Jon Jones, the UFC heavyweight champion, recently shared details about a brawl that caused Nate Diaz to leave a Russian reality show called ALF Reality. Filmed in Thailand, the show mirrored The Ultimate Fighter, with Jones and Diaz as opposing coaches. On the first day of filming, a physical clash erupted, prompting Diaz and his team to exit and return to California.
The incident involved a Russian fighter named Zalik, who sparked the conflict with Diaz. Jones noted the lack of martial arts respect on set, highlighting the show’s intense atmosphere. The brawl has raised questions about Diaz’s temperament and the production’s environment.
Brawl Erupts on ALF Reality Set in Thailand
Jones spoke about the incident with Red Corner MMA, saying:
“We had one of our young fighters, a guy named Zalik, he was playing with Nate. He wanted to play-fight with Nate. Nate kind of came in a little bit on edge. I think he had some previous beef with some Russian fighters, so he was a little bit on edge when he got here. Play-fighting with Nate was not the best idea. It became serious right away, and we had to replace Nate.”
The altercation began during team introductions when Zalik, a welterweight with a 19-17 record, tried to grab Diaz playfully. Diaz, tense from past conflicts with Russian fighters, reacted by shrugging him off and slapping him. A member of Diaz’s team then punched Zalik, sparking a larger melee. Jake Shields, Diaz’s teammate, shared footage on YouTube, describing how crew members joined the fight, escalating the chaos.
“It got serious right away, play fighting with Nate Diaz was a bad idea.”
Jon Jones, who’s currently serving as a captain on the Russian spin-off of the TUF reality show in Thailand, told Red Corner MMA about the conflict betwen Nate Diaz and one of the fighters from his team.… pic.twitter.com/HQ0gUctVmu
— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA) May 22, 2025
Shields noted the production’s disorganization, stating that Zalik was allowed back into the room after the initial clash, leading to another skirmish. Shields tackled Zalik but was attacked by others, possibly staff, prompting Diaz’s team to leave Thailand. Jones reflected on the set’s atmosphere, saying:
“I’ve been around the Bushido spirit for a long time, that martial arts spirit where everybody has a certain degree of, kind of certain rules you don’t cross. Like a martial arts spirit and everything. I don’t think there’s a lot of that here. Some guys are like warriors and some guys are really just kind of street fighters. There’s insults, there’s weapons, this show — there’s nothing like it. There’s really nothing like it.”
Diaz’s History of Clashes
Nate Diaz, a 40-year-old UFC veteran with a 21-13 record, is known for his confrontational nature. He rose to fame on The Ultimate Fighter 5 in 2007, winning the season with a submission over Manvel Gamburyan. His durability and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu skills led to notable wins, including a 2016 submission of Conor McGregor and a 2022 victory over Tony Ferguson in his UFC exit fight.
Diaz’s history includes several brawls. In 2010, he and his brother Nick were part of a post-fight melee at Strikeforce Nashville. In 2015, he clashed with Khabib Nurmagomedov at a WSOF event, and in 2022, he confronted Khamzat Chimaev backstage at UFC 279. Outside MMA, Diaz lost a boxing match to Jake Paul in 2023 but defeated Jorge Masvidal in 2024.
Jones, 37, with a 27-1 record, is no stranger to controversy, having brawled with Daniel Cormier at a 2014 UFC media event. He last fought in 2023, winning the heavyweight title against Ciryl Gane. His coaching role on ALF Reality followed a successful stint on The Ultimate Fighter in 2012 against Chael Sonnen.
Fans on X reacted with amusement, one posting, “Nate being Nate, no surprise he slapped someone and walked out.” Others criticized the show’s lack of control, with a user noting, “Sounds like a mess, no wonder Diaz bailed.” Shields claimed Russian fighters followed their team on motorcycles for days after the incident, adding to the tension.
The production has not named a replacement coach, while Jones continues filming in Thailand. Diaz has hinted at a UFC return, possibly for a McGregor trilogy, but nothing is confirmed. The ALF Reality brawl highlights Diaz’s volatile reputation and questions the show’s safety measures, leaving fans eager for updates.
