For professional mixed martial artists, the ceremonial weigh-ins are a crucial part of fight week. It is a theatrical ritual designed to build tension, entertain the fans, and project unwavering confidence before stepping into the Octagon. Fighters typically spend these moments flexing, staring down their opponents, trading verbal barbs, or exchanging intense glares. However, when Canadian lightweight Mandel Nallo stepped onto the stage for the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s high-profile event in Edmonton, Alberta, he chose a completely different approach—one that immediately went viral and left the MMA community both baffled and amused.
Nallo, who went on to deliver a stellar performance by stopping Nate Landwehr at UFC Edmonton on October 17, drew widespread attention before the bout even began by conspicuously picking his nose on stage. The unexpected and unconventional gesture instantly became a talking point across social media platforms, sparking endless memes and speculation among fans and pundits alike. Weeks after the event, the 37-year-old fighter finally broke his silence, explaining the wholesome, family-friendly inspiration behind the bizarre moment and the hilarious, high-stakes dilemma it created with UFC CEO Dana White.
Mandel Nallo Says His Sons Inspired UFC Edmonton Nose-Picking Gesture Before Dana White’s Handshake Offer
Speaking in an interview with veteran MMA journalist Ariel Helwani, Nallo detailed the behind-the-scenes conversation with his young children that ultimately led to his unforgettable weigh-in antic. According to the lightweight contender, the gesture was never meant to be a political statement, a sign of disrespect to his opponent, or a deliberate attempt to shock the broadcast audience. Instead, it was a secret, personalized message crafted specifically for his two young boys, who were watching their father from home.
Nallo revealed that his sons, aged five and seven, are at an age where they are beginning to understand that their father competes in combat sports, though they are still largely shielded from the brutal realities of the profession. While the boys actively train in jiu-jitsu, Nallo noted that they remain completely unaware of just how violent mixed martial arts can truly be, and they certainly do not yet grasp the full scope of what their father does for a living on the global stage.
Wanting to establish a direct connection with them during the broadcast, Nallo asked his sons for advice on how he could let them know he was thinking of them while standing under the bright lights of the ceremonial weigh-in stage.
"I have two boys; they’re 5 and 7… I wanted to notify them that I knew they were watching," Nallo explained to Helwani. "So I told them, ‘What’s something I can do so that you guys can see that I know you’re watching?’ They told me, ‘Pick your nose.’ I’m a committed nose picker. I’m not gonna half-ass it. I’m not gonna pretend. So, I went up there and that was for them."
While the gesture successfully achieved its primary objective of sending a secret message across the television screen to his delighted children, it immediately plunged the veteran fighter into an unexpected and profoundly awkward social dilemma on stage.
As Nallo finished executing the plan with his right hand, UFC CEO Dana White stepped forward and extended his arm for a traditional handshake ahead of the fighter’s intense faceoff with Nate Landwehr. Suddenly, the lightweight found himself caught in a comedic trap reminiscent of a classic television sitcom scene. With his right hand freshly compromised, Nallo realized he had mere seconds to make a split-second decision that would avoid public embarrassment while maintaining proper decorum in front of company leadership and thousands of live spectators.
"I’m right-handed. I’m gonna go up there with my right hand, and then [Dana White] extends his arm out to you," Nallo recalled. "You don’t have time to explain what just happened. So I did a finger point so that there was no contact. There was no disrespect. It was kind of like a ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’ moment. I got this booger in my hand, but if I go, ‘I don’t want to shake your hand,’ then I look even worse. I just had to roll with it."
The quick-thinking adjustment allowed Nallo to bypass the physical handshake without creating an overt diplomatic incident with the head of the organization, though the surreal sequence of events provided an unforgettable highlight of fight week festivities in Edmonton.
The amusing anecdote highlights the human element behind the often intense and hyper-masculine atmosphere of professional mixed martial arts. Beneath the bravado, weight-cut depletion, and high-pressure stakes of competing at the highest level of the sport, fighters are frequently navigating personal lives, family commitments, and the everyday, lighthearted realities of parenting. For Nallo, a commitment to his children’s simple request momentarily upstaged the traditional pre-fight intimidation tactics expected of a professional athlete.
The lighthearted weigh-in moment preceded a critical professional turning point for the Canadian veteran inside the Octagon. Nallo, who holds a professional mixed martial arts record of 15 wins, 4 losses, and 1 no-contest, successfully earned his coveted UFC contract last year through an impressive performance on Dana White’s Contender Series. However, his promotional journey has not been without its hurdles. Earlier this year, Nallo suffered a tough setback in his official promotional debut, dropping a technical knockout loss to Jai Herbert.
The high-stakes bounce-back opportunity against Landwehr at UFC Edmonton was therefore vital for Nallo’s standing in the talent-rich lightweight division. True to his reputation as an all-or-nothing finisher, the 37-year-old managed to secure a definitive stoppage victory over Landwehr, reinforcing his status as an exciting athlete who consistently delivers memorable bouts. Notably, throughout his extensive professional career, Nallo has never once had a fight left in the hands of the ringside judges, maintaining a 100 percent finish rate across all of his professional outcomes.
As the story of his viral weigh-in moment continues to circulate among MMA fans, Nallo can look back at the incident with humor, knowing that his mission to reach his two biggest fans back home was ultimately a complete success—even if it required a quick-witted recovery in front of Dana White and a live arena audience.
