As word spread of an alleged melee backstage at the UFC 279 press conference, MMA fighters were glued to their phones, hoping to get an update on who did what.
UFC President Dana White’s cancellation of the media event only served to intensify the curiosity about an altercation backstage – allegedly involving Khamzat Chimaev and Kevin Holland, among others – that led to the sudden shift in plans.
Here’s how fighters reacted to news of the altercation and the cancellation of the UFC 279 press conference.
Just so everyone knows. I offered that clown a free beard trim. There is no place in America that offers this service for free. I am precise I promise I would not knick him. I am at your service, just as the hotel staff. https://t.co/Hiwwm40fg7
— Kevin Holland (@Trailblaze2top) September 9, 2022
RIP pic.twitter.com/KmGBze2Qs5
— Paulo Costa ( Borrachinha ) (@BorrachinhaMMA) September 9, 2022
I’m very intrigued now
— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) September 9, 2022
Where was Paulo costa during all this
— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) September 9, 2022
I heard Officer Holland went Denzel in Training Day backstage at the UFC press conference .
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) September 9, 2022
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) September 9, 2022
— Joe Joe Giannetti (@Giannettimma) September 9, 2022
My Twitter can’t refresh fast enough haha I want to know what happened
— Vince Morales (@vandetta135) September 9, 2022
UFC Embedded should take place tonight! @ufc #UFC279
— Chris Leben (@ChrisLebenMMA) September 9, 2022
I’ve never cared about Mma news like I do right now. I need to know what happened backstage. Where is the videos? #ufc279
— Chris Weidman (@chrisweidman) September 9, 2022
