Ali Abdelaziz was reportedly involved in a backstage incident with Xtreme Couture head coach Eric Nicksick following the Manel Kape vs. Kyoji Horiguchi fight at the Meta Apex.
Sources told MMA Mania that Abdelaziz took a swing at Nicksick backstage after the bout. The two were separated, and Abdelaziz was reportedly removed from the Meta Apex.
Days later, the situation spilled onto social media, prompting a heated exchange on X between Sean Strickland and Manel Kape. Strickland posted, "Ali was arrested for being a f--king terrorist then snitched on his terrorist boys" and added, "He could offer me a billion dollars to manage me and I’d tell him to get f--ked because I’m an American … F--k Ali… The only thing that would make me feel better is if he was standing in front of me so I could say it to his face."
Kape, who trains at Xtreme Couture and is represented by Abdelaziz, fired back, writing, "Sean, it’s funny how tough you act online when you’re quiet face to face" and, "You had the chance to say all that to him in person, but you said nothing. Next time, keep my friend’s name out of your mouth b--ch cuz you know how b--ch you are, b--ch."
Previous incidents involving Abdelaziz include altercations at PFL events in New York and at UFC 268 in 2021, as well as past physical run-ins with Abe Kawa and Dillon Danis at MMA events.
