Video: Diego Lopes, Yair Rodriguez separated by security after getting into heated altercation at UFC 314 press conference

Diego Lopes and Yair Rodriguez had to get security involved to keep them apart after the featherweights nearly came to blows during the UFC 314 pre-fight press conference on Thursday.

While both fighters are facing different opponents on the pay-per-view card, the most heated moment happened between them when Lopes was asked if he might consider Rodriguez for his next opponent at UFC 320 in Mexico if he gets through Alexander Volkanovski. The war of words escalated quickly after Rodriguez made comments during UFC 314 media day on Wednesday that he didn’t like Lopes representing Mexico despite being born in Brazil.

In response, Lopes fired back at Rodriguez with a reminder about his current record as he prepares for a fight against ex-Bellator champ Patricio Pitbull off two losses in a row.

“How many losses does he have in a row?” Lopes shouted. “How many losses in a row does he have?”

A split second later, Rodriguez was on his feet with a microphone in his hand as he began shouting back at Lopes across the stage. Lopes then joined him as the fighters began yelling at each other, with security quickly getting between them.

“Say it to my face!” Lopes shouted (via UFC translator Fabiano Buskei). “You want to fight me? Don’t talk about my team!”

The heated altercation continued, with the fighters speaking Spanish to each other while security attempted to keep them apart to prevent a potential brawl on stage.

After the press conference ended with the fighters separating to two different sides of the stage for the customary faceoffs, Lopes and Rodriguez came together again.

For a moment it looked like cooler heads prevailed as the fighters were talking but it didn’t look like things got settled as the shouting soon resumed with security pulling Lopes away from the interaction.

As much as he may have wanted to throw down with Rodriguez in the moment, Lopes now turns his full attention towards Volkanovski and the vacant title fight headlining UFC 314 on Saturday. Depending on the outcome, Lopes may get the chance to eventually settle his grudge against Rodriguez with UFC 320 — the latest installment in the Noche UFC series — headed to Guadalajara, Mexico in September.