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"I said it before you piece of sh*t, nobody will lose their job at UFC."

That's Dana White going scorched-earth over a false report about layoffs at the UFC -- with Dana making it crystal clear NO ONE who works for him will be let go during the coronavirus pandemic.

The video speaks for itself ... White is PISSED at a report in a major media publication Wednesday titled, "UFC Hit with Layoffs."

That report has since been taken down, but Dana is obviously upset that it ever went up in the first place.

The confusion, it seems, is that Endeavor -- which owns UFC and other businesses -- is reportedly letting around 250 people go as a result of the pandemic. But, Dana says ZERO of those employees are coming from his staff.

"First of all, it's not true," Dana says ... "I'm telling you guys again, most of what you read is not true."

And, he delivered a personal message to the reporter behind the story -- "You don't know anything about this f**king situation and you definitely don't know nothing about the sport you jerk off."

"And, for somebody who's supposed to be a reporter to be gloating about people losing their jobs?! I said it before, you piece of sh*t, nobody will lose their job at the UFC! Nobody's getting laid off, it's not gonna happen!"

"The other side of Endeavor laid some people off. I'm not laying anybody off. It's not gonna happen!"

On a related note, Dana has said he's working hard to put together future UFC events -- including Tony Ferguson vs. Khabib Nurmagomedov.

LeBron James is so appreciative of the heroic efforts by the UCLA health staff amid the coronavirus pandemic ... he sent them a thank you video Wednesday -- and it's awesome.

"I just want to let you know that ya'll hard work and ya'll dedication does not go unnoticed," the LA Lakers superstar said. "The James Gang family here thanks you guys and hopefully we can get back on our feet and we can get back to our everyday lives very soon."

Los Angeles county reportedly has 670 confirmed cases of COVID-19 ... and many UCLA doctors, nurses and support staff have been tasked with not only treating those patients, but helping prevent the spread to others as well.

The team has put in hours and hours of overtime to deal with the pandemic ... and in his video this week, Bron couldn't have been more grateful.

"I just want to say thank you once again," James said. "Like I said, do not think for one second that you guys are not recognized, that you guys are going unnoticed."

James added, "The time and the commitment that you guys are putting in, it's truly commendable and remarkable at the same time. So, God bless you guys and can't wait to see you guys again. One love."

Other athletes across major sports are showing similar love to medical staff around the country ... NY Mets slugger Pete Alonso sent out personalized vids Wednesday as well.

As coronavirus wreaks havoc, celebs and companies with deep pockets are chipping in to help combat the pandemic ... and the philanthropy seems to be contagious.

Ryan Reynolds got things going by committing 30 percent of all proceeds on sales of his Aviation gin through May 1 to go to bartenders who are out of work. Shortly afterward, Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul followed suit with their Dos Hombres mezcal.

Lionel Messi and Pep Guardiola are donating over $1 million each to help fight the coronavirus outbreak in Spain -- while Roger Federer chipped in a mil to help the most vulnerable families in Switzerland.

Michael Jackson's estate is getting in on the action too ... donating $300k to help 3 communities that have been impacted by the virus -- $100k each to Broadway Cares, MusiCares and Three Square Food Bank in Nevada.

Gwyneth Paltrow also added $100k to Schwarzenegger's donation to the Frontline Responders Fund, and WWE star Rusev is shelling out $20k to WWE production and security staff.

On top of all this, Vice Prez Mike Pence announced huge corporations are doing their part -- like Apple donating 9 million masks -- and Yelp announced it's matching up to $1 million in donations to local businesses.

Arnold Schwarzenegger and James Taylor jump-started donations on Tuesday ... dropping million-dollar donations to 2 separate organizations.

Future #1 overall pick Joe Burrow is calling all Americans to listen to the experts and STAY INSIDE!!! .. and if you don't wanna listen to Joe, at least listen to his friend, Mr. Heisman.

The LSU national champ gave a PSA on the coronavirus pandemic (with his shiny, new trophy behind his shoulder) on his Twitter on Wednesday ... begging folks to follow all the precautionary procedures to stop spreading COVID-19.

