3 UFC Fighters More Controversial Than Nate Diaz

The UFC world is rife with all kinds of characters and personalities. Given that is fighting at the end of the day, some of that action tends to spill outside the bounds of competition. Some fighters are just built a certain way – geared for conflict. Just ask Nate Diaz, the no-nonsense ‘bad boy from Stockton’, who’ll drop you in the blink of an eye, if you look at him wrong. There are plenty of clips out there, of Diaz shoving, slapping, and even choking people out, apart from the all-out brawls we’ve seen him involved in. It all came to a head when the Stockton native was charged with misdemeanor batter after striking a bouncer at a nightclub in Las Vegas.

But it would be unfair to put the spotlight of controversy on Nate Diaz. After all, the Stockton native is unapologetically himself, and his boundaries are clear. Cross them, and you might just eat a one-two. What about other fighters? Surely, the Diaz brothers aren’t the only notorious characters in the UFC world. While the Diaz brothers operate within the confines of their boundaries, other fighters have crossed, not just theirs but other people’s boundaries. In that light, let’s take a look at some other fighters, who either are part of or fought for the UFC, who gave trouble to Dana White and Co.

1. Jon Jones

There isn’t a single soul who doesn’t know about Jones’ troubles with the law. Even though he rules the UFC heavyweight realm as the champion, he can’t help but unwittingly find himself in the middle of controversies. The first signs of trouble began in 2012 when he crashed his Bentley into a telephone pole in NYC. The UFC double champion was arrested for driving under the influence but got bail soon after he was put behind bars. Nevertheless, he pled guilty and was fined with $1000. 

The second time ‘Bones’ was arrested was when he was involved in a terrible hit-and-run case in 2015. Jon Jones was driving a rental car in Albuquerque when he jumped a red light and collided with two other cars. Unfortunately, there was a pregnant woman in one of those vehicles, who suffered a wrist injury as Jones fled the scene. Later, however, the police arrested him after witnesses and documents in the rented car provided context to the incident. The two-weight champion pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor DWI charge and was subsequently let go. However, he was stripped of his UFC light heavyweight title, and suspended from the fight promotion till further notice.

In 2020, Jones was involved in yet another case that got him arrested. He was caught driving, again, while intoxicated. On top of that, he fired a gun while under the influence. He also failed to produce his insurance documents, leading to his 3rd arrest. The fourth and final time he was brought to the court was when he was arrested for criminal battery and domestic violence in 2021. Jessie Moses, Jones’ high school sweetheart and fiancé claimed that he had physically abused her. The wounds on her nose and mouth and the blood stains on her clothes aligned with her story. 

Bones was also accused of threatening dr-g testing officials when they visited him to collect some samples. Nevertheless, he pleaded not guilty and stuck to his side of the story. All these incidents have become talking points – a stain on an otherwise incredibly dominant fighting career.

2. Mike Perry

In 2014, Mike Perry went to Florida jail for 6 months for violating probation. ‘Platinum’ was on probation because of a burglary charge. What’s more? He got himself in trouble with a battery charge while on probation. 

Back in 2020, a video went viral that showed the former UFC contender punching multiple people at a bar. But it was dropping an old man that attracted heat from the netizens. The former BKFC champ was also caught hurtling racial slurs at his target. Even though no charges were filed against ‘Platinum’, the police investigated the fighter for misdemeanor assault. Soon, the UFC released a statement claiming that Perry had apologized and would get professional treatment, which included substance and behavioral counseling. No doubt, the UFC had quite a bit of trouble handling the situation. 

The year 2024 witnessed Perry get arrested once again. He was charged with DUI, refused to take a sobriety test, and agreed to be arrested. Not only that but he also refused to sign a citation that required a court order. But that didn’t stop his verbal abuse and he was jailed but soon released on payment of  $1500. 

Perry has always remained unapologetic when it comes to his troubling actions. He was also accused of domestic violence by his ex-wife Danielle Nickerson. It’s his habit of escalating situations that created the most amount of trouble for the bare-knuckle fighter.

3. BJ Penn

Just like Jones, BJ Penn had a lucrative career as a UFC fighter and champion. As ‘The Prodigy’ neared his final years as a mixed martial artist in the UFC, he got himself involved in many incidents of violence. In 2015, he was arrested on charges of alleged assault. In 2019, the former UFC fighter was accused of physical and s–ual assault by his ex-girlfriend. This resulted in a restraining order against him. 

In the same year, Penn was apparently trying to calm an angry drunk man in the streets of Pahoa, Hawaii. This incident was caught on tape which showed Penn getting knocked out clean with a shot to the face. This was also the trigger that pushed Dana White to release Penn from the UFC.  The former UFC champion was also arrested for driving under the influence. This time too, Penn was caught on camera as he insulted the police arresting him while he was intoxicated. 

What are your thoughts on the legal troubles that MMA athletes face? Do you think we missed any fighter on the list? Drop down to the comments section and keep the conversation going.