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MMA is one of the few professions in which an employee can settle a dispute they have with a colleague by fighting them. The sanctioned bouts scheduled by promotions like the UFC enable mixed martial artists to vent their pent-up anger and frustrations through physical violence.
Very few jobs offer that kind of outlet to their employees. Thus, it is common to see rivalries between MMA fighters find their resolutions inside the cage or ring. Unfortunately, this isn't always the case. At worst, a bout between feuding MMA fighters leaves one or both of them unsatisfied.
However, in the rarest of instances, things can take a step beyond that. The adrenaline rushing through an MMA fighter's body can make them more emotionally charged, prompting the very few among a sea of professionals to pursue further combat after a sanctioned bout has ended.
While post-fight melees and brawls are uncommon in MMA, they do happen. This list compiles 5 of some of the craziest post-fight melees in recent MMA history.
#5. Post-main event brawl at Russian MMA promotion ProFC 57
Back in 2015, a wild brawl erupted in the aftermath of a main event bout on the Russian regional MMA scene.
The then-reigning ProFC middleweight champion Shamil Abdulkhalikov faced Mikhail Kolobegov in a three-round bout. While neither fighter managed to earn a finish, Abdulkhalikov was confident he had won.
Unfortunately, a mistake made during the judging process led to an odd fourth round being added. The then-reigning middleweight titleholder, who was previously confident he had won, was knocked out by a flying knee from Mikhail Kolobego. Alas, the challenger's celebrations were cut short.
A mass brawl quickly engulfed the scene shortly thereafter as members from both fighters' teams scrambled into the cage. The official knockout win on Mikhail Kolobego's behalf was later annulled due to the previously mentioned judicial error, and a rematch was rescheduled.
#4. UFC 203 co-main event
One of MMA's most bizarre melees took place in the aftermath of the UFC 203 co-main event. What made the situation so odd was that there's still no solid understanding of why a brawl nearly erupted in the first place. At the time, MMA legend Fabricio Werdum was on the cusp of ultimate success.
He was one fight away from challenging then-reigning UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez. To earn the title fight, 'Vai Cavalo' faced the towering Travis Browne. The bout was an easy victory for the Brazilian, who earned a unanimous decision win.
However, right after the bout, Edmond Tarverdyan—Travis Browne's coach—engaged in a heated confrontation with Fabricio Werdum, prompting the future UFC champion to push-kick him in the chest. Exactly why the Glendale Fighting Club founder wanted to have a word with 'Vai Cavalo' remains unknown.
According to the Brazilian heavyweight, he saw Tarverdyan charging at him with intent to punch him, so he simply took preventive action. While Werdum quickly got into a fighting stance, cooler heads prevailed and the brawl that nearly was instead remained a brief melee that was stopped by security.
#3. PRIDE 31 co-main event
More than a decade ago, the UFC was not the MMA juggernaut it is today.
Instead, PRIDE reigned supreme as the home of the world's best MMA fighters. At PRIDE 31, the co-main event featured a heavyweight bout between Maurício Rua and MMA pioneer Mark Coleman.
The matchup concluded in anticlimactic fashion within 49 seconds of the first round, with 'Shogun' conceding a takedown to his foe and injuring his arm in the process. Unfortunately, 'The Hammer' refused to dismount his foe, forcing the referee to pull him away from the Brazilian.
The sequence of events infuriated 'Shogun's corner, causing them to storm the ring and spark a brawl between the two teams.
#2. Brawl at Strikeforce: Nashville
One of the most infamous brawls in the sport's history involved Nick Diaz and the rest of Cesar Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, including Nate Diaz.
In 2010, teammate Jake Shields faced the legendary Dan Henderson in a winning effort. However, his victory was tainted during the post-fight interview.
Jason Miller—a former foe of Jake Shields—interrupted the moment by stepping into the cage and demanding a rematch. When Cesar Gracie Jiu-Jitsu member Gilbert Melendez tried to escort 'Mayhem' out of the cage, Miller responded aggressively by shoving him away.
His actions led to Nick Diaz, Nate Diaz, and the rest of the Cesar Gracie Jiu-Jitsu team flooding the cage. A brawl erupted until it was eventually quelled by the combined efforts of security officials, referees and even members of 'Hendo's team.
#1. UFC 229 post-main event brawl
The most successful UFC PPV of all time is also the promotion's most infamous due to the post-fight controversy that overshadowed its financial success. The buildup to UFC 229 featured some of the most vitriolic trash talk ever witnessed in the promotion.
In an escalation of their feud, Conor McGregor unleashed a volley of personal insults riddled with politically and religiously charged rhetoric. As someone who hails from an honor culture, Khabib Nurmagomedov did not take his foe's statements lightly.
In a brutal four-round affair, 'The Eagle' defeated 'The Notorious' via a neck crank. Still heated after the bout, the Dagestani legend scaled the cage and leapt off the top, inciting a brawl with Dillon Danis.
While 'The Eagle' fought the Brazilian jiu-jitsu star, his team entered the cage and attacked the Irishman. The brawl eventually stopped but it left the crowd so incensed that Dana White refused to wrap the title around 'The Eagle's waist for fear of a riot.
