TMZ Sports - Page 50

Kevin Holland ➡️ Israel Adesanya ➡️ Middleweight title

That's the blueprint UFC fighter Marvin Vettori tells TMZ Sports he plans to follow ... insisting he's only 1 "Big Mouth" ass-whoopin' away from a long-anticipated rematch with Stylebender.

We talked to the 27-year-old Italian MMA star before his UFC on ABC 2 main event scrap on Saturday with 28-year-old Holland ... who stepped in for Darren Till -- who broke his collarbone (but MV ain't buying the injury) -- about his place in the 185 lb. division.

Per the UFC's Middleweight rankings, Marvin's #6, Holland's #10, and Till's #5. Despite sitting behind a few other top fighters, Vettori says with a dub on Saturday, it's his time for a shot at the title.

"Most of the top five, they're injured or they're not showing up, so it don't count. Like they're top-five just on the paper. I think I deserve the title shot after this," Marvin says.

As for that scrap with Till ... Vettori says he isn't interested anymore.

"[Darren] lost his opportunity. I don't even trust him anymore to show up. I would like to eventually, but he can try and challenge me when I'll be the champion and if he can gain the spot, I'll face him then," Marvin tells us.

"He lost his spot, man. He lost his opportunity. I'm getting more suspicious by the day, to be honest."

Regarding that rematch with 31-year-old Adesanya ... Izzy and Marvin fought in April 2018. Israel won via split decision ... but some people believe MV was the real winner.

But, just beating Adesanya on a single scorecard is an impressive feat ... something that no other UFC middleweight has done.

The L.A. Dodgers got their World Series rings on Friday -- and good lord, SO. MANY. DIAMONDS!!!!!

The ring ceremony took place right before the Dodgers home opener against the Washington Nationals ... and it was special!!!

Each of the Dodgers players was introduced to the crowd by their childhood MLB heroes.

So, Mookie Betts was intro'd by Jimmy Rollins. Chase Utley introduced Cody Bellinger. And "Big Papi" David Ortiz did the honors for Julio Urias.

But, let's get to the hardware ...

Of course, each ring featured the Dodgers iconic "L.A." logo on top -- made from 17 genuine blue sapphires.

Notice the baseball diamond design -- featuring 4 large diamonds representing each of the bases.

The "infield" is loaded with 29 smaller diamonds, representing the number of home runs hit by the Dodgers during the 2020 postseason.

There are 16 more sapphires and 44 diamonds surrounding the perimeter of the top of the ring.

And, the sides??? You guessed it -- MORE DIAMONDS!!

According to MLB, the total number of diamonds just on the sides totals 96!

So, congrats to the champs -- the 32-year drought is over! Just make sure to keep those things in a safe!

Referee Bert Smith is opening up on his frightening collapse during an Elite 8 game of the NCAA Tournament ... revealing the cause was a blood clot in his lung.

... and he's extremely grateful to the doctors who may have saved his life.

56-year-old Smith was officiating the Gonzaga vs. USC matchup on March 30 when he collapsed to the hardwood a few minutes into the game. He later regained consciousness and was stretchered off the court.

Smith spent 2 days in the hospital while docs tried to figure out what triggered the medical emergency. Finally, IU Health Methodist doctor Katie Trammel tracked down the issue -- a pulmonary embolism.

WebMD defines a P.E. as "When a blood clot gets caught in one of the arteries that go from the heart to the lungs ... the clot blocks the normal flow of blood."

Smith says doctors are not sure what caused the clot. Smith tested positive for COVID-19 in August, but docs say they can't confirm whether that played a role.

But, he's extremely grateful Dr. Trammel was able to identify the problem and treat it quickly.

"You don’t know where that clot was going next," Smith told the Indy Star.

Smith was placed on blood thinners to address the issue. He was allowed to return home soon after and says the welcome he got was incredibly special.

"The hugs were pretty intense," Smith told the outlet. "They were pretty intense, man."

Smith says the incident taught him a valuable lesson on the important things in life ... something he won't take for granted.