"This is obviously a crazy time for everybody right now," the 23-year-old said. "I think it's more important now than ever to follow directions that the government lays out."

Burrow is asking everyone to wash their hands, self-quarantine and stay home... "so we can flatten the curve a little bit and get back to a normal life, and the only way we can do that is if we follow instructions."

"Everyone wants this to end as quickly as possible, we just have to do everything in our power to limit the spread of this and flatten the curve."

Burrow -- whose Heisman acceptance speech sparked nearly half a million dollars in donations to the Athens County Food Pantry -- is also asking those who are financially able to donate to help out if possible.

It's clear Burrow is still looking out for his home state of Ohio ... which currently has 567 reported cases of the coronavirus.

Baseball might be on hiatus ... but the greatness of Mike Trout sure as hell ain't -- he just hit a ridiculous golf trick shot while in isolation -- and the video is insane!!

The L.A. Angels superstar has been following the rules and staying away from people amid the coronavirus outbreak ... and clearly that's given him some time to become amazing with his wedge.

Check out the clip ... the 28-year-old outfielder went upstairs and hit a ping-pong ball straight into a tiny Solo cup!!

You can see by Trout's reaction ... there was no editing there, 'cause the guy went absolutely NUTS after it splashed home!!!

"#TIGERVISION," Trout wrote of the shot.

It could be a few more weeks until players get back on the diamond -- the league has suspended play indefinitely -- but stars across the MLB sure are providing us great content in the meantime.

Check out how Boston Red Sox slugger Michael Chavis is spending his time in quarantine ... dude went YARD off his girlfriend in a Wiffle ball game!!

NBA star-turned-marijuana mogul Al Harrington says his Viola company's sales are through the roof since the coronavirus scare took over the U.S. ... and now he's scrambling to meet the demand.

Of course, Harrington has turned into a highly successful weed advocate and entrepreneur in his post-playing days ... sharing the medical benefits for athletes, as well as, the average folk.

We spoke with Harrington about the insane demand for cannabis products right now -- after all, EVERYBODY is stressing out over COVID-19 -- and he says his sales have DOUBLED.

"The challenge is gonna be making sure that we can keep up with the demand at this point," Harrington tells TMZ Sports.

"Everybody is stocking up on their favorite brands. I feel like the 'canna-curious' is really steppin' up right now, especially when you're stuck in the house with your kids 24 hours a day."

Harrington says the weed industry is booming just like toilet paper ... with people stocking up and worrying about when they'll be able to get more.

Harrington says his employees are following all the restrictions and taking extra steps to make sure they're safe during the pandemic ... but hopes the government continues to allow them to stay open as an "essential" business.

The worst part about the Olympics being postponed?? The world has to wait another year to see the viral Tongan flag guy again. But, don't worry!! He's got a solution ...

SHIRTLESS WORKOUT VIDS!!!

Of course, skier Pita Taufatofua stole everyone's hearts at the 2016 Games opening ceremony with his chiseled, oiled body -- a Tongan tradition.

Being the caring, loving people we are over here at TMZ Sports ... we figured we'd still give y'all a bit of Pita content now that the 2020 games have moved to 2021.

As it turns out, fans can still get their Pita fix during the delay ... 'cause Taufatofua is hosting *educational* workouts while everyone's home self-quarantined ... and it's great.

"What we're doing at the moment on the Olympic Channel Instagram page, is we're doing a live workout video every night of the week," Pita tells us. "So, everyone will be able to see exactly what it is we're working on."

Brilliant idea ... props to whoever made this happen!!!

Think quarantine is gonna stop S.F. 49ers star Kyle Juszczyk from training to get back to the Super Bowl???

HELL NO!!! The Niners fullback is doing straight-up Rocky-style workouts while in isolation ... squatting a whole damn tree in the snow!!!

Juszczyk's smokin' hot wife posted the footage of the 28-year-old getting in lifts out in the wilderness ... and it's pretty intense.

