UFC 310 in Las Vegas may not have featured the star power of some of the promotion’s biggest names, but it still made headlines, though not for the right reasons. Nate Diaz, infamous for his tendency to start scuffles and even brawls, was a key figure in an incident that caused a backstage uproar following the UFC 311 pre-fight presser, held on the same day of the UFC 310 weigh-ins.

The Stockton native nearly incited a riot when he threw water bottles at reigning lightweight champion Islam Makhachev and members of team Khabib. But was it really the Stockton native who started the brawl? It seems Brandon Royval knows exactly who started the entire thing.

Nate Diaz wasn’t the one responsible for starting the fight at UFC 310 reveals Royval

The UFC 311 press conference took an unexpected turn. While Islam Makhachev’s appearance was anticipated, Nate Diaz’s presence – and the chaos that followed – caught everyone off guard. From across the room, Diaz and Makhachev exchanged heated words before the Stockton native asked him to “pull up.” Moments later, Diaz hurled a water bottle at the Russian, almost sparking mayhem. No punches were thrown, as both teams were prevented from further escalating the situation.

Given Diaz’s reputation for tossing drinks at opponents, it wasn’t shocking that he was blamed for sparking the near-brawl. However, one UFC fighter who was backstage that day claims Diaz wasn’t the one responsible for starting the chaos. Brandon Royval was also present at the event and shared his version of what exactly happened there. According to him, it was not Diaz who started the unwanted fight, rather it was a member of the Dagestani camp who did that.

While speaking to MMA Fighting, Royval shared the details of the entire altercation. The video was shared by MMA Fighting on their Instagram page where he said, “No, I know exactly who threw the water bottle. I turned around and [saw] it. It was the flyweight Russian kid. Yes, he was the one who first threw the water bottle. Like I turned around and [saw] it. It flew past my f…ng head. These m…..ers, and then I am like, ‘Oh, they are throwing that at him’. Bad throw you know. It was the flyweight Russian kid. I swear to god Nate did not start that s..t.” 

The incident quickly drew backlash from the sports community, with UFC President Dana White and Team Khabib’s coach, Javier Mendez of American Kickboxing Academy, among those openly criticizing the altercation. Now Umar Nurmagomedov has also come up with his own opinion on the brawl that happened recently.

Umar Nurmagomedov feels Nate Diaz does everything for attention outside the Octagon

Nate Diaz has built a reputation as one of the most unpredictable and controversial figures in UFC history. Known for his brash attitude and relentless fighting style, Diaz has often found himself at the center of headlines, both inside and outside the Octagon. His unapologetic personality and refusal to conform to the UFC’s corporate mold have made him a fan favorite, but they’ve also led to numerous run-ins with fighters, officials, and even the promotion itself. His recent altercation backstage at the UFC 311 presser is proof of that and it seems he finds ways to stay in the news according to the UFC bantamweight fighter.

During his appearance on the Ushatayka YouTube channel, ‘Young Eagle’ suggested that the former title challenger’s actions were driven by a hunger for attention. He explained [translated from Russian], “Well, that’s also a character who knows that there is security, so he passes by like this. If you want something, make sure you are close to it, in walking distance. If you want to hit, here you have it all in accessibility. Why go somewhere else, show your fingers, throw something, and then start it?” 

In essence, Umar Nurmagomedov called out Nate Diaz for stirring up trouble with Islam Makhachev through disrespectful gestures instead of confronting him directly. ‘Young Eagle’ urged the Stockton native to step up and face the champion head-on like a man.

What are your thoughts on Nate Diaz’s recent behavior? Do you believe he genuinely wants to challenge the Dagestanis, or is this just a way to keep his name in the spotlight? Share your opinions below!