"It puts in perspective the value of each day, because we all go through our lives – we’re all guilty of it – and we just live, right? But do we say ‘I love you’ enough? Do we give an extra hug enough? Do we do the things with our family and friends that have value to them?"

"When you live something like I did, it hits you square in the eyes that you really have to value each day."

So, what's next for Smith?? He says he'll be back on the court doing his job again next season.

Deshaun Watson's attorney says the QB admits he had sexual encounters with some of his massage therapists over the years -- but insists it was always consensual.

"Were there consensual encounters? Yes," Watson's attorney, Rusty Hardin, said Friday while addressing the media.

A reporter followed up with this question -- "So, you're saying on Instagram, Deshaun reached out to some of these women booking a legitimate massage and then engaged in consensual sex acts with some of these women?"

Hardin's response: "On some occasions, some sexual activities would have taken place,"

"I'm not going into what it is, or the nature, or the numbers, or with whom but I think you can rightfully assume that."

"The question that we have always been emphasizing, never at any time under any circumstances ... did this young man ever engage in anything that was not mutually desired by the other party."

The point of Hardin's news conference was to point out that Deshaun deserves a fair shot to defend himself in court instead of letting the case play out in the media.

Hardin's defense team explained why they believe Watson is a good man who never crossed the line with any of the accusers.

But, several questions remain ... specifically regarding the now confirmed sexual activity with various massage therapists.

Hardin explained Watson gets roughly 150 massages per year to keep his body in prime shape for his job as an NFL quarterback.

He also said it's not unusual for millennials to use Instagram to find businesses to patronize ... including massage therapists.

Hardin says another reason Watson used Instagram as a tool to find massage therapists is because COVID made it difficult to find a regular masseuse.

When asked what Deshaun's reaction has been to the mounting lawsuits, Hardin put it this way:

"He's dumbfounded. He's truly dumbfounded."

"If you're the average citizen that's never been caught up in anything, this is insane. That's really his reaction."

"When I told him of that first allegation and the third lawsuit that somehow he used force or something, I didn't know him at the time, when I told him he was in disbelief."

DOMINATION!!!!

The Netflix-famous Navarro College cheer squad just straight-up CRUSHED their routine at Daytona on Friday ... in hopes of adding yet another national championship trophy to their collection.

The Bulldogs are looking to secure top honors at the NCA & NDA Collegiate Cheer & Dance Championship on Friday ... after performing a near-perfect routine.

If everything goes in the Bulldogs' favor, it'll be Navarro's 15th national championship -- and its third since 2018.

Of course, the Navarro cheer team blew up on the scene following the premiere of the docuseries, "Cheer," in early 2020 ... which followed their quest for a 14th championship in 2019.

Navarro's hopes of defending their title in 2020 were derailed by the COVID-19 pandemic ... but despite a year off, there was no rust detected!!!

The team was once again led by coach Monica Aldama and returning star Gabi Butler, who was prominently featured on the show.

Will a trophy-wielding sprint into the ocean be on the horizon?? Awards will be announced in just a few hours.

Stay tuned ...

Jake Paul's brutal knockout of ex-NBA star Nate Robinson is now being sold as an NFT -- and the asking price is $10 MILLION!!!

Triller, the company behind the fight, is also behind the sale of the 1-of-1 NFT -- but there's a pretty significant twist here.

In addition to owning the digital collectible from the Nov. 28, 2020 event -- the buyer will also get a custom 1-of-1 NFT featuring the last 30 seconds of the April 17 boxing match between Jake Paul and Ben Askren.

So, if the fight ends with a bang, that moment will be memorialized in a collectible non-fungible token.

The token is available through the new Triller NFT Marketplace -- which the company says is "based on peer-reviewed, audited Ethereum blockchain infrastructure."

NFTs are all the rage in digital collectibles at the moment -- with some tokens selling for more than $50 MILLION!!

If you're still not clear on what an NFT is -- think of it as a digital baseball card that's built on blockchain technology to ensure authenticity.

Just like a baseball card, people can buy, sell or trade NFTs -- but they don't own the copyright to the actual art itself.

