It’s A First For MMA Fight Promoter: Dana White Calls Off UFC 279 Pre-Fight Presser Thursday Because Of Backstage Skirmishes
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By Cassandra Cousineau, LVSportsBiz.com UFC Writer
It was a first for UFC. The UFC 279 pre-fight press conference was canceled Thursday because of skirmishes and shenanigans between fighters and their camps behind the scenes at MGM Grand Garden Arena.
UFC President Dana White, who runs these pre-fight events, called it a “big sh*t show.” UFC 279 is headlined by Khamzat Chimaev and Nate Diaz at T-Mobile Arena on the Strip in Las Vegas Saturday night.
After announcing the three matchups including Chimaev, Diaz, Kevin Holland, Daniel Rodriguez, Li Jjingliang and fan favorite Tony Ferguson would enter the stage in groups of two, White brought out Holland and Rodriguez for an abbreviated Q & A.
As LVSportsBiz.com was at the mic asking questions to the fighters, there were sounds of more backstage fisticuffs, prompting White to announce, “Yeah, this ain’t going to happen. I apologize, everybody. I am in very weird waters here. This has never happened in the history of this company. Let me tell you this is the right decision not to do this press conference right now.”
The small crowd of fans booed loudly. “ Yeah, I hear you. I’m with you. But for everybody’s safety, this is the right decision. I apologize,” White responded.
The frustrated UFC president met with reporters backstage and described the scene as “very physical” with “lots going on” backstage which is why he ultimately decided to call off the press conference.
Yeah, this ain’t going to happen . . . I am in very weird waters here. This has never happened in the history of this company — UFC President Dana White on canceling the press conference
“I’m not gonna tell everybody what went on back here,” White said. “There was multiple, crazy, you know, I don’t even know what to call it. How many years, 22 years I’ve been doing this. We’ve never had an incident like today. All hell broke loose out here.”
White did elaborate somewhat explaining that the initial dustup involved Holland and Chimaev, followed by the Diaz camp getting in on the action. Bottles of water were thrown between the groups, with manager Tiki Ghosn getting popped in the head with one along the way.
Diaz is in the last fight of his current UFC contract and is expected to exit the promotion following his fight Saturday. The Stockton native walked into MGM Grand Garden Arena with 57 people, along with Chamzat’s 30-something deep crew.
There were so many people with all of the camps, but not nearly as many security, Metro officers, and UFC staffers who would normally be available for a fight night event. When asked if fighters would be fined or punished in any way for the incident, White responded, “This is what we do. This is the business that we’re in. This is the fight business. What we do is we look at how this happened today. Why were we not prepared for this? How we can be better next time?”
With a couple of hundred fans in attendance, the matter could’ve quickly spiraled if the entourages met in front of the stage. The organization expects press conferences will have a greater security presence in the future.
“This was a first,” White said, “and I guarantee you it will be the last.”
