The Swedish UFC star Khamzat Chimaev has a big match against the American Nate Diaz on Sunday night, Swedish time, in Las Vegas.
Last night, the duo was supposed to hold a press conference before the game, but it never happened. The reason? A great commotion in the catacombs.
UFC president Dana White told the media in a clip posted on the MMA Junkie Twitter account that the fight was started by Chimaev and Kevin Holland (who are also fighting at the event).
— It was a complete “shit show,” says White according to ESPN.
According to ESPN, Chimaev approached Holland before the press conference, which led to an argument and several people had to try to separate them. Chimaev is said to have also kicked Holland.
Chimaev and Holland have mocked each other in interviews and in various social media rants recently.
ESPN writes that people from Nate Diaz’s team were also involved and that some allegedly threw water bottles at Chimaev’s team and Tiki Ghosn, a former fighter who allegedly tried to defuse the fight. According to White, Tiki Ghosn received water bottles in the head and also some slaps.
“If it hadn’t been for Tiki, we would have had big problems,” says White.
White says that the press conferences in the future should have better security so that similar situations do not occur again.