Words like “barn-burner” and “slobber-knocker” could be used to describe World Series of Fighting 22, and we’re not talking about the action inside the cage.
Mayhem and panic spilled onto the floor at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas on Saturday night, as a brawl erupted between UFC fighters Nick Diaz and Khabib Nurmagomedov.
Spencer Lazara of MMAinterviews caught the incident on tape.
Diaz can be seen chucking a drink in Nurmagomedov’s direction before being escorted from the event by security. According to Lazara’s video description, the incident all started with a brief exchange of words between Nurmagomedov and Nick’s younger brother, UFC fighter Nate Diaz:
Nick was calm even after Nate and Khabib had words. Then Martin Sano got up close to Khabib and paid for it with a clean right hand to the kisser. Bloody lip and all, he’s the one shown going back after Khabib briefly. Khabib hurt his hand a bit, licking it all night after. 2nd video is up of the chair flying melee outside the arena some 20 minutes later.
Sano is a good friend and training partner of both Diaz brothers. They were all on hand at the event in support of their teammate Jake Shields, who was scheduled to fight Rousimar Palhares for the WSOF welterweight title.
Nurmagomedov, on the other hand, was there to watch his brother Abubakar Nurmagomedov and teammate Islam Mamedov compete.
After the initial run-in, there were reports coming out that the Diaz brothers were “begging” Nurmagomedov to meet them in the parking lot.
Nick and Nate Diaz were apparently begging Khabib Nurmagomedov to meet them in the parking lot! The Diaz brothers are Hall of Famers.
— Mike Johnston (@MikeyJ_MMA) August 2, 2015
The trash talking set the stage for MMA’s rendition of the Hunger Games. Round two of the melee happened outside the arena, and it was on a massive scale (warning: NSFW language).
According to Nurmagomedov in a social media post on Monday, Nate Diaz “started the verbal fight” and later began “swinging.” While he wouldn’t go into all of the details, he claimed the Diaz’s “ran” when things got serious.
Last night I was confronted by 2 thugs. I'm a professional mixed martial artist. I'm not a street fighter @ufc @danawhite @lorenzofertitta
— khabib nurmagomedov (@TeamKhabib) August 3, 2015
There’s never a dull moment when it pertains to the Diaz brothers. Many of you may remember the infamous brawl in Nashville, Tennessee, during a Strikeforce event. Shields was in the middle of a post-fight interview when Jason “Mayhem” Miller ran into the cage uninvited. The incident quickly turned into a brawl, which resulted into three-month suspensions and fines.
Stay tuned to Bleacher Report as more news becomes available in this developing story.
Jordy McElroy is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. He also is the MMA writer for FanRag Sports and co-founder of The MMA Bros.
