TMZ Sports - Page 50

How big of an MMA fan is Cristiano Ronaldo? 

So massive, that Real Madrid brought UFC star Khabib Nurmagomedov to meet him in Spain so the 2 could bro down ... this according to Khabib himself.

"He know everything about the UFC," Nurmagomedov told TMZ Sports outside Jay Glazer's Unbreakable Performance Center in Hollywood.

FYI, the meet-up went down at Real's training center in Madrid ... where the two Euro-sport mega-stars talked fighting and exchanged gifts (Khabib got a signed ball and jersey).

If this feels familiar, it's probably 'cause Conor McGregor -- Khabib's arch-nemesis -- also kicked it with Cristiano. Ronaldo visited Conor before his first Nate Diaz fight ... facing off with McGregor at his private gym in Vegas.

No way of knowing which fighter Cristiano likes more -- Ali and Khabib claim it's Khabib, of course -- but Ronaldo did look pretty pumped wearing Khabib's signature papakha hat.

Olympic luger Chris Mazdzer's historic silver-medal finish didn't just come with one of those cute plush white tigers ... it came with a buttload of dirty messages, since his win also made him a big heartthrob.

Mazdzer became the first U.S. men’s singles luge medalist ever and says he can't keep up with the way his phone's been blowing up, mostly with congratulatory DMs ... but some want him to take it off.

The Olympic Village is known for being a Tinder-friendly international hook-up zone, and Chris says the layout makes it super convenient.

What happens when "Big Brother" legend Jessie Godderz runs into his favorite TMZ photog?

This time, the answer is DUCT TAPE HAIR WAX -- a punishment for not staying up on "Mr. Pec-Tacular" ... and the reality show that made him famous.

Jessie flipped the script on our guy at LAX, serving up 3 questions in an impromptu pop quiz.

Our guy only got 1 ... and the former pro wrestler wasn't about to let him off the hook.

Silver lining -- this was the LEAST painful of their encounters ... which have included a submission beatdown and manhood-crushing wedgie.

U.S. soccer legend Alexi Lalas loves the idea of Zlatan Ibrahimović coming to play stateside ... but he's warning the league -- DON'T GET SCREWED ON THE PRICE!

Remember, Lalas was the GM of the L.A. Galaxy when the team (and the league) signed a 31-year-old David Beckham to a deal in 2007 that ultimately paid him $255 million!!!

Now, with rumors 36-year-old Zlatan is thinking of making a similar move -- we had to ask Lalas how he would handle the situation.

"If Zlatan wants to come, if he doesn't cost too much money ... then I think it's something the Galaxy and MLS have to do. I think it would be wonderful on and off the field. He's worth the price of admission."

"He's a character on and off the field," Lalas added.

It's true -- Zlatan's got his own cologne, underwear line ... and once performed on a song that hit the Swedish music charts.

Enjoy ...

Team LeBron or Team Steph??

It doesn't matter -- the REAL winners of All-Star Weekend are the super hot wives and girlfriends flocking to town for all the festivities ... as if L.A. needed any more beautiful women.

We all know about Bron Bron's lovely wife, Savannah, and Curry's better half, Ayesha ... but don't forget about newcomers like Karl-Anthony Towns' GF, Kawahine Andrade, and Bradley Beal's smokin' lady friend, Kamiah Adams.

Kangaroo loving Utah Jazz guard Dante Exum is letting USA Basketball know ... the future of International basketball could be down under, 'cause the Australians are up next.

The Aussies have some hoopers -- including Ben Simmons, Patty Mills, Joe Ingles, Matthew Dellavedova and more -- so when we got Exum in L.A., we asked if the Star & Stripes should be worried.

Exum clearly thinks so, telling our guy Australia should've done better in the last Olympics, and absolutely WILL do better in the next games, promising an appearance in the Gold medal game.

Jeremy Stephens loves Chuck Liddell -- saying he's an MMA legend and a guy he looked up to when he was a young buck in the UFC.

But when it comes to the Iceman's desire to return to the cage ... Jeremy's begging him to reconsider.

"His time has come and gone," Jeremy told TMZ Sports. "Stay retired, Chuck."

Stephens says the fight game ain't like other professions ... and when it's clear you're done, you should stay done.

FYI, Chuck's 48, hasn't fought in 8 YEARS and lost 5 outta his last 6 UFC fights -- 4 of 'em by KO. But Liddell told us he's still down to scrap if the right offer comes along.

Bonus: Wanna know how Jeremy's quest to bang Conor McGregor's mom is going?

John Wall's not mincing words about his relationship with his Wizards teammate, Marcin Gortat ... he straight up tells us everything's cool!

We got the injured NBA star leaving Mastro's in Bev Hills Friday night -- he's in town for All-Star Weekend festivities -- and asked if there's any ongoing beef between him and the Wizards center ... he shoots it down right away.

