Before the fight between Chimaev and Diaz, there was a mass brawl

On the night of September 11 in the American Las Vegas (Nevada) at the T-Mobile Arena, the UFC 279 tournament is scheduled, the main fight of which was supposed to be a duel between a Swedish fighter of Chechen origin Khamzat Chimaev and US representative Nate Diaz. However, the situation has already turned into a scandal, because before the meeting of the two athletes there was a mass brawl, in which about 100 people participated. The president of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, Dane White, even decided not to hold a press conference for the UFC 279 tournament “in the interests of general safety.” According to preliminary data, 25 athletes and members of their teams took part in the brawl on behalf of Chimaev, while the remaining 75 people defended the interests of the American.

“We are in a very strange situation. This has not happened in the history of the company, ”his news agency Sputnik quotes him as saying on Friday, September 9.

Eyewitnesses say that at first there was a skirmish between Chimaev and 29-year-old American UFC fighter Kevin Holland, but they managed to resolve it. However, then one of the members of Nate Diaz’s team threw something at Chimaev, which led to the escalation of the conflict. Another source said that Holland could not be calmed down, he allegedly said something to Chimaev, after which he received a kick in the chest from him, and then athletes from Diaz’s entourage intervened.

“I offered this clown a free beard trim,” Holland later wrote on social media. — I don’t know of any place in the US where this service is offered for free! I’m neat, I promise I wouldn’t cut him. At your service, bro, as hotel staff.”

But Chimaev did not stand aside either. “I told them not to joke with us,” the athlete commented on the brawl. “Kevin got his, Diaz got his.”

Scheduled for the evening of September 10, the fight in Las Vegas was supposed to be the last for Chimaev. The athlete is 28 years old and has won all 11 fights in MMA. He already tried to end his career, but the President of the Chechen Republic Ramzan Kadyrov and the head of the UFC dissuaded him. Chimaev’s opponent, American Nate Diaz, has 23 wins in 36 fights.