5 public altercations that involved UFC stars

#2 Ryan Hall manhandles a drunk in a restaurant

Grappling ace Ryan Hall was forced to step in when a drunk caused problems in a restaurant

The winner of the 22nd season of The Ultimate Fighter, grappler Ryan Hall comes across as one of the most mild-mannered fighters on the UFC’s roster despite his exceptional skills on the mat.

But in 2012 – some years before his UFC career began – another side of 'The Wizard' was shown in a bizarre incident involving a drunken patron in a restaurant.

Video footage of the incident showed the drunk accosting Hall, who appeared to be eating a meal with his family and friends.

After restaurant staff failed to remove him from the scene, Hall took matters into his own hands. A double leg takedown planted the drunk on the ground, and from there – without throwing a punch – Hall moved into a full mount and simply held the man to control him.

Hall eventually released the man, but when he continued to pursue an altercation, the action spilled outside the restaurant. Eventually, 'The Wizard' used a rear-naked choke to put the drunk to sleep.

Nothing further came of the incident, but it was a clear reminder that even the most mild-mannered UFC fighters could do some serious damage if they were forced to.

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#1 Lee Murray knocks out Tito Ortiz in London

Tito Ortiz apparently suffered a knockout in a public altercation in London in 2002

While no footage exists, the most legendary public altercation involving UFC fighters took place in London way back in 2002. It saw then-UFC light-heavyweight champ Tito Ortiz apparently throw down with future UFC fighter – and now convicted criminal mastermind – Lee Murray.

According to former UFC welterweight champion Matt Hughes, via another former UFC champ Pat Miletich – who witnessed the incident – the whole thing began as a misunderstanding.

Apparently, one of Ortiz’s friends jumped on Miletich’s back. Miletich’s friend Tony Fryklund thought that he was being attacked and stepped in. From there, a brawl erupted between Ortiz’s crew – which included Chuck Liddell – and Miletich’s crew, which also involved Lee Murray.

According to Miletich, Ortiz took his jacket off and approached Murray – who slipped a punch and then dropped 'The Huntington Beach Bad Boy' with a combination, before stomping on his head whilst he was grounded.

"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."

The incident immediately made its way into UFC lore. While Ortiz and Murray never faced off inside the octagon, the altercation only added to the legend of 'Lightning Lee', who would go on to become one of Europe’s most infamous men.