The Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) on Monday announced that it will be opening an investigation, with the help of the UFC, into several fights that occurred behind the scenes ahead of the scheduled UFC 279 press conference. on Thursday last week.
UFC President Dana White had to cancel the promotional event due to the fights.
“If the Nevada Athletic Commission determines that licensees acted improperly, we will initiate appropriate disciplinary action against all involved,” said NSAC President Stephen J. Cloobeck written in a statement.
The catalyst for change was an almost brawl between UFC fighters Khamzat Chimaev and Kevin Holland. The two weren’t even scheduled to fight each other at UFC 279, though that changed a day later.
Before the press conference backstage at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, Chimaev approached Holland aggressively, leading to back and forth and Dutch pushing him away as people tried to squeeze in between them, sources told ESPN. Chimaev then throws a front kick that appears to land for Holland’s body. Security and others, including UFC fighters Li Jingliangworked to separate the two men, according to sources.
One of the people who help security is the current veteran and MMA agent Tiki Ghosn, who grabbed Chimaev in an attempt to get him out of the Netherlands. Chimaev’s original planned UFC 279 opponent was Nate Diaz. When Diaz and his group saw Ghosn standing near Chimaev, Diaz assumed that Ghosn – whom he considered a friend – was part of Chimaev’s group. That caused some members of the Diaz group to throw water bottles into Ghosn, burning another person near Fracas.
Only the Netherlands and the original opponent Daniel Rodriguez Having come to the stage for the press conference before White closed the whole incident for safety reasons. Chimaev lacked a weight of 7.5 pound on Friday morning, leading to the need to reform the card: Diaz fought Tony FergusonChimaev faces the Netherlands and Rodriguez and Li fighting each other.
The UFC hasn’t disciplined any fighters for the alterations, though the NSAC has indicated they can do so – perhaps in a very significant way.
“The Nevada Athletic Commission will strictly discipline all licensees for all incidents of physical violence between athletes outside the ring or cage, up to and including forfeiture. wallet, revoke or suspend any existing licenses, reject new applications, or refuse future licenses to renew,” Cloobeck wrote.
