2025-05-21T19:02:22Z

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Nate Diaz, the well-known UFC veteran, has abruptly left a Russian reality show he was filming in Thailand alongside fellow mixed martial artist Jon Jones. The series was intended to be similar to the popular 'Ultimate Fighter' format, where established fighters mentor and coach up-and-coming talent. However, the filming quickly spiraled into chaos, prompting Diaz to return home to California sooner than anticipated.

Diaz's departure from the show was marked by a significant brawl that erupted between some of the competitors and members of Diaz's team. Reports from MMA Fighting confirmed the incident on Wednesday, shedding light on the tumultuous events that unfolded before the show's production had even truly begun.

Jake Shields, a longtime friend and training partner of Diaz, was also part of the filming and provided a firsthand account of the chaotic atmosphere. In a YouTube video, Shields described the disarray that plagued the production from the moment they arrived in Thailand. The situation escalated dramatically when one of the fighters confronted Diaz during an introductory segment.

The footage released by Shields shows the Russian fighter first approaching Jon Jones, only to then turn his attention to Diaz. As the fighter attempted to grab Diaz, the UFC veteran quickly shrugged him off, but tensions rose rapidly. According to Shields, what followed was an all-out physical altercation, with Diaz reportedly slapping the Russian fighter, igniting a more extensive brawl when a member of Diaz's team threw a punch.

Shields expressed his astonishment that instead of removing the aggressive fighter from the situation, production allowed him to remain in the vicinity, leading to further conflict. Shields recounted, “Right when I started to go off on him, I got just blitzed from the side.” He described how several individuals, whom he believed were part of the production crew rather than fighters, began attacking him, adding to the confusion and chaos of the moment.

Despite the initial altercation being broken up, the turmoil did not cease. Shields noted that the environment remained hostile, prompting Diaz and his team to collectively decide to leave the filming site altogether. The production team reportedly attempted to find a solution to bring Diaz and his team back, but by that point, the group was already mentally and physically checked out, opting to return home instead.

Shields voiced his frustrations, stressing that while he was prepared to face fighters who might challenge Diaz, the involvement of the crew made the situation untenable. “Why are we going to go back and film a show — it’s one thing to be fighting the fighters, that’s why I went out there with Nate, I thought it was a possibility some of these fighters will try to test him — but when you have potentially the crew hitting you, too it’s like no, f*ck that,” he articulated.

Ultimately, just a few days post-incident, Diaz and his entire team boarded a flight back to California, marking a disappointing end to what was supposed to be a groundbreaking reality show experience in Thailand.