ... "amazing."

"I was like, man, that guy's got a chin of steel."

Miocic is reserving judgment on the situation, though ... saying he'd want to hear both sides of the story before calling out McGregor for the hit.

UFC star Paige VanZant tells TMZ Sports she is officially BACK after multiple surgeries on her broken arm ... saying she's been cleared to start training again.

.... And, her first opponent was a TMZ staffer!!!

PVZ stopped by the office to break the great news ... telling us after that 2 arm breaks and 3 surgeries since January 2018, she finally got the green light to get back in the Octagon.

It's been a tough time for Paige .. who initially suffered the injury against Jessica Rose-Clark at Fight Night 124.

Paige tells us she's gunning to take her next fight before 2020 hits ... but doesn't have any particular opponents in mind.

VanZant -- who has 12 career fights -- tells us she wants to keep fighting for years to come ... saying she won't consider herself a "professional fighter" until she has 20 fights under her belt.

That's important 'cause she has a lot of opportunities outside the Octagon ... she's already been in the S.I. Swimsuit Issue and on "Dancing With The Stars."

But, enough business talk ... we know there's a lot of folks out there who wanna see a TMZ staffer get choked out ... and luckily, we got our in-house crash test dummy, Lucas, willing to step up for the task.

Troubled NFL player Josh Gordon is getting another shot ... the league announced it will conditionally reinstate the receiver on Sunday.

The New England Patriots star was indefinitely suspended back in December for committing several violations of the league's substance abuse policy.

Gordon's been suspended several times since 2012 ... and also stepped away from the game to focus on his mental health last year.

The league made the news official on Friday, saying Gordon will be able to attend team practices and meetings ... but will not be able to play until he's properly conditioned.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell released a statement ... saying "We are all rooting for Josh to succeed, both personally and professionally."

Ex-JUCO star Kishawn Holmes -- exonerated this week after being charged with rape -- tells TMZ Sports he was jumped by 18 men and stabbed in jail, and now that he's free, he's gunning to make the NFL.

As we previously reported, Holmes -- a star junior college running back -- was convicted of rape in 2018. But, new evidence emerged, and in December, Holmes conviction was thrown out after it was ruled he didn't get a fair trial. He was granted a new trial.

Fast forward to an L.A. courtroom Thursday ... the district attorney told the judge the state didn't wish to proceed with the case.

We're told the DA has no plans to re-file the charges.

We talked to Kishawn the day after his case was dismissed ... and he walked us through the moment he found out he was free.

"I just broke down in front of the courtroom. I just fell."

Kishawn says his time in L.A. County Jail was TERRIBLE ... where he experienced serious violence.

"I was in jail for 2 years, man. I got jumped by 18 people of a different race. Nose broken. Stitches in my eye, dislocated jaw. I got stabbed. I been in riots. I went to war. Hell and back, hell and back."

Now that he's out of jail ... and in the clear legally, Holmes says he wants to be an advocate for people falsely accused of serious crimes.

"Now I can be a voice. A voice for the wrongly accused. The voice for the females and males out there who actually had something happen to them, and they don't have a voice, and people don't want to hear them out."

Before Kishawn was locked up, he had a legit shot at playing professional football ... and, even while behind bars, he dreamed of playing ball.

"I used to be in my cell at night, like Kishawn Holmes, the 30, the 20, the 10."

Jay-Z had multiple reasons for becoming part of the NFL family, and TMZ Sports has learned one of them is that he is going to become part owner of an NFL team ... and it's going to happen soon.

Sources connected to Jay and with direct knowledge tell us ... Jay is going to have a "significant ownership interest" in an NFL team.

As for which team ... we're not being told, but we are told "it is going to happen in the near future."

We're told Jay wants to become a part owner "because he's a huge fan, already has a sports business and wants to continue to be a change agent for the NFL."

There's a question ... can Jay manage players if he owns a team? Our sources make it clear ... "Jay is not an NFL agent and does not take part in the operations of the NFL players in Roc Nation."

Giants god Lawrence Taylor says the G-Men have found a brand new franchise QB ... 'cause Daniel Jones is the future in the Big Apple.

"I've seen him a little bit," LT says ... "He's a hell of a football player."

Of course, the critics were out in full force after New York seemed to reach when it picked Jones with the No. 6 overall selection in April's NFL Draft.

But, the guy dazzled in his preseason debut last week ... and Taylor clearly noticed -- saying he was surprised to see it!!!

"He went to Duke," Taylor said, "so, that's hard to believe he's a hell of a football player!"

But, don't get it twisted ... LT doesn't think Jones' skill set should mean the immediate end of Eli Manning's time as a starter in New York. The pass rusher tells us he'd like to see the 2-time Super Bowl champ stay as long as he wants.

"As long as his terms are reasonable," Taylor adds.

By the way, we had to ask about Khalil Mack -- a guy Taylor said last season is nowhere close to his level -- and ya gotta hear if he's changed his tune since the Bear's monster 2018 season.

