TMZ Sports - Page 50

Another round in the Dana White vs. Bob Arum mega-feud ... this time, it's the legendary boxing promoter throwing major shade at White for his plans to get into boxing in 2018.

Arum tells TMZ Sports he welcomes the UFC honcho into the boxing community ... but then he fires this shot ...

"By coming in the business, he is really admitting that boxing is the more popular sport. And in order to keep his company alive, he has to go into the boxing business."

Of course, White hates Arum's guts -- and has been ripping him apart for years ... previously calling Bob the "biggest dirtbag in all of sports." So, no love lost here.

Still, Bob says he thinks Dana could be successful in the boxing business -- and gives him a real chance to make the Anthony Joshua vs. Deontay Wilder fight happen.

"If he puts up enough money, he certainly will land the fight," Arum said. "It's all a question of the money ... particularly in the heavyweight division."

You might remember -- Dana spoke with TMZ Sports last week, and told us Joshua was his #1 target ... and he's meeting with major players like Floyd Mayweather to help his cause.

Sushi doesn't seem like a great NYE hangover cure, but a ton of celebs like J Lo and A-Rod had their first 2018 dinners at Nobu.

The famous Malibu celeb hot spot was also top dinner choice for Drake, Kendall Jenner and her bf Blake Griffin.

J Lo and A-Rod have been getting ready for the New Year with some super intense workouts, so an In-N-Out burger probably wasn't in the cards anyway.

How tough is Holly Holm?? Her eye was essentially SWOLLEN SHUT after her fight with Cris Cyborg ... and she was still all smiles!

Don't get it twisted -- Holly put up a hell of a fight against Cyborg at UFC 219 ... but she got hit with some huge haymakers in their 25-minute title bout.

The result is what you see here -- a MASSIVE shiner, swelling all over her face and what looks like a broken pinky.

UFC octagon announcer Bruce Buffer shared this pic after the fight -- giving mad props to her for being a "warrior in victory and defeat."

True that.

Here's former USC quarterback Matt Leinart weighing in on current USC quarterback Sam Darnold -- keeping it all the way 100 about Sam's big decision on whether to enter the NFL Draft.

"I don't know if you wanna go to the Browns!"

True.

Leinart was at LAX after USC got smashed by Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl -- where he told us he's not too concerned about Sam's draft stock after the game.

"I don't think he played as bad as people think," Leinart said ... "He'll be alright. We'll see what he does. He may come back to school, who knows?!"

Leinart famously stayed in school to play his senior season -- and ended up getting drafted 10th overall in the 2006 draft.

Jennifer Lopez is a MACHINE!!!!!

Check out footage of J Lo and A-Rod during a couple's workout in L.A. the other day -- crushing burpees and medicine ball slams.

Notice anything? Like how Jennifer Lopez is faster, more explosive and more energetic than the WORLD CLASS ATHLETE STANDING NEXT TO HER!!

J LO!!!!!!!!

Of course, A-Rod's built more for power than speed ... but still, watching Jenny from the Block murder this workout is probably the motivation you need to actually get to the gym in 2018.

Danielle Bregoli's got big-time money now ... which means hiring big-time help to clear up big-time legal issues comes easier, too.

The 'Cash Me Outside' girl just hired attorney Doug Duncan ... the same guy that repped Tiger Woods in his DUI case. Doug joins Danielle's OG legal muscle, Scott Richardson, in her ongoing legal battles in Florida -- including a case where she allegedly stole her mom's purse and car.

The 14-year-old was slapped with a 5-year probation back in May after pleading guilty to multiple charges, including 2 counts of grand theft ... she was also hit with a curfew that included needing a parent with her after 5 PM.

Danielle and her attorneys were in court Thursday where we're told a judge agreed to modify Bregoli's curfew so that her management team be considered a guardian.

Sources close to Bregoli tell us the slightly lax new rules will allow Danielle to spend more time in the studio and expand her work travel, too.

We smell a tour.

The fate of the "Last Chance U" football star accused of murdering an 18-year-old man will be in the hands of a grand jury -- the murder case is moving forward in just a few weeks.

Isaiah Wright was a stud running back at East Mississippi Community College -- and came off as a really happy, sweet kid on the Netflix docu-series.

But in real life ... cops say he was involved in the stabbing death of 18-year-old Caleb Radford, who was attacked and killed in Blount County, Tennessee back in July.

Wright and his brother Camion were among 4 suspects arrested in the investigation. Officials dropped the case against Camion, but not Isaiah.

The 20-year-old is still locked up in Tennessee -- along with the 2 other suspects. Isaiah has been in custody since September.

Court officials tell TMZ Sports ... Isaiah's case will be heard in front of a Circuit Court Grand Jury on January 12. The jury will decide if there is enough evidence to indict him.

Attempts to reach a rep for Wright were unsuccessful.

Saints legend Jonathan Vilma just threw Drew Brees' name into the hat for next mayor of New Orleans ... and he's making a pretty damn good case.

We talked to Jonathan about Brees opening a special needs playground in NOLA ... and Jonathan went full campaign manager describing his longtime teammate's mayoral credentials.

"He definitely has a future as mayor of New Orleans," Vilma told TMZ Sports.

"Drew Brees was the best teammate I had. Words can't describe how competitive he is, was, still is, to what a great person he is."

"So every time I see something come out on him doing something off the field that's positive ... it's par for the course."

The question -- is Drew actually gonna do it??

We asked him earlier this year ... and he definitely didn't rule it out.

It's a new year, but the same concerning habits seem to continue dogging Lamar Odom, who was seen partying it up in the Dominican Republic to ring in 2018.

