Islam Makhachev may not have an official nickname in the Octagon. But Dana White recently gave him a label that the Dagestani may not find suitable to embrace. So, what exactly did the UFC CEO say? It all traces back to none other than Nate Diaz—a name synonymous with controversy and a penchant for stirring up chaos, both inside and outside the Octagon. Diaz, who is no longer signed to the UFC roster, was in Las Vegas during the UFC 310 weigh-ins to support one of his teammates.

At the same time, Team Khabib was also present. Makhachev was there for media obligations ahead of his highly anticipated fight against Arman Tsarukyan at UFC 311. But things took a wild turn when the Dagestani crossed paths with Khabib’s old rival. What followed? A water bottle fight—yes, you read that correctly. Bottles flew through the air as both men lobbed them at each other, creating a scene of chaos. But who instigated the melee? Makhachev didn’t shy away from giving his side of the story!

Islam Makhachev breaks down the infamous bottle fight with Nate Diaz

While speaking with Demetrious Johnson, Islam Makhachev opened up about the recent bottle-throwing incident involving Nate Diaz. To the surprise of many, the lightweight champion revealed that Dana White had labeled him a “troublemaker” after the incident. However, Makhachev was quick to defend himself, sharing his perspective on what transpired.

“And the next day, they put me inside, like close to the cage. I sit with Dana, and Dana comes to me and says, ‘You are a troublemaker.’ I say, ‘Hey, Dana, it’s not my fault. We sit before the fight day. I have a press conference; the fighters have official weigh-ins. We sit, and Diaz starts to show them, you know? (the middle finger). For what? You know, maybe for someone it’s good, no problem, but it’s not our style.”

The incident began when Diaz directed his middle finger at one of Makhachev’s teammates, seemingly unprovoked. Makhachev explained that his teammate, who was wearing a mask, may have been mistaken for Khabib Nurmagomedov. “Because one of the guys wears the mask, you know because maybe he’s sick a little bit. He wears the mask, and maybe Diaz thinks, ‘Oh, it’s Khabib,’ and shows him, you know? But that day, Khabib was not in Vegas. He was in some other country, you know.”

For Makhachev, the incident was unnecessary and out of line, highlighting a clash between Diaz’s brash antics and the disciplined demeanor of the Dagestani team. Despite the misunderstanding, the lightweight champion remained calm, addressing the situation with composure and offering a firm response to Dana White’s accusation.

For the unversed, Diaz and Nurmagomedov share a fiery history, marked by near-brawls throughout their storied careers. The altercation, captured on video by ESPN MMA, shows the two shouting at each other from a distance. At one point, Diaz taunts Makhachev, telling him to “pull up,” before hurling a water bottle toward the Russian and his team. Interestingly, a particular UFC flyweight star has stepped into the conversation, claiming that it wasn’t Team Diaz that initiated the fight.

Former 125lbs title challenger defends Nate Diaz

Brandon Royval, who was present during the infamous water bottle fight, provided some clarity in an interview with MMA Fighting. Contrary to popular belief, Royval revealed that the first bottle was not thrown by Nate Diaz but by a member of Islam Makhachev’s entourage, effectively absolving Diaz of blame.

He shared, “A water bottle almost hit me when I was with [Nate] Diaz, and I’m like, ‘Alright, who the f—k am I f—g up? I don’t care who it is.’ Diaz is walking in front of me. The water bottle f—g zooms by my head. That’s another thing people didn’t see. Diaz did not throw that first water bottle. The first water bottle was thrown at him.”

Reports speculate that Tagir Ulanbekov, a teammate of Makhachev, was the one who initiated the altercation by hurling the first bottle. Despite this revelation, Diaz has not publicly denied the rumors that he was the instigator. According to Royval, Diaz’s decision to stay silent might be rooted in his notorious “bad boy” image, which he embraces within the combat sports world.

Royval explained, “He didn’t care to clear his name because that’s his style. The Stockton native already has this persona, so he just rolls with it.” This raises the question: who was truly responsible for the chaos? Was it the Stockton native living up to his reputation, or was Team Khabib the real culprit behind the scene? Share your thoughts in the comments below!