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- Khabib Nurmagomedov and Nate Diaz "started to get in a fight" while they were watching the UFC 239 event in Las Vegas.
- The UFC boss Dana White said they were within two rows of each other, got into a fight, but said company security intervened. "We got it handled."
- It is not the first time the lightweight fighters have had an altercation, apparently brawling at a World Series of Fighting event in 2015.
- Diaz fights Anthony Pettis at UFC 241 in August, while Nurmagomedov defends his lightweight belt against Dustin Poirier the following month.
- Should both win, they may well fight each other after.
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Khabib Nurmagomedov and Nate Diaz "started to get in a fight" while they were near the front row section of the UFC 239 event, according to the UFC president Dana White.
Saturday’s UFC 239 show in Las Vegas featured the fastest knockout recorded in UFC history, a curious five-round light heavyweight duel between Jon Jones and Thiago Santos, and a statement win from Amanda Nunes who slayed Holly Holm in a single round.
But there was also a fight Octagonside, White said. Nurmagomedov and Diaz were not participating in the event, simply observing the bouts in the crowd, but apparently ready to come to blows regardless.
"Those two were within two rows of each other and then they started to get into a fight and we broke it up and we got it handled," White told BT Sport.
When asked if he knew what was said, White said: "I’m sure a lot of bad things were said. I’m not sure exactly … I’m sure it was not good."
Read more: Jon Jones was helped to the locker room after his narrow win over Thiago Santos at UFC 239
Watch the start of Nurmagomedov and Diaz’s altercation below:
Nurmagomedov and Diaz share a long-standing rivalry and apparently brawled at a World Series of Fighting event in 2015.
Considering the animosity they have for one another, the decision to seat them within proximity of each other has been criticized. The combat sports Sporting News senior editor Andreas Hale said: "Whoever did the seating arrangements to put them that close to each other wasn’t too bright."
Both are in separate fights later in the year. Diaz takes on Anthony Pettis in Anaheim, California, at UFC 241 on August 17, while Nurmagomedov defends his UFC lightweight title against Dustin Poirier at UFC 242 in September.
Should they win their respective fights, they may well fight each other after.
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See Also:
- Jon Jones was helped to the locker room after his narrow win over Thiago Santos at UFC 239
- Jorge Masvidal knocked Ben Askren out in 5 seconds with a flying knee, hit him with afters, then celebrated by mocking him
- Naomi Osaka’s humiliating first-round loss at Wimbledon was the latest misstep in her sudden fall from world No. 1
Source: Business Insider – feedback@businessinsider.com (Alan Dawson)