There's more ... Taylor was in NYC to celebrate Sapphire Gentlemen's Club's debut in Time Square -- and it sure seemed like he and a buncha other athletes had a great time!!!

Dale Earnhardt Jr. is SERIOUSLY lucky to be alive today ... National Transportation Safety Board officials just announced his plane bounced TWICE on the runway before it eventually crash landed.

Junior, his wife, his 1-year-old daughter and the two pilots on the plane all miraculously survived after their aircraft crashed in Elizabethton, Tennessee on Thursday.

NTSB officials updated media members on some of the details of the accident ... revealing the whole thing was caught on surveillance video -- and it sounded scary as hell.

The lead NTSB investigator, Ralph Hicks, said he could see the plane hit the runway two times before the right landing gear on the aircraft collapsed on the runway.

Hicks said the plane -- a Cessna Citation Latitude 680 -- skidded down the runway, through a chainlink fence and into a ditch before it came to a stop near the local highway.

Hicks said all five passengers -- and Dale's dog -- were able to get off the plane in a matter of minutes ... before massive flames engulfed the aircraft.

Hicks said the flight was only a 20-minute one from a nearby city in North Carolina.

NTSB officials have yet to determine a cause for the crash ... saying it could take about week before their investigation concludes.

Dale Jr. -- who works as a race announcer for NBC -- is taking the weekend off after the crash. He's expected to try to return to his broadcasting job next week in Darlington.

For their part, the Earnhardts released a statement on Friday through Dale's sister, Kelley, saying, "Dale, Amy, Isla and our two pilots are doing well."

Daniel Cormier's fought Jon Jones, Stipe Miocic, Rumble Johnson and Derrick Lewis ... and when it comes to grappling, Khabib's stronger than every one of them.

DC came into the TMZ offices earlier this week and joined the guys on the "TMZ Sports" TV show (airs weekdays on FS1) ... and we asked him about his training sessions with Khabib.

DC and Khabib are close friends and gym mates at American Kickboxing Academy (AKA) in San Jose, CA ... and they've trained together for years.

So, how does the 155-pound UFC lightweight champion fare against the 250-ish-pound heavyweight champ?

"The other day we started to grapple, and Khabib jumped on top of me. And, I'm like okay, I'm just gonna get up when I want to, but that is not the case," Cormier says.

"He is literally the strongest person I may have ever felt."

DC -- who's facing off with Stipe Miocic at UFC 241 on Saturday -- says when Khabib gets a hold of you, it's basically impossible to get loose.

"It was amazing to me to think a guy that weights 175, 180 pounds, was able to do that to me. It's positional control, it's strength. He's a phenomenal athlete, man."

The first strikeout ... the first hit ... the first MLB call-up ... and the first shout-out from Justin Bieber???

These are all apparently life milestones for Cleveland Indians superstar Shane Bieber ... 'cause he told us after the real Biebs mentioned him in a tweet earlier this month -- it was a goal reached!!!

"It was a matter of time, hopefully, if things all went well," Shane told us out in NYC.

If ya missed it ... 24-year-old Shane's had a thing with Justin his whole life -- he tells us he's heard the jokes about sharing the last name with the pop legend since he was little.

In fact, the pitcher even poked fun at the whole situation during MLB Players Weekend last year -- wearing a "Not Justin" jersey!!!

But, the two finally linked up on Aug. 4 ... because after Topps called Shane "Justin" on his baseball card -- Justin responded!!!

"I feel like we have a special connection," Justin wrote.

BOOOM!!!

Shane says the tweet was "definitely surprising" ... and the Indians themselves were so jacked up for the call-out -- they made an offer to the Biebs!!!

"Got an 'I'M JUSTIN' #57 jersey waiting for you at Progressive Field. Swing by and pick it up before your first pitch?"

Move over, Jay Glazer ... there's a new NFL Insider now -- Jamie Foxx -- and he's telling TMZ Sports his sources say the Cowboys WILL get a deal done with Ezekiel Elliott!!!

In fact, when we got Jamie out at Delilah in L.A. ... he said people close to the Cowboys are telling him Jerry Jones is going to get deals done with Dak Prescott and Amari Cooper too!!!

Of course, the Cowboys are in contract talks with all three of their superstars ... with Zeke threatening to sit out games this season if he doesn't get a raise.

But, when we got Foxx -- who has spent time out at Cowboys camp in Oxnard, Calif. this summer -- he told us there's no need for fans to worry about any of it.

"I got the word, I got the underlying word," Foxx says, "that it's all the way, all the deals are being worked out. Look out, baby!"

Foxx also gave us his prediction for a breakout player in Dallas this year ... telling us a well-known tight end is going to raise some eyebrows.

Here's the cutest thing you'll see all day ... Raiders superstar Antonio Brown gave a kid his glove -- and when the little fan started crying -- AB gave him a hug too!!!

