Reports claim that KHAMZAT Chimaev was involved with a bizarre backstage brawl during a chaotic UFC event.
Chimaev (28), fought with Kevin Holland, forcing Dana White, a red-faced, to cancel UFC 279's press conference.
Khamzat Chimiev was involved with a backstage UFC brawl
Chimaev and Nate Diaz were both scheduled to attend this conference
White, UFC President, opened the Las Vegas delayed presser. He announced an "absolute S***show Back There" but would not confirm whether there was a brawl.
ESPN reported that the press conference lasted only five minutes and that Daniel Rodriguez and Kevin Holland briefly appeared on stage to give a quick interview. The entire event was then closed down.
White addressed the crowd, saying "I'm sorry," "I'm in very strange waters here. This has never happened before in the history this company.
He said, "Trust me when i tell you that this is the right choice not to hold this press conference right away," and was booed.
"Yeah, that's what I hear. While I am with you, it is best for everyone's safety that this decision be made. I apologize. He added, "Thanks for coming."
White stated later that "This is probably the most crazy press conference we have ever held."
"This is a first, and I promise you it will not be the last."
ESPN reported that Chimaev approached Holland backstage and hit him with an uppercut before being pulled away from by Li Jingliang who is fighting Tony Ferguson.
ESPN was told by a source that Nate's teammates began arguing with Chimaev, Tiki Ghosn, and then started throwing bottles at their teams.
White claims that Ghosn was repeatedly kicked and slapped after being hit in the head by water bottles.
Chimaev stated earlier this week that he was willing to fight Diaz and his crew before the main event.
"If they want to fight before Saturday (Saturday), f*** your money, brother. I'm going to fight with them." He said, "I love to fight."
"I was born to fight. Don't worry, I'm a warrior. You don't need to worry about money or who's behind it. Just fight when the fight comes."
"I'M A WARRIOR"
Diaz recently revealed that he almost "beat up" UFC president White at a Las Vegas nightclub.
Over the years, the youngest Diaz brother has had a varied relationship with the MMA mogul.
Diaz has not been able to see White or any of the UFC brass in the past year. He accuses the promotion, who he claims is "slow rolling" Diaz and trying to extend his contract as long as possible.
However, the feud with White isn't his first. He almost gave Stockton's patented Stockton slap after a row many moons back.
ESPN reported that he almost beat Dana White in a club once here, and you should have seen it.
"He was talking s**t, and I was arguing. I was mad at him. I should not have been mad at his, I understand.
"It was a long, long time ago when Gilbert [Melendez] did The Ultimate Fighter.
"Everybody was done with the show, so we went to the club where Dana and the others were having an afterparty. Dana was then all drunk.
"He was all, What's the up, motherf r?' I was like What's the up?' He then started telling me about What do you want?
"I was like, "What the f**k do I want?" You get more money and better fights than anyone else.
"It's because, though I was at the time on the destination for a name, it's because I wasn't there."
White, a veteran fighter promoter, played down the incident earlier in this week.
He smiled with a grin on his face Tuesday and said: "Allegedly. Allegedly. We were drinking."
