Flashback Friday: The Wildest Fights in Kentucky vs. Louisville History
When Mark Pope and Pat Kelsey exchanged words outside Tay Kinney’s apartment earlier this month, it didn’t turn into a full-on brawl but it reminded everyone just how combustible the Kentucky–Louisville rivalry can be. Even without punches thrown, the spat instantly entered the lore of a series built on bad blood.
Was it the nastiest skirmish in the history of the rivalry? Not even close. But in this rivalry, every shove, spit, punch, and flip-off becomes part of the legend. So on this Flashback Friday, let’s look back at some of the most unforgettable fights in the history of the Battle of the Bluegrass.
1989: Boo Brewer vs. Sean Woods
Things got physical when Sean Woods barreled down the lane and collided with Louisville’s Boo Brewer. Instead of simply absorbing the charge, Brewer flipped Woods over his shoulder. Woods popped up furious, ready to retaliate before officials held him back. It was one of the earliest examples of the rivalry’s nastiness spilling over.
1998: Jamaal Magloire vs. Nate Johnson
Magloire and Johnson went at each other all game long in Louisville. Double technicals weren’t enough to cool things down, and Magloire capped it off by fouling Johnson on a last-second dunk attempt. The Cards won that one, but the fight was what fans remembered.
2010: DeMarcus Cousins Introduces Himself
The first Kentucky–Louisville clash of the John Calipari era didn’t disappoint. Eric Bledsoe and Reggie Delk jawed early, only for DeMarcus “Boogie” Cousins to make his mark later. Diving for a loose ball, Cousins planted his forearm on Jared Swopshire’s chin, sending Rupp Arena into chaos. Officials had their hands full, but Calipari’s Cats had already set the tone.
2012: The Dialysis Clinic Incident
Only in this rivalry could two senior citizens at a dialysis clinic make national headlines. Just days before Kentucky and Louisville squared off in the Final Four, a 71-year-old Cards fan and a 68-year-old Cats fan got into a heated argument. When the Kentucky fan flashed a middle finger, the Louisville fan responded with a punch to the face. Kentucky went on to win the game and the national championship giving Big Blue the ultimate bragging rights.
2014: Bobby Petrino vs. Dan Berezowitz
The football edition has seen plenty of scuffles, but few topped this one. Pregame warmups turned ugly, and when shoves turned to punches, Louisville coach Bobby Petrino even got in on the action, pushing Kentucky assistant Dan Berezowitz. The clip became an instant rivalry classic.
2014: Chris Jones Flops, Tyler Ulis Bleeds
Louisville’s Chris Jones pulled off one of the most comical flops in rivalry history, clutching his face after a phantom elbow from Dakari Johnson. The real damage, though, came when Jones elbowed Tyler Ulis for real, drawing blood. Ulis played through it, dropping 14 points and walking away with the win and a badass photo.
2015: Rick Pitino Flips Off Rupp Arena
Emotions boiled over after another narrow Kentucky win. As Pitino walked off the floor, fans heckled him relentlessly. His response? A middle-finger salute to the Rupp Arena faithful. Pitino denied it, but the photos told the story.
2017: Jordan Jones vs. Lamar Jackson & the Trash Can Toss
In the Governor’s Cup, UK linebacker Jordan Jones and Heisman winner Lamar Jackson exchanged blows in a sideline melee. But the lasting memory came when Kentucky’s Denzil Ware picked up a trash can and shoved Louisville lineman Geron Christian with it. Only in this rivalry.
2024: Chinanu Onuaku vs. Nate Sestina
The rivalry even carried over into the TBT summer tournament. After Andrew Harrison buried a game-winner, Nate Sestina celebrated with the infamous “Ls Down.” Chinanu Onuaku responded by spitting in his face. The benches cleared, fans threw punches, and one unlucky KSR writer even caught a fist in the throat.
2024: Sideline Scuffle in the Pope–Kelsey Era
In the first Pope–Kelsey matchup, tensions boiled over at Rupp when Brandon Garrison tangled with Reyne Smith. The benches cleared, and in the chaos, Pope accidentally put Kelsey in a headlock while trying to break things up. Screenshots of the moment lit up social media.
2025: Pope vs. Kelsey, Recruiting Edition
That brings us to the latest installment: Pope and Kelsey exchanging heated words outside the apartment of top recruit Tay Kinney. No physical blows, but plenty of verbal jabs and plenty of fuel for November’s showdown at the Yum Center. Something tells us this chapter won’t be the last.
The Rivalry That Never Rests
Kentucky–Louisville isn’t just a rivalry; it’s a cultural event where grudges last decades and even summer exhibitions can turn into brawls. Whether it’s Pitino flipping off fans, Cousins laying down forearms, or Pope and Kelsey sparring over recruits, one thing’s always certain: when the Cats and Cards collide, chaos is never far away.
And with the Pope–Kelsey era just beginning, the next legendary fight may already be right around the corner.
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