What exactly happened at the UFC press conference? Khamzat Chimaev’s coach and Dana White reveal details of the backstage brawl

The pre-UFC 279 press conference has been cancelled. The reason was a mass brawl backstage, which should have been provoked by Khamzat Chimaev. Both his coach and UFC promoter Dana White gave more specifics on what happened.

The UFC 279 pre-fight press conference was cancelled due to a backstage brawl

As we reported, things were going on backstage at the press conference before Sunday’s UFC 279 event. The mass melee is unprecedented in UFC history and caused owner Dana White to shut down the press conference to boos from the fans and media in attendance.

The reason was said to be a feud between tournament star Khamzat Chimaev and Kevin Holland. The fierce Chechen living in Sweden was in fact reacting to Holland’s words that he was a gangster only behind the cameras.

This angered Chimaev, who has already had a stormy row with Paul Costa this week, so much so that he decided to settle accounts with Holland face to face. To make matters worse, the gang of Nate Diaz, who is fighting the “Swedish Wolf” in the main event of the gala, got involved.

Promoter White and Chimaeus’ coach reveal the details of the fight

“Diaz’s crowd was 57 people, Khamzat had about 30, ” Dana White described the mass milling backstage at the presser , according to MMA Junkie. “It was absolutely crazy in here, you don’t have to be a rocket scientist to figure out where this whole press conference was going,” he explained the reasoning behind the press conference’s termination.

Chimaev’s coach Andreas Michael also commented on the situation, broadcasting live from the venue on his social media. “There are mythical rumours that Khamzat ended up in hospital and Darren Till went down,” Michael began the live broadcast on his Instagram with a hint of irony.

“What happened was that Khamzat went up to Kevin Holland himself and started confronting him, then kicked him in the chest,” he admitted of the fact that the fight was provoked by Chimaev. “But then Diaz’s gang came and started doing what they were doing,” he said, describing the crazy situation.

“Fortunately, no one got hurt, we’re here to fight in a cage, not in the street fifty-on-one, ” he said, trying to tame his passions. ” We’re athletes, so let’s act like it and stop this s**t,” he added.

Khamzat Chimaev was only able to comment briefly on the situation. ” Holland and Diaz got what they deserved,” he said , according to MMA Junkie. “I told them clearly not to play with me,” he concluded firmly.

Chimaeu’s fight with Diaz was given a huge boost ahead of an already tense bout. Unfortunately, such moments cast a dark shadow over the sport itself, which has been condemned by many experts in the fight scene.

Source: MMA Junkie, Instagram