MMA fighter volunteers as security after drag event gets canceled over threats

An MMA coach and his trainees put their names forward to volunteer as security at a local restaurant in Triadelphia, West Virginia, so that a drag show could take place in peace.

The show was supposed to take place last month on February 26. However, it was later canceled after several people started to threaten the restaurant where the show was supposed to take place, as well as the performers.

Upon being made aware of the situation, Jonathan Haught, the owner of Ohio Valley MMA in Wheeling, West Virginia, suggested that he and his trainees volunteer as security if the event is scheduled again.

While suggesting that he is not afraid to stand up to people, Jonathan Haught said:

“I’m not afraid to stand up to people, and I train to fight people all day, every day, so if somebody really wants to attack somebody, let them attack me instead. Don’t attack the drag queens. I volunteer myself and my fighters to stand guard so that people can do exactly what they want to do.” [H/T NBC News]

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Diego Garijo, a former MMA fighter who also performed as a drag show queen

Diego Garijo is a unique personality who mixes the contrasting worlds of MMA and drag.

After spending several years in prison, Garijo started his professional career in 2006. However, it did not last very long after the Mexican suffered a retinal detachment in 2012. But that did not stop him and he later started competing in the realm of bare-knuckle fighting in 2018.

Interestingly, Diego Garijo also performs as a drag queen and is known by the stage name 'Lola'. In an interview with VICE, Garijo revealed that the worlds of combat sports and drag do not contradict each other.

He stated:

"Before my first drag show, I felt just like I do before a fight. In the early days of MMA, I would sit in the same changing room as my opponent before the fights. We’d sit, staring at each other, wondering: ‘Can I beat him?’ It was the same at my first drag show competition. A tiny room, eight adults, everyone sizing each other up. I wasn’t nervous though. I have strong nerves. Or maybe I’m just too stupid to be scared."

Catch the full interview below: