Nate Diaz and UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev were involved in a backstage altercation following the UFC 311 press conference in Las Vegas. This incident underscores Diaz’s reputation for stirring trouble both inside and outside the Octagon. Although Diaz is not currently signed to the UFC roster, he was in attendance to support a teammate when tensions flared with Makhachev.
Earlier this year, Diaz celebrated his first professional boxing victory by defeating former rival Jorge Masvidal. He concluded his UFC career with a win at UFC 279 and has subsequently hinted at a possible return to the Octagon, despite appearing more inclined towards boxing after witnessing the matchup between Jake Paul and Mike Tyson.
Diaz’s history with Khabib Nurmagomedov is rife with tension, featuring several near-altercations during their illustrious careers. In this latest incident, Diaz chose to direct his ire not at Nurmagomedov directly but at his teammate, Makhachev, by throwing a water bottle in his direction.
Footage captured by ESPN MMA shows Diaz and Makhachev exchanging words from a distance, with Diaz challenging Makhachev to “pull up” before launching the water bottle. The situation escalated quickly, but security steps in to defuse the chaos backstage before anything more serious could occur.
Makhachev was in Las Vegas to promote UFC 311, where he is set to face Arman Tsarukyan in a rematch during the main event. He is coming off a successful victory against Dustin Poirier by submission earlier this year at UFC 302.
As of now, neither Makhachev nor Diaz has publicly commented on the backstage incident via social media. For the moment, it seems that tensions have eased, but it remains to be seen how long this peace will last.
The feud between Diaz and Nurmagomedov traces back to a notable incident in 2015, when Diaz slapped Nurmagomedov, igniting a rivalry with one of MMA’s most dominant teams.
The altercation involving Diaz and Makhachev wasn’t the only conflict at the UFC 311 press conference; Merab Dvalishvili and Umar Nurmagomedov almost came to blows, fuelling their ongoing feud before security intervened.
Throughout his UFC career, Diaz has been one of the promotion’s biggest attractions, particularly following his high-profile bouts against Conor McGregor. His shocking victory over McGregor at UFC 196 stands as one of the most significant upsets in UFC history.
There is speculation about a potential trilogy fight between Diaz and McGregor, despite McGregor’s absence from the octagon due to a leg injury he sustained at UFC 264.
The matchup of Makhachev vs. Tsarukyan will kick off what promises to be an exhilarating year for the UFC in 2025, following Makhachev’s unanimous decision victory over Tsarukyan in their first encounter back in 2019.
While UFC CEO Dana White is currently focused on UFC 310, he is expected to address the altercation involving Diaz and Makhachev in the days ahead. UFC security measures are likely to be heightened to prevent any further incidents between the two at future events.
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