Make sense? Okay great.

Athletes and entertainers from all over the world have been jumping on the NFT train -- Rob Gronkowski, Tom Brady, Snoop and more have issued their own NFT collections, some have sold for a fortune.

DMX made a huge impact on athletes around the world -- many of whom are paying tribute to the rapper in the wake of his death Friday morning.

NFL star Adrian Peterson posted, "A Hip hop icon like no other. RIP."

LeBron James paid tribute by playing X's music on his IG page -- including the smash hit "Slippin'."

He also tweeted, "X 4L!! Rest In Paradise LEGEND!!"

NBA star Jamal Crawford added, "DMX gave hope to the hopeless ... RIP legend."

Stephen Jackson posted a picture of his tattoo which features a quote from DMX.

"If my life ain’t long, I thank God with my last breath so my life ain’t wrong."

"[DMX] inspired me to get this tat 17 yrs ago," Jackson posted ... "Words that stuck with me. Rest Easy Big Dog. Gone but never forgotten. Prayers and condolences to DMX and his family."

Ex-NFL wide receiver Torrey Smith -- "RIP DMX! My love for dogs was influenced by him. His lyrics also made me feel like I could get through anything!"

"I’m glad that he was able to receive his roses recently. His mental health struggle was documented for all of us to see and learn from. Prayers up for his family."

Even pro wrestling legend Iron Sheik weighed in ... "DMX RIP BROTHER FOREVER."

Charlotte Hornets player Miles Bridges: "RIP DMX if you know me you know I fw X heavy smh this one hurt."

NFL's A.J. Brown: "All Dawgs go to Heaven!! RIP DMX."

Talk about dedication!!!

The dude you're looking at hid in a soccer stadium for 14 HOURS before streaking BUCK NEKKID at a Manchester United soccer match in Spain!

He was taken into custody by police. And photos are circulating all over the world -- begging the question, WORTH IT?!

The nude dude is 37-year-old Olmo Garcia -- fittingly known as "The Naked Man of Granada" since he NEVER, EVER wears clothes.

He's basically become a local celebrity in Spain thanks to his penchant for public nudity.

So, when Manchester United came to town to play Grenada at Los Carmenes Stadium, Garcia decided he would use the opportunity to showcase his ... uh ... talents (?) to the world.

Roughly 6 minutes into Thursday evening's match, Garcia went sprinting onto the pitch -- with his arms spread wide and his genitals flopping all over the place.

Shocked players, coaches and refs could barely believe their eyes. Garcia looked to be in his element.

What he lacks in shame, Garcia also lacks in cardio ... because he tuckered out pretty quickly and began rolling on the floor.

That's when security swooped in and escorted him off the field.

Officials were left wondering ... how did Garcia manage to sneak into a stadium that's blocked off to the common man due to COVID-19 protocols??

Pretty simple actually ... he got there REALLY early and waited.

Police say Garcia quietly sneaked through a security perimeter and entered the stadium grounds around 7 AM -- 14 hours before kickoff.

Once inside, Garcia spent the entire day hiding under a large canvas ... waiting for his time to shine!

The rest ... is naked history!

The L.A. Dodgers will receive their World Series rings before their game on Friday ... Max Muncy is making sure Tommy Lasorda is a part of the big day.

The Dodgers infielder hit up Stadium Custom Kicks for a special pair of cleats featuring Tommy, who passed away in January at age 93.

Lasorda is one of the most important and iconic Dodgers of all time -- he played for the team back in the '50s, managed the team through the '70s, '80s and '90s and served as a team executive right up until his final breath.

So, when the Dodgers get their World Series rings to commemorate their victory over the Tampa Bay Rays, Muncy wanted to make sure Tommy was properly represented during the ceremony.

The kicks are awesome -- featuring Tommy's face, his #2 uniform number and one of his most famous quotes.

"I bleed Dodger blue and when I die, I'm going to the big Dodger in the sky."

T.C. Williams High School in Virginia -- famously featured in the movie, "Remember The Titans" -- is getting a complete makeover ... in an attempt to distance itself from its racist history.

