"Trying so hard to sell this mid card" - Fans and fighters react to backstage brawl between Khamzat Chimaev, Kevin Holland, and Nate Diaz that led to cancelation of UFC 279 presser

Fans and fighters on social media had mixed reactions to the UFC 279 press conference backstage brawl involving Khamzat Chimaev, Kevin Holland, and Nate Diaz.

Chimaev, Diaz, and the rest of the UFC 279 combatants were scheduled to take part in a pre-fight press conference. However, an altercation between 'Borz' and Holland reportedly sparked a backstage melee.

According to reporter Ariel Helwani, the brawl was broken up by fighter-turned-manager Tiki Ghosn. However, things took a turn for the worse when Diaz's crew arrived and saw Ghosn with Chimaev's group. Feeling betrayed by Ghosn, Diaz reportedly threw water bottles, slaps, and kicks at him.

Check out Helwani's report regarding the incident below:

Ariel Helwani

@arielhelwani

Here’s the full story regarding why the UFC 279 press conference was canceled before it started.

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Here’s the full story regarding why the UFC 279 press conference was canceled before it started. https://t.co/adIIQfKFXW

Needless to say, the incident sparked intrigue among the MMA community. Here’s how fighters and fans reacted to news of the cancelation of the UFC 279 press event.

UFC middleweight contender Derek Brunson was disappointed with his fellow fighters. He reminded his colleagues that people paid money to be part of the presser, and that their actions directly affected those who came to support the event.

"Fighters stop acting like idiots before the fight. Don’t be messing up press conferences, weigh ins and fights. People pay their hard earned money to be apart of "

Derek Brunson

@DerekBrunson

Fighters stop acting like idiots before the fight . Don’t be messing up press conferences, weigh ins and fights . People pay their hard earned money to be apart of

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Fighters stop acting like idiots before the fight . Don’t be messing up press conferences, weigh ins and fights . People pay their hard earned money to be apart of 😡😡😡

Brunson's sentiments were echoed by up-and-coming MMA prospect Bo Nickal. The three-time NCAA Division I national champion labeled those involved as "unprofessional."

Bo Nickal

@NoBickal

Unprofessional. We literally fight in a cage and people still think they need to prove how tough they are. Relax y’all. twitter.com/arielhelwani/s…

Ariel Helwani

@arielhelwani

Early word is Khamzat Chimaev and Kevin Holland initially got into it and the whole situation got out of hand. Then situation spilled over to Nate’s team. Lots of chaos. More coming in. Developing,

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Early word is Khamzat Chimaev and Kevin Holland initially got into it and the whole situation got out of hand. Then situation spilled over to Nate’s team. Lots of chaos. More coming in. Developing,

Unprofessional. We literally fight in a cage and people still think they need to prove how tough they are. Relax y’all. twitter.com/arielhelwani/s…

Chris Weidman and Vince Morales were desperately seeking more details, while Marlon 'Chito' Vera, Chase Hooper, and Chris Leben chimed in with their thoughts.

Chris Weidman

@chrisweidman

I’ve never cared about Mma news like I do right now. I need to know what happened backstage. Where is the videos? #ufc279

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I’ve never cared about Mma news like I do right now. I need to know what happened backstage. Where is the videos? #ufc279

Vince Morales

@vandetta135

My Twitter can't refresh fast enough haha I want to know what happened 🙃

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My Twitter can't refresh fast enough haha I want to know what happened 🙃

C H🖕🏽T O🇪🇨V E R A

@chitoveraUFC

To much shit talk, people got smacked

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To much shit talk, people got smacked

Chris Leben

@ChrisLebenMMA

UFC Embedded should be tonight!!! @ufc #UFC279

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UFC Embedded should be 🔥🔥 tonight!!! @ufc #UFC279

Chase Hooper

@chase_hooper

All this conflict has me thinking that we haven’t really heard anything from Colby Covington in awhile… wonder where he’s at 🤔🤔

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All this conflict has me thinking that we haven’t really heard anything from Colby Covington in awhile… wonder where he’s at 🤔🤔

Some fans on are convinced that the brawl was just another ploy by the UFC to try to sell what is seen as an underwhelming fight card. Meanwhile, others have opposing opinions as to who deserves the blame for the incident.

scott clarke

@scottclarkebbn

@arielhelwani they trying so hard to sell this mid card

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@arielhelwani they trying so hard to sell this mid card 😹

Cory Booger 🕑

@BoogerCory

@arielhelwani This is one way to sell a crappy PPV

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@arielhelwani This is one way to sell a crappy PPV

Sup

@TSSxJason

@arielhelwani UFC dropped the ball with security… they should of known by now with McGregor Vs Diaz press conferences, Khazmat confronting Costa at the PI, both rolling with big teams, etc.

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@arielhelwani UFC dropped the ball with security… they should of known by now with McGregor Vs Diaz press conferences, Khazmat confronting Costa at the PI, both rolling with big teams, etc.

LEON EDWARDS P4P N1

@morvivan

@arielhelwani Everybody gangsta till khamzat comes to have his breakfast

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@arielhelwani Everybody gangsta till khamzat comes to have his breakfast

Dubs

@cadoob79

@arielhelwani Diaz brothers are trash.
I'm so looking forward to them just fading away to Bellator or some other place and being irrelevant

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@arielhelwani Diaz brothers are trash.
I'm so looking forward to them just fading away to Bellator or some other place and being irrelevant

Thurman Murman

@This_IsAustin

@Tonyyjabroni @arielhelwani Diaz team and fans are very fragile

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@Tonyyjabroni @arielhelwani Diaz team and fans are very fragile

Pierre Delecto

@Tonyyjabroni

@arielhelwani So Diaz got his feelings hurt

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@arielhelwani So Diaz got his feelings hurt 😂😂😂

Mano a Mano

@ManoFightClub

@arielhelwani Ngl that's disappointing af

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@arielhelwani Ngl that's disappointing af

LW Champion 👑

@DoBronxBurner

@arielhelwani Khamzat needs a humbling

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@arielhelwani Khamzat needs a humbling

musiclover

@neeshkish

@arielhelwani I blame this on the media. Guys like @bokamotoESPN kept asking Khamzat and Nate if either teams starts talking shit will they get into it. Anything for clicks. Pathetic.

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@arielhelwani I blame this on the media. Guys like @bokamotoESPN kept asking Khamzat and Nate if either teams starts talking shit will they get into it. Anything for clicks. Pathetic.

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"An absolute s*** show" - Dana White reacts to UFC 279 brawl

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UFC 279 press conference attendees were disappointed after Dana White announced that the event is being called off "for everybody's safety."

The UFC boss appeared on stage to apologize to the fans and media members, but asserted that his decision was the best move.

"S*** show. An absolute s*** show back there. Ask them questions. There's lots of crazy s*** going on back there. ... Trust me when I tell you this is the right decision not to do this press conference right now. For everybody's safety, this is the right decision. I apologize."

White also blamed the lack of security along with the overwhelming number of people backstage that led to the situation spiraling out of control.

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