You can see in the videos, Juszczyk sled-pulls his wife (and others) through snow AND dirt to get some leg work done.

Then, the 6-foot-1, 240-pound NFL player gets some jump squats in ... with a dead tree on his back!!

"When the gyms are closed but Kyle still needs go workout!" Kyle's wife, Kristin, said. "😂😂"

Of course, Kyle's on a mission this offseason ... his Niners came THIIISSSS close to being Super Bowl champs last month -- and the window to try to do it again is still open.

By the way, when Kyle's not working out like a madman ... it's safe to say he ain't exactly suffering in isolation -- 'CAUSE HAVE YOU SEEN HIS WIFE?!?

Conor McGregor is putting his money where his mouth is -- donating €1 MILLION in medical supplies to hospitals in need, in his native Ireland.

After the UFC star made a passionate video encouraging Ireland to go into "full lockdown" to combat the spread of COVID-19, Irish politician Paschal Donohoe reached out and asked Conor to keep up the good work because young people listen to him.

Conor responded to Donohoe by spelling out his new plan to help Ireland.

"Today I am purchasing myself, 1 million euro worth of personal protective equipment to be deployed to all the fighting hospitals in the Leinster region," McGregor said ... "Our most affected region, to this date."

He added, "St. James. Mater, Tallaght, Beaumont. Vincent's. Where we would be without these brave men and women, I do not know. May God bless over them and keep them safe!"

Conor then pushed back on Minister Donohoe -- saying he thinks the government needs to take more action to protect the people.

"We need more units on the street to enforce this lockdown Pascal! It has been too lax!"

"Building sites should be closed. They are open for what? We can always build again after this. In every way. But, we must put Health before Wealth."

"I respect you, and your team and I believe you are doing as good a job as you possibly can. I have been impressed by all. As has the nation. I feel like we are moving in the right way, it just feels to me like it is not all the way."

N.O. Saints GM Mickey Loomis wants Roger Goodell to postpone the 2020 NFL Draft ASAP ... saying there's just no way teams can properly pick players under the current conditions.

"This is not a fantasy draft that you conduct out there with just a list of things on a piece of paper," Loomis said on "The Peter King Podcast" this week. "There’s a lot of work that goes into it to prepare, and there’s a lot of work that is done during the draft."

Loomis added, "Listen, it’ll be very, very difficult to conduct that and do it in a way that you’re doing justice to the process.”

Goodell and the NFL have already removed the annual selection show party out of Las Vegas ... but they've insisted the picks will still go down somehow beginning April 23.

Loomis says he doesn't see how that'll be possible ... given all the restrictions teams are facing during the coronavirus pandemic.

"Just the logistics of trying to conduct the draft with not having access to your draft rooms and your offices creates a lot of logistic problems."

To make matters even more difficult for Loomis ... his head coach, Sean Payton, has been under quarantine the last two weeks after he tested positive for COVID-19.

Loomis ain't the only league exec having doubts about the April draft ... ESPN reported the league's GM subcommittee as a whole has recommended a draft pushback as well.

UFC middleweight champ Israel Adesanya is warning his countrymen ... the coronavirus pandemic will BREAK some people -- explaining, "Only the strong's gonna survive this sh*t."

The 30-year-old -- who lives in New Zealand -- got a government alert on his phone about the country going into lockdown mode and wanted to share some words to inspire the people.

What ensued was actually kind of scary ... and probably true.

"These next 4 weeks is gonna make and break some people. Some are gonna come out of this with drinking problems, drug problems, [domestic violence incidents], broken families," Adesanya said.

"Or ... some people are gonna come out of this with BETTER relationships, severing old beef with family members and friends, cooking skills, better brains, healthier bodies."

He continued .. "I'm not your f**king guru. I'm not nobody, but yeah, I'm the UFC champion and people carry some weight sometimes with what I say."

"But, yeah, stay strong ... 'cause only the strong gonna survive this sh*t."

Izzy's not the only UFC star to speak out about COVID-19 -- on Tuesday, Conor McGregor made a passionate speech to the people of Ireland, pleading with them to self-quarantine.