Diaz Calls Makhachev “Ewok” in UFC 311 Rant
Nate Diaz’s Jan. 14, 2025, Instagram post revived a dispute over a December backstage altercation between his camp and Islam Makhachev’s team at a press conference ahead of Makhachev’s January title defense. MMA Fighting reported that both groups threw water bottles before security intervened. Diaz said he did not know Makhachev was there, accused someone from Makhachev’s group of throwing a bottle at him, and mocked the group as “Ewoks.”
The two fighters gave different accounts of what preceded the bottles. Makhachev said Diaz gestured at his team and recalled a friendly elevator encounter months earlier; Diaz denied they had met in an elevator. MMA Fighting also reported that flyweight Brandon Royval said he saw Makhachev teammate Tagir Ulanbekov throw the first bottle. That reported eyewitness account supports part of Diaz’s claim, while the fighters’ broader accounts remained disputed. Makhachev’s earlier comments were reported before Diaz responded.
Makhachev later defended his lightweight title at the Jan. 18, 2025, event, submitting short-notice replacement Renato Moicano with a D’Arce choke at 4:05 of the first round, according to the official card results.