It's been a brutal month for Brown ... he's made headlines for all the wrong reasons (see: here, here and here) -- but this video shows the guy really ain't the monster some make him out to be.

Brown was getting in some work during the Raiders' game against the Cardinals on Thursday night, when on his way back to the locker room -- he decided to make a pit stop for some fans.

AB singled out two little boys ... and after he started handing out swag to one of them -- the kid started BAWLING!!!

Brown clearly seemed touched by the reaction ... 'cause he handed the kid even more gear and then gave him an adorable hug!!!

Seriously, it's touching.

Brown is reportedly close to putting all of his issues behind him -- from the torn up feet to the helmet drama -- and hit the practice field for the Raiders again soon.

Before Bryce Harper sent a baseball to another planet in walk-off fashion Thursday night ... he told a heckler to "shut the f**k up" -- and the scene was hilarious!!!

The Philadelphia Phillies superstar has heard constant chirping from fans this year after signing a 13-year, $330 MILLION contract this offseason ... 'cause he hasn't quite performed up to expectations.

So, after he was 0-for-3 to start the Phillies' game against the Cubs ... a fan let him have it on his way back to the dugout.

"$330 million, 0-for-3," the fan said ...

"Shut the f**k up, stupid!" Harper clapped back.

Of course, there's no doubt the fan did exactly that just an inning later ... 'cause in the bottom of the 9th with the bases loaded -- Harper sent a baseball 413 feet to give the Phils a series sweep over the visiting Cubs!!!

It had to feel good for Harper -- who's now officially busted out of his slump with 7 home runs and 15 RBI in the last two weeks.

Begs the question ... what does Miles Teller know that the rest of the baseball world doesn't?!?!

Lance Stephenson says he knows firsthand how hard DeMarcus Cousins was working prior to his devastating ACL injury ... telling TMZ Sports he feels bad for Boogie, but knows he'll be back!!

Cousins injured his knee while playing in Vegas earlier this week after attempting a routine layup. He's expected to miss the entire season.

Lance -- who says he had been working out with DeMarcus this offseason -- says Cousins was in great shape and ready to make a huge impact in his first year with the Lakers.

"I know it's tough on him, that's my brother," Lance says. "I know he worked so hard this summer, I was working out with him in Las Vegas. I know he was very prepared for this season. It's just sad that he got hurt again."

Despite Cousins' 3rd leg injury in 3 years, Lance says he knows Boogie will eventually get back to 100% and do his thing on the court again.

Al Harrington was stopped by cops outside his Viola Brands office in Hollywood, and he claims race is the reason.

TMZ Sports got the whole thing on video ... you can see the former NBA star talking to cops, getting a ticket and returning to his (crazy) vehicle.

Of course we wanted to know what the fuss was all about, and asked Al what he did to make the cops stop him.

"Driving while black."

Get this, the whole thing happened steps away from Harrington's business headquarters. The interaction with the police seemed civil.

Young Thug knows how to kill 2 birds with 1 stone -- throwing a birthday and album release party ... but at least this year it didn't end with him in handcuffs.

Young Thug hosted a bunch of his pals Thursday night at Beauty & Essex in L.A. to celebrate his 28th bday and the release of his new album, "So Much Fun." Meek Mill, NBA star Ben Simmons, Johnny Manziel's ex, Bre Tiesi, and rapper Gunna are just some of the celebs who showed.

Remy Martin also made a splash -- it was the liquor of choice. The guests sipped on 3 special drinks named after YT's tracks, "Slime," "The London" and "So Much Fun."

An awesome time was had by all ... and most notably since Young Thug didn't have to deal with a huge buzz kill like the one he endured after he threw another birthday/album release party last year.

As we reported ... everything went downhill for YT last August after he left his 27th birthday bash and "Slime Language" album release party -- a police cruiser accidentally hit Thug's Rolls-Royce, then cops found a gun in the whip. Thugger ended up getting arrested for carrying a concealed weapon in a vehicle.

The D.A. ended up dropping the case, citing insufficient evidence.

Khabib Nurmagomedov tells TMZ Sports Conor McGregor should be arrested and thrown behind bars for socking an elderly man in the face.

You've seen the video by now ... The Notorious uncorked a vicious straight left to the temple of a man in a Dublin pub -- all because the dude rejected a shot of Conor's whiskey.

We talked to Khabib -- who's prepping for his massive UFC 242 fight against Dustin Poirier -- and he went off on his archnemesis.

"These people, they have to go to jail. I told you, this guy have no class. No respect," Nurmagomedov tells us.

"This is very bad for sport. Some things he doing good for sport, but right now he without his mind. He lose his mind. It's crazy."

"Government have to smash him. This is my opinion. 'Cause I'm really, really mad about this video. I don't understand how you can punch old man."

This is just the latest in a string of violent incidents involving McGregor ... and The Eagle wonders what mayhem Conor could cause next.