UFC 279 press conference saw a massive altercation take place backstage between Khamzat Chimaev, Kevin Holland, and the entire team of Nate Diaz.
Watch Whatās Trending Now!
UFC president, Dana White, announced that the meeting has been called off after he learned about the backstage incident.
White said, āThis aināt gonna happen (press conference) I apologize everybody. Iām in very weird waters here. This has never happened in the history of this company, so trust me when I tell you this is the right decision, not to do this press conference right now.ā
UFC 279 press conference cancelled by Dana White reaction (@MikeHeck_JR, @JoseYoungs) mmafighting.com/2022/9/8/23343ā¦
Boos roared from the crowd, and everybody who had shown up for the presser was in clear dissent. Dana appeared to agree with the peopleās reaction and said, āI hear ya, Iām with ya. But for everybodyās safety, this is the right decision. I apologize, thanks for coming.ā
Darren Till shares his side of the story about the Khamzat Chimaev incident
The UFC middleweight,Ā Darren Till, who also happens to be Chimaevās training partner, shed some light on the entire situation between the Russian and Nate Diaz.
In an interview when he was asked, how everything played out, Till replied, āIt was just normal. I donāt know if Iām saying that cause weāre fighters like it was normal cause we fight all the time.ā
Darren Till talks UFC 279 Presser; Team Diaz coming to hotel: "It's team vs. team" youtu.be/w-eoN-eV0Ew
Till described the whole situation where his team was waiting while Borz was on his own backstage. When Dana canceled the meeting, Till, along with the entire crew, ran backstage to see what happened.
Kevin Holland and Darren Till traded words at the hotel after a backstage melee canceled the #UFC279 press conference. š #UFC279 | More details: bit.ly/3RwXdwU
Till said, āSecurity was like Till donāt go. I was like one of you just told us Nateās team is outside. Khamzat is staying in this hotel. They (team Diaz) are not staying, so if theyāve come here for one reasonā¦ itās just team vs teamā¦ theyāre gonna protect Nate and weāre gonna protect Khamzat.ā
Darren Till believes a brawl could have broken out backstage
Till further said that it wasnāt an as big issue of an issue as people made out of it. He said, āI think people on the outside build it up a little more than what it is. Itās like it is just what it is.ā
Imago
ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES ā OCTOBER 30: Khamzat Chimaev of Sweden prepares to fight Li Jingliang of China in a welterweight fight during the UFC 267 event at Etihad Arena on October 30, 2021 in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)
Although Till said that a fight could have possibly broken out. āLet me tell you one thing: most of them (Diazās team) are fighters. āMost of us are fighters. All this s**t like how Iām this, Iām that, most of us come from streets, most of them do. Thatās what weāre used to doing (fighting). If weāre getting close, things are going to get said. Someoneās gonna look at someoneā¦ and then weāre going to roll in a fight, arenāt we?ā he concluded.
View this post on Instagram
Khamzat Chimaev also came out with a message after the whole altercation. He uploaded a video where he said, āI told them already not to play jokes with us. Kevin deserved this, Diaz deserved this.ā
šŗ Khamzat Chimaev šÆ Nate Diaz The official #UFC279 poster has dropped šØ
The UFC still has the ceremonial weigh-ins to conduct; although, how things have transpired itās dubious about whether itāll take place or not.Ā
What do you think about the entire incident? Let us know in the comments below.
WATCH THIS STORY: What does Joe Rogan Think of Khamzat Chimaev