But, don't worry, they're still the Titans!!!

The school was originally named after former superintendent Thomas Chambliss Williams -- a known racist who "did everything possible to slow down the process of integration in Alexandria," according to the school website.

As it turns out, the school became popular for the exact opposite reason -- the T.C. Williams football team integrated in 1971 and went on to win a state championship ... an accomplishment that was turned into the Disney flick starring Denzel Washington as legendary head coach Herman Boone.

Despite the feel-good story of "Titans," the school's official name remained a dark cloud in the city of Alexandria for decades ... and a petition was started in early 2020 to get rid of "T.C. Williams."

A unanimous vote was passed last November to kickstart the rebranding process ... and on Thursday, the school board revealed the new name.

Alexandria City High School!!!

The school says the change will become official in July ... and noted it will ALWAYS be the home of the Titans.

Deshaun Watson just notched a small victory in a Texas court Friday -- where a judge ruled one of his accusers must reveal her identity if she plans to move forward with her sexual misconduct lawsuit.

Watson's attorney, Rusty Hardin, had filed motions Thursday for emergency hearings seeking to unmask several of the women who have been using the pseudonyms "Jane Doe" to protect their identities.

22 women have filed suit against Watson so far -- and only 2 had voluntarily stepped forward and identified themselves.

But, in the first emergency hearing in Harris County, Texas on Friday, Judge Dedra Davis ordered one of the accusers to use her real name moving forward.

The accuser's attorney, Tony Buzbee, argued that Ashley Solis -- accuser #1 -- has received death threats and expletive-laden emails since stepping forward... and he wants to protect the other accusers from the same hatred.

But, Judge Davis explained there needs to be a "balancing act" -- and essentially said revealing the name is the only way to ensure fair treatment for both sides.

Unclear if the woman will abide by the judge's order. The accuser essentially has 3 choices ... she can reveal her name right now, she can try to appeal the decision or she can drop her suit altogether.

In a few hours, there will be a separate hearing at Harris County's 113th district court where a different judge will determine if 12 other accusers will also have to reveal their identities.

Obviously, Watson wants to know exactly who is accusing him of sexual misconduct so he can bolster his defense.

Watson has denied all of the allegations against him -- insisting the women are liars who are all looking for a payout.

Story developing ...

Things are getting back to normal -- look no further than celeb hotspot The Nice Guy as Kendall, Kylie, Drake, Justin Bieber and more were all together under the same roof again.

It looked like a scene straight out of 2019, with expensive cars on the curb, flashing camera bulbs and some of the most famous celebs on the planet gathering Thursday in West Hollywood.

Inside, Kendall -- who was joined by her NBA superstar bf Devin Booker -- poured shots of her new 818 tequila from behind the bar ... it appears the A-listers had the whole place rented out for themselves.

Chris Brown, Tyga, MGK, Megan Fox and Drake were there too, in fact, Drake had such a good time, he wanted to take it with him, leaving Nice Guy with a drink in hand.

"I've been waiting on y'all to ask me!!"

Draymond Green COULDN'T WAIT to respond to Team USA soccer star Megan Rapinoe on Thursday -- after she ripped him for his comments about the female pay gap in pro sports.

And, when the Golden State Warriors star began to explain himself ... he tried to make it clear they're both fighting for the same thing!!!

"I think what I've said has been extremely misconstrued," Green told the media ... "because I am on their side."

Green had previously said he was sick and tired of hearing female athletes "complain" about the pay gap instead of taking more effective action to get better contracts.

Rapinoe blasted Green on Wednesday -- saying he showed his "whole ass" with the "unacceptable" remarks.

"It's really unfortunate, in the position [Green's] in," the soccer superstar said, "having all of the resources that he has and the ability to have a much more educated opinion, that he just hasn't."

So, fast forward to Thursday when Green tried to clarify his position.

"At the end of the day, what Megan wants and what I want is the same thing," Green said.

