Reports say that KHAMZAT Chimaev was admitted to hospital with severe head injuries following a backstage brawl between the Diaz brothers.
After a fight broke out between Nick and Nate, Chimaev (28) was taken to the hospital. Dana White, a red-faced Dana White, had to cancel UFC 279's press conference.
Khamzat Chimiev was reportedly taken to hospital after a brawl backstage with Nick and Nate Diaz
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.
The press conference lasted only five minutes, with Daniel Rodriguez and Kevin Holland briefly appearing on the stage to give a quick interview. Before the event was closed down, however.
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 hasn’t been able to see White or UFC brass in the past year. He accuses the promotion of slow rolling him and trying to extend his contract as long as possible.
However, the feud with White is not 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?' 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."
