When Shaquille O’Neal goes out in public, you can pretty much guarantee something unforgettable will happen. And wow, was the public out in force in South Florida over the weekend, not only for Shaq, but the biggest of the big guys – at least, politically speaking.
It was UFC 314 on Saturday night in Miami. Our man Shaq didn’t just show up—he owned the moment. Actually, he owned several moments. Sure there was anther big name guy there – President Donald Trump! – but O’Neal didn’t let that stop him. Indeed, some face time with the prez was Shaq’s agenda for the night.
The Big Aristotle was spotted at the Kaseya Center enjoying the night of fights, but his presence quickly turned from casual to chaotic when he got into a heated exchange with popular internet streamer Adin Ross. In a now-viral clip that Ross posted to his Instagram Stories, Shaq can be seen jawing at the streamer, who looked like he bit off more than he could chew.
Ross, never one to shy away from drama, barked back at the 7’1” legend and even claimed, “I can’t wait to sue you,” turning what looked like playful trash talk into a potential courtroom showdown. We’re not sure what started the spat, but it’s safe to say Adin Ross won’t be challenging Shaq to a game of one-on-one—or a game of anything—anytime soon.
But if that moment wasn’t headline-worthy enough, Shaq had something even bigger in store later in the evening.
As cameras panned across the star-studded crowd, they caught O’Neal making his way through the sea of fans—and straight over to former President Donald Trump. The two shook hands and appeared to share a friendly exchange, which immediately blew up across social media platforms like X and Instagram.
Clips of the brief meeting racked up millions of views in hours, with fans dissecting every angle and word they could pick up. Whether it was planned or spontaneous, Shaq’s handshake with Trump quickly became one of the night’s most talked-about moments—overshadowing even some of the action inside the Octagon.
And speaking of the fights: UFC 314 brought the heat. Alexander Volkanovski reclaimed his featherweight crown with a dominant unanimous decision win over Diego Lopes, reminding fans why he’s one of the most skilled and relentless fighters in the game. In the co-main event, Paddy “The Baddy” Pimblett put on a clinic against Michael Chandler, leaving his opponent bloodied and bruised after a brutal three-round beatdown.
But let’s be real—while the fighters gave it their all, Shaq managed to upstage them just by being Shaq.
From exchanging words with Gen Z’s favorite streamer to glad-handing a former President, Shaq turned UFC 314 into a one-man show. The man doesn’t just watch the drama—he is the drama.
As the NBA playoffs loom, expect to see a lot more of the Diesel on your screen. Whether he’s calling out players on Inside the NBA, popping up ringside at high-profile events, or shaking hands with presidents, one thing’s for sure: Shaquille O’Neal is always the main event.