UFC welterweight star Nate Diaz and Bellator featherweight champion AJ McKee were involved in a near-brawl at the Jake Paul vs. Tyron Woodley 2 ceremonial weigh-ins in Tampa, FL.
Members of Diaz’s team got involved with McKee and others during one of the faceoffs, with water bottles flying. It’s unclear if anyone was hurt in the scuffle, but tensions were high before security personnel quickly intervened.
Diaz is there in support of his teammate, Chris Avila, who faces Anthony Taylor; who is one of McKee’s teammates. Taylor and Avila have gone back-and-forth on social media and at the pre-fight press conference and is a rematch of an earlier fight between them in MMA.
Nate Diaz And AJ McKee’s Teams Nearly Brawled At Weigh-Ins
Check out a clip of the chaos, courtesy of BroBible.
McKee was escorted out of the venue while Diaz was still allowed to walk side-by-side with Avila during the weigh-in festivities.
It’s unclear what ultimately led to the chaotic scene, but tensions have been high all week between the two sides. McKee and Diaz are both no stranger to pre-fight brawls as well.
McKee nearly got into a full-on fistfight with Patricio “Pitbull” Freire before their Bellator Featherweight Grand Prix final earlier this year. Diaz has been known to up the ante with pre-fight scraps with Conor McGregor and others.
Diaz has also been called out by Paul in recent weeks, and he could be Paul’s next opponent in the boxing ring. Paul faces Woodley in a rematch this weekend while Diaz has only one fight left on his UFC contract.
Diaz and McKee are still expected to be in attendance for the fights, and things could escalate later on fight night. Expect extra security in between both sides.
What are your thoughts on this scuffle between Nate Diaz and AJ McKee?