TMZ Sports - Page 10

Dana White's new BJJ organization, UFC Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, could have a few famous faces at their events -- but we're not talking about celebs in the crowd -- but instead big stars actually competing alongside some of the best players in the world!

White and Claudia Gadelha -- MMA star turned UFC exec -- chopped it up with Babcock this week ... as the pair touted the new promotion and the TUF-like companion show on YouTube, "UFC BJJ: Road to the Title."

"[Mark] Zuckerberg has competed in tournaments. Mario Lopez competes in tournaments. Tom Hardy competes in tournaments. So, this is a spot anybody could come and compete here in jujitsu," Dana said, name-dropping three of the high-profile celebs who practice jiu-jitsu.

In fact, Dana, a Meta board member, told us he often talks about fighting with Zuck ... and he's not kidding when he says he could compete in the future.

"If Mark keeps training and competing and whatever, he could literally come here and fight in UFC BJJ, 100%. Tom Hardy, Mario Lopez, and many, many other actors that are really good jiu-jitsu guys that nobody knows about. That would be absolutely awesome!"

Of course, Zuckerberg began training during the COVID-19 pandemic, and has linked up with some of the biggest UFC stars in the world, hitting the mats with the likes of Alex Volkanovski, Israel Adesanya, and others.

Zuck even competed in a local competition in mid-2023, fairing quite well in his matches.

Obviously, Dana's new BJJ org. is a whole different ballgame ... they've got some of the very best in the world competing, so no one's suggesting Mark, Tom and/or Mario's going to stroll into the arena when UFC BJJ 1 goes down on June 25!

In the future? Who knows. DW makes it clear, if you've got the prerequisite skill, anyone can get down.

Celebs aside, there's a bunch more with Dana and Claudia ... who talk about building the new UFC BJJ organization, and where they see it going.

The Oklahoma City Thunder are NBA champions ... for the first time in team history!!!

Thunder star and league MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the way in a 103-91 victory for OKC, scoring 29 points in the decisive Game 7 ... played in front of a raucous sell-out crowd at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City.

SGA was named Most Valuable Player of the Finals.

LeBron James had to deal with some salty fans outside a New York City event Saturday night ... with angry pedestrians hurling insults at the basketball legend.

TMZ has obtained video of the NBA's all-time leading scorer walking into Fanatics Fest this weekend surrounded by his entourage ... and, while no one made a move to get into a physical altercation with the 6'9" star, they let him know he's got no love from the Big Apple.

Check out the clip ... Lebron's getting more boos than when he bailed on Cleveland to take his talents to South Beach back in the day -- with fans calling him "Le-Bum" and otherwise trying to get in his head.

Kevin Durant was just traded to the Houston Rockets in a blockbuster deal ... and fans got his live reaction to the move during his appearance at Fanatics Fest!!

The massive transaction happened early on Sunday ... coincidentally just hours before Durant's former team, the Oklahoma City Thunder, faces the Indiana Pacers in Game 7 of the NBA Finals to mark the end of the 2024-25 season.

The Phoenix Suns will give up Durant for a bunch of Rockets talent -- Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, the No. 10 pick in the draft and five second-rounders.

Ever imagine what it would be like to see the top talent in NASCAR, F1 and IndyCar join forces for an epic competition?? Kyle Larson tells TMZ Sports he'd LOVE to see it to happen ... 'cause it would be a must-watch spectacle for all racing fans!!

The Hendrick Motorsports driver zoomed by the TMZ offices this week for a sit-down with Lucas Widman ... and he weighed in on the idea of putting the best from all major organizations together to determine the true "best driver."

"Dude, it would be awesome," Larson said. "It would be so cool if you could ever get myself, Max [Verstappen], or whoever the greatest racecar drivers of their discipline together to try and somehow figure out who may be the best, I think it would make for great TV."

Ever wondered how Jon Jones goes about picking out his kicks?? Well, TMZ Sports actually ran into the former UFC heavyweight champion at the shoe store -- and you'll never guess the style he likes to rock!!

Jones popped up at an L.A. mall after spending some time filming a show in Thailand ... but he decided after living out of a suitcase for a while, it was time to splurge on himself.

To our surprise ... he doesn't opt for any eye-popping pairs -- he enjoys a dad-style look!!

Jon Jones' legendary fighting career is over.

Dana White announced arguably the best UFC competitor of all-time called him on Friday night and let him know he will not be fighting again.

"Jon Jones called us last night and retired," the UFC honcho said Saturday. "Jon Jones is officially retired."

A San Francisco Giants relief pitcher is being accused of abandoning his family ... with his wife saying he left after she discovered numerous alleged affairs.

