MMA fighters are known for fighting, obviously, under strict sports regulation. However, sometimes a fight breaks out outside of the arena. Some of these incidents have even become part of combat sports folklore. So let’s take a look at ten of them!
Roger Huerta Flattens ex-Linebacker
Let’s travel back to 2010, and watch the video of former UFC/Bellator fighter Roger Huerta KO’ing former Atlanta Falcons linebacker, Rashad Bobino. The American football player had allegedly punched and knocked out a female in the middle of the street.
Bobino KO’s the female, then starts walking away. That’s when Huerta appears and walks out of the crowd and into the street. Huerta moves towards Bobino and appears to start talking to him. Then we hear someone screaming Huerta’s name, telling him to stop. Huerta’s friend tries to stop him from taking the football player on, but it doesn’t work. Then, no thanks to the camera guy, we come upon an already downed and unconscious person on the street. It’s Rashad Bobino.
You don’t get to see the scrap, but the aftermath is pretty brutal, as a whole group of people has to help lift this guy off the concrete.
Mayhem Miller Color Commentates Own Street Fight
This is a rather quick fight. It involves a polarizing figure in the sport, one known for his skill and charisma, but also, unfortunately, for countless arrests and run-ins with the law. The fight starts the Mayhem landing a big left shot and following it to the ground, while chortling, “Got you now big boy.”
We don’t see the end of the fight, but it was likely broken up after a few more body shots by Mayhem.
Strikeforce Nashville Brawl
This fight outside the cage actually took place inside the cage, at Strikeforce: Nashville on April 17, 2010, live on CBS.
Cesar Gracie Jiu-Jitsu team standout Jake Shields had just beaten the great Dan Henderson, and was being interviewed by Gus Johnson, when Jason “Mayhem” Miller somehow gained access to the cage and interrupted Shields, asking, “Where’s my rematch, buddy?” Gilbert Melendez and Shields pushed Miller away, Nick Diaz threw the initial punch, Nate Diaz joined the festivities and a full-scale melee broke out. The fight was eventually broken up by referees, members of Dan Henderson’s corner, and event security. Afterward, a flustered Gus Johnson blurted out a line that became a meme, “These things happen in mixed martial arts.”
However, the aftermath was not a joke. CBS canceled Strikeforce’s television contract, and MMA would not return to network television until November 2011, with UFC on Fox: Velasquez vs. Dos Santos.
Charles Bennett vs. Cristiano Marcello
Crazy fights took place at Pride Shockwave 2005. Charles “Krazy Horse” Bennett won his fight via armbar, but was then yellow carded after the bout for tackling the referee. For all of the non JMMA fans, a yellow card means 10% of purse is taken away.
It didn’t stop there. Krazy Horse was in the locker room where Wanderlei Silva was warming up, and started arguing with Chute Boxe fighter Cristiano Marcello. After a couple of fast punches, the fight hit the ground; even though Krazy Horse was coming off an armbar win in his bout just prior, he was clearly outmatched by Marcello and his high-level BJJ. After throwing a couple punches from the top, Crazy Horse was caught in triangle choke, tried to slam his way out, but succeeded only in tightening it, and was quickly put to sleep.
Cody Gibson in Bar Fight
This begins like a regular college-style altercation, with two guys squaring off. However, the larger man didn’t realize the smaller man he was pressing up against was UFC fighter, Cody Gibson.
After getting shoved to the ground, Cody appears relatively light-hearted and tells the big dude to google him. The big dude responds, “I don’t give a f*** who you are dude!”, and follows up with a strong right hand, that lands. Cody reverts to his wrestling skills and tries to get a takedown. On the ground, a few friends break it up.
Nate Diaz and The Skrap Pack vs. Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Crew
This brawl took place in a casino during World Series of Fighting 22. Nate Diaz’s crew, the Skrap Pack, are always down to, well. scrap. And the Dagestanis around the MMA Lightweight GOAT Khabib Nurmagomedov are next level. It is safe to say that security had their hands full.
Chael Sonnen vs. Wanderlei Silva TUF Brawl
This scrap is one of the most talked about moments in The Ultimate Fighter reality shows’ history. It took place during the taping of the TUF 3 Brazil season, with Chael Sonnen and Wanderlei Silva were coaches. There was a distant backstory, with Silva having attempted to intimidate Sonnen years before, over pre-fight hype that disparaged Brazil.
During a weigh-in on the show, Wanderlei got a little too close to Chael and that was something that Chael wouldn’t allow, having previously been shoved. Chael pushed Wanderlei back, Wanderlei charges forward with a punch that Chael ducks under and gets a takedown. Wanderlei ends up in a butterfly-guard before all the fighters from the show try to break it up. Coach Andre Amade throws a punch at Chael that later on Dana said should have got him arrested. All this said, it must be kept in mind that this was “reality” television, and Chael Sonnen, so the truth, well, it’s out there.
