Feb 12, 2023; Perth, WA, AUSTRALIA; Islam Makhachev (red gloves) fights Alexander Volkanovski (blue gloves) during UFC 284 at RAC Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jasmin Frank-USA TODAY Sports

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UFC Lightweight Champ Islam Makhachev Opens Up On The Nate Diaz Altercation Backstage

Islam Makhachev reveals the untold story behind the intense backstage encounter with Nate Diaz, sparking curiosity and intrigue!

Feb 12, 2023; Perth, WA, AUSTRALIA; Islam Makhachev (red gloves) fights Alexander Volkanovski (blue gloves) during UFC 284 at RAC Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jasmin Frank-USA TODAY Sports

The MMA sphere has always been a volatile one, full of unexpected encounters, both inside and outside the cage. Sometimes, fighters clash when fans least expect it, and other times, supposed enemies show surprising respect. The latest chapter in this involves lightweight champion Islam Makhachev and the ever-unpredictable Nate Diaz,

Now, Islam Makhachev, while talking to Demetrious Johnson, is telling fans about two very different meetings with the Stockton native.

Also Read: Islam Makhachev Teases Potential Fight Venue Following UFC 311, Leaving Fans Guessing What’s Next!

What Happened After UFC 311 Press Conference?

After UFC 311’s press events, things got heated in classic MMA fashion. Makhachev, getting ready to defend his lightweight crown against Arman Tsarukyan, found himself in an unexpected scuffle. The incident kicked off when Nate Diaz, who was there supporting his teammate Kron Gracie, started throwing up middle fingers at Makhachev’s team.

One of Makhachev’s crew was wearing a face mask, which might have confused Diaz into thinking it was Khabib Nurmagomedov, a supposed long-time rival of the Diaz brothers.

“We sit before the fight day, I have press conference then fighters have official weigh-in. We sit and Diaz start to show them [his middle finger], for what? Maybe for someone, it’s good, it’s no problem, but it’s not our style. Because one of the guys, he wears the mask, you know? Maybe he’s sick a little bit, he wear the mask and maybe Diaz is thinking, ‘oh, it’s Khabib [Nurmagomedov]’ and show him, but that day Khabib not in Vegas, he’s in some other country.”

Islam Makhachev says he met Nate Diaz alone in the elevator and Nate put his hands up saying “respect” 😂😂😂 https://t.co/CJkzJsanAT pic.twitter.com/3ea8D8OTkb
— – (@AIKYGDLT) January 7, 2025

During a recent chat on Demetrious Johnson’s ‘Mighty’ podcast, Islam Makhachev dropped a bombshell about a completely different encounter with Diaz. Just months before the press conference drama, the two fighters had bumped into each other in an elevator at the Wynn Hotel.

Instead of flying fists or harsh words, Diaz approached Makhachev and simply said, “Respect, Respect” before walking away.

Islam Makhachev couldn’t help but point out the irony of how people change when cameras are rolling. He highlighted how the hotel encounter showed their true colors away from the spotlight. It’s an age-old reminder that what fans see in front of the cameras isn’t always the full story!

(Image Credit: Jasmin Frank – Imagn Images)

Demetrious Johnson

Islam Makhachev

Nate Diaz

Zaid Quraishi

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I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!