5 times UFC stars fought outside the octagon

#4. Nick Diaz vs. Joe Riggs – fought in the hospital after UFC 57

Hours after facing him in the octagon, Nick Diaz brawled with Joe Riggs in the hospital

When young UFC welterweight contenders Nick Diaz and Joe Riggs faced off in a close fight at UFC 57, it felt like the kind of clash that could produce more than one bout over the coming years.

Few people, however, could’ve expected that the two men would clash again outside the octagon on the very same night, brawling in the hospital after both were sent there following their heated fight that saw Riggs win a tight decision.

Like with many of the fights outside the octagon over the years, details of this incident have been scarce, although both ‘Diesel’ and Diaz have spoken about it on numerous occasions, including to the UFC as part of their ‘Fightlore’ programme.

Interestingly enough, the stories of both men seem to agree on one thing – that Diaz was largely the instigator. According to Riggs, he was attempting to rehydrate himself using an IV when the Stockton brawler confronted him with a barrage of expletives.

The two men then exchanged words before Diaz caught ‘Diesel’ with a punch, knocking out a tooth and, according to Riggs himself, causing the welterweight to defecate himself.

From there, the two men apparently exchanged punches before being separated. While they never did rematch inside the octagon, their brawl inside the emergency room has now entered into MMA legend.

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#3. Daniel Cormier vs. Jon Jones – fought at UFC 178 press conference

Months before their first bout, Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier battled at a press conference

When former Strikeforce heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier announced that he was dropping to 205 pounds in early 2014 in order to pursue a title bout with reigning UFC light heavyweight kingpin Jon Jones, many fans figured a major rivalry was about to begin.

Few could’ve imagined, however, that the two stars would exchange blows outside the octagon almost four months before they officially faced off, in what was essentially the MMA world’s version of Mike Tyson and Lennox Lewis’ legendary press conference brawl.

‘Bones’ and ‘DC’ were expected to face off in the headline bout of UFC 178 in September 2014. When they faced off at a pre-event press conference, former UFC Vice President of Public Relations Dave Sholler simply wasn’t prepared for what would happen next.

Subbing in for Dana White, Sholler stood between the two fighters, only for Cormier to stun everyone by shoving Jones as he stepped towards him for a staredown.

Before the VP could react, Jones shoved him off the stage and then threw a left hook at Cormier and the two men tumbled off the stage while exchanging blows.

The two fighters were eventually separated and, to be honest, it was impossible to tell who got the better of things. Only one thing was certain, one of the most heated rivalries in MMA history had begun and only ended when Jones defeated his rival in two official bouts.

Hilariously, White later blamed himself, stating that Sholler, who was inexperienced in dealing with staredowns, should not have been put into such a position in the first place, although given the money the two Jones vs. Cormier fights generated probably ensured the whole thing was worth it.