"And, if she believes doing something a certain way gets her to the end goal, I'm all for that. And, if I believe doing something a certain way gets to the end goal, I'm all for that. So, if we can both do something to move the needle to get to the end goal, great."

"I have no complaints with whatever it is she wants to do, or any woman athlete wants to do, or anyone who is trying to help drive their cause and what they want to be done. It doesn't matter to me how we get there. What matters to me is that we get there."

Green had previously said female athletes DESERVE better pay -- but advised they need to change their PR strategy in order to achieve their goal.

On Thursday, he reinforced his point that female athletes need to band together to hold sports leagues, advertisers and other influential organizations responsible ... and push them to do a better job marketing women's sports.

Green specifically called out Nike and Beats By Dre.

"All of these companies [can] tell these stories [about top female athletes] in order to help drive that bottom line."

Antonio Gates believes Deshaun Watson's career will survive the sexual misconduct allegations ... and he WILL set foot on an NFL field again.

Gates didn't make any predictions about how the legal action against Watson will play out ... but when speaking specifically to Watson's football career, he thinks the QB will weather the storm.

"He seems like a good dude," Gates tells TMZ Sports. "Obviously he made some -- I don't even know if he made these mistakes. But, if he did, hopefully he can recover from them. This is the land of the free. You always get second chances."

He continued ... "I do [think he will play again.] He's too good of a player, so I do. Hopefully, when all this unfolds, we'll see how it goes."

Fact is, talent seems to matter most when it comes to NFL teams -- just look at Ben Roethlisberger, who was accused of sexual misconduct on two separate occasions and has continued his NFL career.

Antonio Brown is also currently facing sexual misconduct allegations and is still in the NFL -- he just won a Super Bowl with the Buccaneers.

It's important to note while Watson is facing 22 lawsuits in civil court. He has NOT been charged with a crime at the moment ... but the Houston Police Department has opened an investigation.

Lil Nas X's Satan Shoes won't see the light of day, because although Nike settled its lawsuit against the manufacturer of the merch ... the shoe giant really won the battle to block the controversial kicks.

Nike tells TMZ ... it's reached an agreement with MSCHF, the company producing the custom shoes based on Nike's Air Max 97. The so-called Satan Shoes were inspired by Lil Nas' demonic-themed music video for his new song, "MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name)."

The footwear giant tells us the settlement calls for MSCHF to launch a voluntary recall to buy back all Satan Shoes it's sold for their original retail prices in order to remove them from circulation.

Remember ... MSCHF was hawking the limited-edition kicks for $1,018 a pop, an ode to the bible scripture emblazoned on the side, Luke 10:18, which references Satan's banishment from heaven. Buyers snatched up all 666 pairs within minutes after last month's release. The shoes feature an inverted cross, bronze pentagram and a drop of human blood.

As we reported ... Nike filed suit against MSCHF last week, claiming MSCHF was infringing on its trademarks by selling the altered Air Max 97 without Nike's authorization. A judge had already granted Nike an injunction to block all future sales of the shoes.

Get Kevin Holland a new nickname ... 'cause "Big Mouth" won't be running when he fights Saturday night, telling TMZ Sports his sole focus is whooping Marvin Vettori's ass.

28-year-old Holland received an onslaught of criticism -- from fans to Dana White -- for the nonstop crap talk during his unanimous decision loss to Derek Brunson only 19 days ago.

Holland's stepping up on short notice to fight Vettori -- the 27-year old, 6th-ranked UFC middleweight -- and we asked if he was gonna press pause on the trash talk.

"Yeah, I mean ultimately, I go in there and get the job done and then we'll see what happens after that, but it's like a whole lot of talking that night, I don't see that happening. Go in there, get the job done and then we can talk about it after."

It's an interesting dilemma ... MMA fans loved Holland's brashness when he was winning (he fought and won 5 times in 2020!!) -- but turned on him when he talked and lost.

So, moral of the story for Kevin? Win. This. Fight.

"I just got a job to do. The job is to put Vettori away in a nice fashion."

As for any bad blood with White ... Holland says everything's cool with the UFC honcho.