Here's the backstory -- Gortat tweeted about a great "team" victory after Washington won its first few games without Wall, which many considered a shot at the star. Wall responded by saying he gives Gortat "the most spoon-fed baskets ever."

The 2 reportedly had a meeting to hash out their issues last week ... and it seems like it worked.

Dennis Rodman's reached a new milestone -- 30 days of sobriety -- but he knows it's a journey ... and he still has a long way to go.

The Worm posted a message for his fans Saturday ... thanking them for the support during his recovery and acknowledging that a lot of people doubted him.

One guy who didn't, though, is his rep Darren Prince ... who says Dennis is "doing what he has to do to take care of himself and become a better healthier person and that’s just so bad ass for this bad boy with a great big heart!"

As we reported ... Rodman entered rehab January 17 -- which he points out was Muhammad Ali's bday -- after getting busted for a DUI in Newport Beach. He checked out a week later, but only to get long-term treatment at the Turning Point center outside L.A.

NBA All-Star Weekend did not disappoint Friday night ... a slew of players and celebs took the court.

The celeb game went down at Los Angeles Community College ... check out Nick Cannon, Justin Bieber, Quavo from Migos, Jamie Foxx, "Black Panther" star Michael B. Jordan, Sterling Brim and "Stranger Things" kid Caleb McLauhlin. Quavo scored 19 points and earned MVP honors.

You gotta love the Biebs shooting way above the head of "Black-ish" star Miles Brown.

As for the Rising Stars Team USA vs. The World ... that game was played at Staples Center and The World beat Team USA 155 to 124.

Magic Johnson is the consummate diplomat, turning LaVar Ball's threat to yank Lonzo from the Lakers into a testament on parenthood.

The beloved President of Basketball Operations for the Lakers was leaving Mastro's in Bev Hills Friday night with his wife Cookie, when our photog asked about LaVar's ultimatum -- put my 2 other sons on the team or say goodbye to Lonzo.

Magic doesn't miss a beat ... heaping praise on the elder Ball.

As for taking in a screening of "Black Panther" this weekend ... well, there's one thing more pressing.

Cardi B, and the guys from Migos were swallowed up in a gigantic crowd waiting for them as they arrived for an event for NBA All-Star Weekend.

Cardi, her fiance Offset, Takeoff and Quavo all showed up in an SUV at Murano in WeHo. Victor Oladipo, a guard for the Indiana Pacers, was along for the ride.

Cardi made 6 figures for hosting the event, and she's expected to make a bundle more during the weekend festivities. She's also hosting at Penthouse and Ace of Diamonds.

The house-cleaning in Cleveland was all for nothing -- because LeBron James is leaving the Cavs to sign with the Lakers in the off-season ... at least, that's what LaVar Ball believes.

The Big Baller was at his pop-up shop in L.A. when we asked about the possibility of Bron coming out West to play with Lonzo when he becomes a free agent at the end of the season.

LaVar is not only convinced it's going to happen -- he tells TMZ Sports, "Lonzo is gonna make HIM a better player!"

He also loves the idea of having "two stars" on the same team -- and already has a nickname for the duo.

Mark Henry has a way for Hulk Hogan to make a complete return to the WWE ... one that he says will allow everyone in the organization to forgive Hogan for good.

Hulk has to apologize, again, but this time to all the existing black talent currently wrestling for the organization.

Mark dropped this knowledge when we got him out in NYC and asked what he thought of Hogan's chances of getting back into fold are, since Hogan's been angling for a comeback.

Although there are many in the wrestling world -- including Ric Flair -- that think it's high time Hogan is let back in, Henry's opinion matters, because he's now a producer for the WWE, and a prominent black voice.

Lonzo Ball is "a ballplayer," not a rapper -- so says T.I. ... who tells TMZ Sports he's got ZERO interest in hitting the studio with the rookie MC.

Don't get it twisted -- T.I. thinks it's great Lonzo dropped a track in honor of LaVar ... but the King of the South ain't convinced Ball's serious about mastering the craft.

"He would have to establish himself and really, really put in the work as an artist, and he'd really have to dedicate himself to the arts, in order for me to take him seriously," T.I. told us at LAX.

Don't think T.I. realized 'Zo released a full 17-track mixtape, but the bottom line -- Ball's got A LOT of bars to spit to get respect in the rap game.

NFL star Joe Haden says he wants a pair of super rare (and expensive) "Back to the Future" sneakers for his epic collection, but there's 1 problem ...

The $10K he wants to throw down ain't gonna cut it!!

FYI, Haden recently shared a pic of his shoe-seum ... so when we saw him leaving Delilah in L.A., we had to ask if there was a Mona Lisa out there he needed to have.

Joe told TMZ Sports he wanted Nike's Marty McFly shoes ... and he'd be willing to drop "about 10 bands" to get 'em.

Problem is ... Haden specifically said he wanted the self-lacing 2016 joints -- which are currently going for around $30K. The 2011 first editions are closer to $10k a pop.