Caroline Hjelle, wife of Sean Hjelle -- a four-year MLB vet -- took to her TikTok Friday to call out her fastball-slinging partner ... sharing a clip where she's laughing and playing with their kiddos.

While it's a cute clip of the three of them, the accompanying message is decidedly less fun ... with Caroline writing it was taken one week before Mother's Day -- when she claims Sean bailed on her and their children.

TMZ Sports has learned the dishes Ippei Mizuhara will be chowing down on during his stint in prison ... and, sadly for Shohei Ohtani's ex-interpreter, peanuts and Cracker Jacks ain't on the menu.

According to a Federal Bureau of Prisons spokesperson ... FCI Allenwood Low -- the Pennsylvania prison where Mizuhara has been in custody since Monday -- follows the National Menu, which means Mizuhara will have a choice of a set of rotating meals to munch on for the foreseeable future.

Every day, Mizuhara will get breakfast, lunch and dinner ... giving the 40-year-old access to most of America's food staples.

Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski are back together and causing chaos -- literally breaking a Lombardi trophy during a faulty stunt at Fanatics Fest 2025 in New York City.

Check out the video posted by Michael Rubin ... the former NFL teammates got a bit excited and decided to have Tom toss the coveted trophy to Rob down a hall lined with reporters -- but the setup was an epic fail.

Though Rob landed the pass ... his grip was a little too strong -- causing the top football-shaped portion of the trophy to break free from the stand.

Welcome to New York, Travis Kelce! The Kansas City Chiefs star ditched his posh pad in Florida in favor of an NYC date night with Taylor Swift Friday evening ... and some lucky fans caught a glimpse of the pair!

The lovebirds were seen taking their time while strolling out of the Italian restaurant Torrisi -- TK shook a staff member's hand while the popstar followed closely behind. The pair seemed in no rush to take cover from thrilled onlookers ... chatting before grabbing each other's hands and eventually stepping into their SUV.

Tay and Trav seemingly coordinated their outfits for their late-night rendezvous ... with the singer sporting a light blue tank paired with a pleated mini skirt and white heels, and her better half in an all-white T-shirt and shorts ensemble.

A new rule change has made Mike Leach suddenly eligible for the Hall of Fame ... and Sonny Dykes -- one of his former assistants -- tells TMZ Sports he sure hopes "The Pirate" will now soon be dubbed an HOFer.

The regulation reviser came last month, when the College Football Hall of Fame decided to reduce the career win percentage required for eligibility from 60% to 59.5%.

Leach, of course, held a 59.6 winning percentage prior to his death in December 2022.

If Saquon Barkley had any lingering concerns about falling victim to the "Madden" curse, he should be able to sleep like a baby moving forward -- 'cause Eddie George tells TMZ Sports the Eagles running back will be just fine!!

Earlier this month, EA Sports revealed Barkley -- who signed with the Eagles in 2024 -- will grace the cover of "Madden NFL 26," featuring his viral backward hurdle from this past season as the image.

Congrats are certainly in order, but Philly fans are understandably a little worried ... as historically, the jock who gets the cover can sometimes experience hardships in the following season or down the road -- but some have gone unscathed.

Stephen A. Smith sparked quite the controversy after claiming NBA players avoid signing with the Grizzlies due to safety concerns in Memphis ... and while Danny Green says the talking head "isn't far off" with his take, he tells TMZ Sports it's more so due to the fact it's "not a pretty city" in general.

We caught up with Green -- who had a very short stint in Memphis (we're talking three games here) back in the 2022-23 season -- at LAX this week ... and he weighed in more on the city's apparent obstacles to landing free agents.

"I just don't think it's a destination city," he said. "Nashville is one of the cities that people enjoy. Memphis, it is in Tennessee so you get a tax cut. It's good on taxes, but it's just not a city that's pretty, people would say."

Riley Gaines and Simone Biles ... working together?! Could happen, according to the former All-American swimmer herself, who tells TMZ Sports she'd "absolutely" be open to the idea.

Of course, this comes on the heels of the two athletes' social media dust-up earlier this month ... which culminated with the 7x Olympic gold medalist apologizing to the former University of Kentucky swim star for likening her physical stature to that of a man while the women debated trans athletes' participation in youth girls' sports.

We spoke to Riley, a political activist and host of Outkick's "Gaines For Girls" podcast, where we asked her if she'd be down to team up with Biles.

Congrats are in order for Justin Verlander and Kate Upton ... TMZ Sports has confirmed they had another baby!

A rep for Kate tells TMZ ... She and Justin welcomed their son, Bellamy Brooks Verlander, on June 19.

Verlander was just placed on paternity leave by the San Francisco Giants on Friday afternoon ... as he and his wife's little bundle of joy entered into the world Thursday.