Further attempts by the UFC to make this fight were stymied by failed drug tests and subsequent retirements. It finally happened at Bellator 180 on June 24, 2017, with Sonnen winning via Unanimous Decision.
Jon Jones vs. Daniel Cormier Faceoff
The light heavyweight MMA GOAT Jon Jones and challenge Daniel Cormier were taking part in a press conference to promote their fight at UFC 178. UFC president Dana White couldn’t attend so Senior Director of Public Relations Dave Sholler stepped in.
The two fighters squared-off and got a little too close. DC pushed Jones, who dropped his belt, shoved Sholler out of the way, and move forward with a series of strikes, and then everything including the backdrop collapsed to the floor.
The bout was rescheduled for UFC 182, and Jones won in dominant fashion to retain his title. Jones won again at UFC 214, but saw the victory overturned to a No Contest, after he positive for an extremely low level of turinabol metabolite. Cormier retired and is now beloved elder statesman of the sport. Jon Jones has moved up to heavyweight, and remains a cautionary tale.
Don’t “Made ya Flinch” Joe Schilling
What is your impression at first glance? Many people initially thought Schilling was out of line.
Here is Schilling’s explanation, via his social network, with minor editing for clarity.
Little context: This guy’s rapping like an idiot. The busboy who happens to be black walks by, and this idiot bumps into him and screams out, "Me and broke n**s, we don’t get along." The busboy was seriously offended but doesn’t want to lose his job. As the night goes on, this clown starts looking at me and rapping whatever song is being played while making eye contact with me. I’m like, “What’s wrong with this idiot?” I go outside to smoke, and as I’m walking back in, he bumps into me. I put my hand out to catch him. He immediately says “I’m sorry.” You can see me nod my head like, cool.
Then he realizes it’s me, the guy he’s been rapping at all night, and yells, “HEY.” I turn around, and he flexes on me. … Bad decisions are made every day. I went back and sat down to finish my drink and pay my bill. Two servers, the busboy and DJ came up to thank me. As you can see from this video when he flexed on me, I was scared for my life and simply defending myself against the evil in this world.
Watch the flinch, reflect back on what happened to Cody Gibson, and now what do you think?
And The One That Got Away: Tito Ortiz vs. Lee Murray
As the story goes, n London back in 2002, gangster/fighter/legend Lee Murray knocked out Tito Ortiz with one punch. The account below comes from the great Pat Miletich, as recounted in Matt Hughes’ autobiography Made in America: The Most Dominant Champion in UFC History. As a complete aside, Sean McCorkle’s review of Hughes’ book HERE.
"So it’s four o’clock in the morning and they had everybody leave the club, right? Well, the UFC had bussed us all over there but they didn’t have a bus to take us back. It’s down to Mark, me, Tony Fryklund, Chuck Liddell, Tito, and Lee Murray. Lee Murray’s crew was still there, Tito’s crew was also still there. I walked out the back door to go in the alley. Tito’s buddy jumped on my back. He jumped on my back and acted like he had me in a chokehold, just messing around, you know? Then I felt him get ripped off of me. I turned around and Tony Fryklund had him in a choke hold, and was really choking him.
"So I turned around and I told Tony to let him go, and Tony let him go. Then Tito’s buddy turned around and basically said, ‘What the f*** are you doing?’ to Tony. Well, when he said that, one of Lee Murray’s buddies, that one guy who kind of took care of us all week long, thought this guy was actually trying to fight us, so he ran out of the crowd and cracked this kid with a right hand and knocked him out cold.”
“Are you serious?” I asked Pat.
“Hold on, it gets even better. The entire alley erupted into a huge brawl. I was just standing there, and there were bodies flying all over the place. I was confused how it all happened, because it happened so fast. I was standing there with my mouth open, like, What the hell is going on? I looked over and Chuck Liddell was with his back against the wall, knocking people out that were trying to go after him. Then I looked over and there’s Tito directly past me, taking his coat off, going after Lee Murray, and Lee Murray’s backing up the alley taking his jacket off. Both their jackets come off, and Tito throws a left hook at Lee Murray and misses, and right as he missed, Lee Murray counters with, like, a five-punch combo, landed right on the chin, and knocked Tito out. Out. Tito fell face-first down to the ground, and then Lee Murray stomped him on the face a couple of times with his boots.
“Then Tony Fryklund and I grabbed Lee and pushed Lee and said, ‘Get out of here!’ And Lee said, ‘I’m sorry, I’ll see you later,’ and took off. And Tony Fryklund helped Tito to his feet."
Footage of the brawl was taken by the great film director and producer Bobby Razak - follow him on Twitter - but he has never released it. So we will have to make do with the UFC Fight Lore cartoon.
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