Featured Image Credit: UFC/Twitter. Alamy.
Topics: UFC, MMA, Nate Diaz, Dana White
Jayden Collins
The UFC 279 press conference has been sensationally cancelled after a brawl broke out backstage between fighters.
The events were described as an ‘absolute s***show’ by UFC president Dana White after the press conference had to be delayed by half an hour.
The MMA promotion boss opened the event by saying: “Absolute s***show back there.
“There’s lots of crazy s**t back there. We got it handled.”
White later revealed that a fight between Khamzat Chimaev and Kevin Holland had erupted and spiralled to include ‘multiple fighters’.
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The UFC attempted to push on with the press conference in an odd fashion by bringing out the fighters in pairs rather than all at once.
Dana White maintained that it was the ‘right move’ for fighters’ safety.
Kevin Holland and Daniel Rodriguez came out briefly for their interview, however, the event was quickly abandoned entirely as White looked completely frustrated by the situation.
He told the crowd: “Yeah, this ain’t going to happen. I apologise everybody. I am in very weird waters here. This has never happened in the history of this company. Trust me when I tell you this is the right decision not to do this press conference right now.”
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Unsurprisingly boos rained down on White who agreed with the sentiment before quickly cutting the feed.
He continued: “I hear ya, I’m with ya. For everybody’s safety, this is the right decision. I apologise.”
White reiterated later that the UFC hadn’t employed enough security staff backstage to control the chaos and would rectify that in the future.
According to combat sports journalist Ariel Helwani, the situation had spilled over to involve Nate Diaz’s team.
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Helwani said: “Punches and kicks were thrown, I’m told. As were objects.
“Water bottles too.”
Wild. Just wild.
Unsurprising, however, considering Chimaev had revealed he was eager to fight Diaz and his team before the UFC 279 event.
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He told ESPN: “If they wanna fight before, f**k the money, brother, I’m gonna fight with them. I love to fight.
“I’ve been born for war. I’m inside a warrior, don’t care. When the fights come, you don’t care about money or what’s behind it, just fight. If he wants to fight there with his team, I have like 20 guys with me. We’ll fight with all the teams, you know. I hope so. I would love if it happens, something crazy things there.”