UFC 279 is scheduled for Saturday, but the fights reportedly began Thursday.
A news conference featuring main event fighters Khamzat Chimaev and Nate Diaz was canceled due to a news of backstage altercations that UFC president Dana White described as "a complete s*** show" to reporters in the aftermath.
The drama began before the news conference even got started, resulting in the UFC rolling out fighters two at a time, starting with Kevin Holland and Daniel Rodriguez. It wasn't long before the chaos reached the point that White pulled the plug on the entire production.
White told the assembled crowd he was doing what was best for everyone's safety.
Dana White was forced to cancel a fight week press conference for the first time in UFC history ?? #UFC279 pic.twitter.com/IQdqgKo7ul
White:
"Yeah, this ain't gonna happen. I apologize, 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. [Crowd boos] I hear you. I'm with you, but for everybody's safety, this is the right decision. Alright? I apologize. Thanks for coming."
While speaking with reporters, White confirmed the issues began with an altercation between Chimaev and Holland. Everything apparently devolved from there.
Holland himself appeared to confirm that to be a case with a pair of tweets claiming he had offered Chimaev a free beard trim. Chimaev is an observant Muslim, a religion in which the shaving of a beard is often considered taboo.
Just so everyone knows. I offered that clown a free beard trim. I don't know anywhere in the US that would offer that service free! I am precise I promise I would not knick him. At your service just like the hotel staff bro. https://t.co/Hiwwm40fg7
Whether or not that was the catalyst, the subsequent details sound ugly, as reported by ESPN:
Sources told ESPN that Chimaev walked right at Holland backstage before the news conference and hit him with a front kick. Chimaev was pulled away by Li Jingliang, who fights Tony Ferguson on Saturday, and former fighter and MMA agent Tiki Ghosn, as well as security. White said that it was good Ghosn was there to help. Holland then gave chase as the two were separated, sources said,
Nate Diaz faces Chimaev in the main event of UFC 279. When members of Diaz's team saw Ghosn with Chimaev, they thought Ghosn was part of Chimaev's team and started yelling at him, according to sources. Sources said that some members of Diaz's team threw water bottles at Ghosn and Chimaev's team.
That may not be the end of the violence either, as White only said "multiple things" were happening backstage. It remains to be seen if any videos emerge.
White told reporters that no fighters would be disciplined for the incident and all of them were still ready to go for Saturday. However, he indicated that security would be beefed up for weigh-ins on Friday and the event on Saturday.
White also said news conferences in the future would "definitely" have more security.