Ronald Martinez-GettyImages

Nate Diaz Erupts in Wild Brawl Forcing Reality Show to Shut Down (Video)

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Michael Aldon | Last updated May 22, 2025 6:42 PM ET

Retirement doesn’t always mean peace for MMA fighters—many struggle to leave their combat instincts behind, leading to public altercations and controversies. From bar fights to street brawls, former athletes often find themselves in headlines for the wrong reasons, unable to shake off the adrenaline-fueled aggression that defined their careers. Some, like BJ Penn, get knocked out by untrained civilians, while others, like Nate and Nick Diaz, remain magnets for chaos due to their unfiltered personas. These brothers (and teammate Jake Shields) in particular, have a long history of post-fight skirmishes.

Nate Diaz and Jake Shields’ latest incident, a full-blown melee on the set of Russian reality show ALF Global Reality, shows that even in retirement, they are in fight mode.

The chaos erupted during fighter introductions for the show, where Diaz and Jon Jones were set to coach opposing teams.

Russian fighter Zalimkhan Yusupov, known for past antics like choking out Aljamain Sterling, approached Diaz, taunting him with, “I’m a Russian gangster, it would be a good fight, yes?” before shoving him.

Watch a video of the altercation here, with translations:

Diaz, never one to back down, retaliated with a slap, prompting Yusupov to escalate. A member of Diaz’s team then threw a punch, igniting a riot that involved fighters, crew members, and even producers.

After the brawl, Diaz’s crew reported being stalked by Russian fighters on motorcycles in Thailand, prompting them to abandon the show entirely. Yusupov further escalated the drama, repeatedly returning to provoke Diaz and his camp despite being restrained.

The team flew home to California, leaving the show’s future in limbo.

Obviously, this is not Diaz’s first altercation outside of the cage. He’s brawled with Khabib Nurmagomedov, slapped a reporter, and now, tussled with a Russian reality show cast.

At 40 years old, Nate Diaz’s latest brawl further reinforced his reputation as MMA’s ultimate rebel—unfiltered, unapologetic, and unwilling to conform, even in retirement.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: