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'Clowns': Police separate UFC stars as ringside scuffle breaks out

Police have separated UFC stars Nate Diaz and Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 239 in Las Vegas.

Several accounts from witnesses said the two stars and their entourages were swiftly separated by Las Vegas Police as the two settled in at the Vegas venue.

It doesn’t appear to have been anything more than a minor scuffle, with neither Diaz or Nurmagomedov coming all that close to each other.

Avoiding any major incident will come as a huge sign of relief for UFC boss Dana White, considering the lengthy history Diaz and Nurmagomedov have.

Las Vegas Police had to separate Nate Diaz (left) and Khabib Nurmagomedov (right) at UFC 239.
UFC stars Nate Diaz and Khabib Nurmagomedov were separated at UFC 239 after a brief altercation. Pictures: Getty Images

The duo infamously clashed at a World Series of Fighting event in 2015, while Nurmagomedov was heavily criticised for attempting to attacking Conor McGregor’s corner man after defeating the Irishman in October last year.

UFC 239 undercards impress

Diego Sanchez built interest in his fight with Michael Chiesa on the main card of UFC 239 at T-Mobile Arena for several weeks with his quirky personality, unconventional approach and by talking up a new coach who had unlocked secrets he hadn’t known before.

Sanchez sprinted from his locker room to the cage, a red towel draped over his head, with new trainer Joshua Fabia sprinting behind him. When Sanchez entered the cage, Chiesa was pacing back-and-forth in his corner.

Sanchez never took his eyes off Chiesa and sneered at him the entire time as Bruce Buffer was introducing the fighters and referee Mark Smith was preparing to start the bout.

But when the bell rang, the fun times ended for Sanchez, as did his modest two-fight winning streak. Chiesa held a 119-3 advantage in significant strikes land -- connecting on an almost unheard of 95 percent -- and had five takedowns to just one for Sanchez.

All three judges scored it 30-26 for Chiesa, who has now won two in a row and made himself a factor in the welterweight division.

The battle between the former “The Ultimate Fighter” winners — Sanchez won Season 1 at 185 pounds and Chiesa won Season 15 — drew a lot of interest because of Sanchez’s oddball way of promoting it. He said Fabia was teaching him how to be a jedi and he said he was coming to kill Chiesa.

But Chiesa, who said he watched Sanchez during TUF Season 1 in his parents’ basement, took it all in stride. And then he was gracious after mauling Sanchez and making him look like an aging and overmatched opponent.

“He’s a tough guy and he took me into some deep waters,” Chiesa said.

Sanchez showed his trademark resiliency in battling off several submission attempts, but he had next-to-nothing to offer Chiesa.

It’s unlikely the loss will spell the end of the road for Sanchez, but it should propel Chiesa into a fight with significance in his division.

WITH YAHOO SPORT US/KEVIN IOLE