Conor McGregor, Nate Diaz face-off ends in near brawl ahead of UFC 196
UFC 196 almost started 48 hours early as Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz nearly came to blows before security rushed the stage following the pre-fight news conference Friday.
The customary staredown between McGregor and Diaz was expected to be heated as UFC president Dana White stood in the middle of the dais waiting for the fighters to approach.
As the fighters put up their fists for the pose, McGregor swiped Diaz's hand away and White immediately shifted into defense mode as he tried to keep them separated before chaos ensued.
Within seconds, security jumped on stage before things got out of control, but it didn't take long before both fighters' camps also were getting involved.
We just about had a fight at the presser! #UFC196 pic.twitter.com/XDoOCzDzTr
— FOX Sports: UFC (@UFCONFOX) March 3, 2016
More from the McGregor/Diaz fiasco #UFC196 pic.twitter.com/If1otoh5eC
— FOX Sports: UFC (@UFCONFOX) March 3, 2016
Former UFC fighter Jake Shields was immediately backing up Diaz as well as Nate's brother Nick, who also was jumping into the fracas as McGregor was pulled away by a security agent as well. McGregor was then flanked by his teammates, including striking coach Owen Roddy, who was watching the press conference from just a few feet away.
Just when it looked like cooler heads would prevail, McGregor and Diaz both pushed back toward each other as the stage filled with more security.
It was a brief flashback for a moment to a 2010 event in which Shields defeated Dan Henderson at a Strikeforce event before he was confronted by Jason "Mayhem" Miller in the Octagon. A brawl ensued, involving the Diaz brothers who were there that night as well.
Thankfully, this time around security were in place and ready to go before things got even uglier in the end.
Later, McGregor told "FOX Sports Live" that Diaz was "afriad to look me dead in the eye. So he put a flame out in front of him and I quickly snatched it and broke his wrist."
For his part, Diaz called it "a scared little cheesy shot on my hand."
The two had exchanged plenty of trash talk before the presser got out of hand.
Diaz ripped McGregor for fighting smaller opponents and not training with real fighters: "I've got real training partners," he said. "Top-10 fighters. Top-10 boxers. Top-10 jiu-jitsu guys. Top-10 kickboxers. You're playing touch-butt with that dork in the park."
McGregor taunted Diaz for making less money than him and said he should thank him for such a big pay day: "Look at Nate's last fight — $20,000 to show, $20,000 to win, not even a win bonus," he said. "His full check wasn't even a Performance of the Night bonus, now he's out there popping his cherry and he's going to make his first million. He really should be thankful and be grateful for this opportunity that I am giving him. Don't talk about money, you're broke."
McGregor and Diaz finally will face off in the Octagon on Saturday night, but there will be one more face-off on Friday at the UFC 196 weigh-ins.
