UFC 279 Press Conference Canceled After Fighters Brawl
The UFC broke new ground on Thursday evening, as the company canceled a scheduled press conference before it started. After assembled media and fans waited approximately 30 minutes for the UFC 279 presser to begin, Dana White walked out by himself to announce it wasn't going to happen. The UFC president was not happy. Reports suggest the press conference was axed after a number of fighters brawled in the back before it began.
Here's video of White canceling the presser:
That's a wrap from the #UFC279 Presser 😅
— UFC (@ufc) September 8, 2022
See you tomorrow for weigh-ins! pic.twitter.com/mxf9f9L5hJ
Here is Ariel Helwani describing what happened backstage:
Here’s the full story regarding why the UFC 279 press conference was canceled before it started. pic.twitter.com/adIIQfKFXW
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) September 9, 2022
Some more info:
Water bottles, too.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) September 9, 2022
More info coming in.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) September 9, 2022
Khamzat Chimaev push kicked Holland in the chest. Chimaev was reacting to things Holland has said recently and it set him off, I’m told. Once that was broken up the Chimaev-Diaz part of the story popped off and then the bottles started flying. https://t.co/WGpbskiQz7
Per sources close to Chimaev, he was flying solo backstage. Not sure what the ratio was but he was definitely outnumbered, fwiw.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) September 9, 2022
UFC 279 is set for T-Mobile Arena on Saturday and the main even features Khamzat Chimaev facing Nate Diaz, while Li Jingliang and Tony Ferguson will battle at the top of the undercard fights.
Weigh-ins are scheduled to go forward on Friday as planned.