Lamar was spotted hitting up a local hot spot on the island nation called Club 59, where he hung out with some girls he met up with there ... one of whom eyewitnesses tell us he kissed at midnight. We're told he smooched the woman in black seen standing by him here.

The problem ... sources tell us Lamar was seen knockin' back beers and tequila shots -- which you can clearly see in these pics. We're told the green bottle he's got in hand is called Presidente, a Spanish beer featured in breweries around the Dominican Republic.

As you'll recall ... he collapsed at a club in L.A. last month. His rep said he was simply dehydrated, but eyewitnesses told us he'd been drinking that night too.

The stars were out in force on New Year's eve -- some working and some partying -- and the pics are fantastic.

Check out Demi Lovato and Rae Sremmurd performing at the Fountainbleau in Miami Beach. Trey Songz hosted a party at Rockwell nightclub in Miami. The Beckhams hung as a family, while John and Chrissy Tiegen rang in the New Year in Japan.

Tristan Thompson was gloating New Year's Eve about his soon-to-be baby mama and how fantastic she looks just 3 months before giving birth to their child.

Tristan and Khloe Kardashian were in a limo in Cleveland when he turned a cellphone camera on them and commented on the progress of her pregnancy ... and he gives her high marks.

Tristan underscored Khloe's reveal ... that she's due sometime around March. Kim's surrogate is due sometime this month. It's unclear when Kylie is due, but she's definitely pregnant despite her silence.

He revealed early on ... they're having girl.

Celebs were out in force Sunday night to celebrate 2 things ... a new year, and Dave Chappelle's performance at the L.A. Forum.

A slew of stars showed up at Delilah in West Hollywood following Dave's comedy show, including Stevie Wonder and Bobby Brown, who apparently lost weight with the help of his BBQ sauce.

Comedian Jeff Ross praised the losing Cleveland Browns for their consistency ... which is hilarious.

Betcha didn't know Tom Glavine was a huge Catholic antiques collector!!

Well ... he WAS a huge antiques collector, but the Hall of Famer is parting ways with some of his beloved historic items ... and now they're hitting the auction block!!

TMZ Sports spoke with Charles Pharr -- owner of Four Seasons Auction Gallery -- who says Glavine and his wife are looking to move into a new house and wanna get rid of some extra stuff.

Some of the notable items include:

French cabinet -- estimated $1,600

Church offering podium -- est. $1,000

7 Gothic chairs previously owned by Cher (yes, you read that correctly) -- est. $3,000

Executive office chair -- est. $500

18th century door Jesus painting -- est. $800

Not only would the winning bidders get the cool stuff, Pharr took advantage of the opportunity to create some really unique sports memorabilia and had Glavine sign his autograph on each item.

Hall of Fame voters, listen up -- Chauncey Billups says 3/5 of his '04 Pistons starting lineup should be enshrined, telling TMZ Sports that he, Rip Hamilton and Ben Wallace all belong in Springfield.

Billups is a 1st-time nominee to the Hall this year ... and when we talked with him the 5-time All-Star and former Finals MVP, he told us he thinks he did enough to get in.

"I think that I am, obviously ... there's so many other worthy guys, but I do. I think my story is really unique, my fight is really unique."

Chauncey isn't the only guy from his NBA championship team up for the honor ... Rip is also a 1st-time nominee, and Ben missed out on his 1st shot last year.

Billups thinks they should ALL get in ... and he's 100% serious.

"I think there's a case to be made for Rip ... I think Ben is the easiest case out of all 3 of us, to be honest with you."

With Hamilton, CB says his college days put him in (Rip won a national championship with UConn) ... and with Wallace, he says if Rodman and Mutombo are in, he should be too.

Vincent Herbert did not get Laura Govan pregnant and did not commit spousal abuse on Tamar Braxton ... this according to Vince himself.

A pap got Tamar's estranged hubby Sunday out in Bev Hills where the denials came straight from the horse's mouth. Vince says it clear as day on the Govan rumor ... not true at all.

He also backs up what Tamar said herself about his Christmas day arrest -- there was no spousal abuse ... even though he was, in fact, arrested for spousal assault.

We broke the stories ... Tamar unleashed her fury on a woman claiming to have gotten pregnant by Vincent, and people were quick to assume she was referring to Laura. Laura denies it's her, and says her own ex, Gilbert Arenas, is the one fueling the rumor.

Gilbert Arenas has jumped into the Tamar Braxton/Laura Govan fray by calling out his baby mama for accusing him of starting false rumors Tamar's husband got Laura pregnant. You following this?

Gilbert lashed out at Govan by saying, "...my BM decides she wants to use me to clear her dirt up ... you must have forgotten that ZI have all the court documents and in those court documents are ALL your bank records AND in those bank records ARE these little things called (wire transfers) and with wire transfers comes (senders) which either has they name or they bank account numbers from Jan 2015 through oct of 2016, I would have every person that sent you money ... #hoe #hoe #hoe merry Christmas."

He goes on ... "We might need tear down your vagina and build you a new vagina." In short, he's accusing her of sleeping around for money.

He says to Laura ... "handle your situation without using me as your scapegoat."

And Gilbert goes after Tamar's estranged husband ... "@thevincentherbert I don't know who's pregnant but if it's my @BM RUN N**** RUN. I know you cant run that fast big fella so get you a hover board/scooter or something and #georgejetson the f*** outta hear becauz she's about to f*** yo whole life up. She's about to have you out her like (soulja boy in January) (tyrese in november).