WATCH: Conor McGregor Starts UFC196 Early, Hurls Wild Punch At Diaz Presser

Let it forever be known that Conor McGregor is nothing if not an absolute showman.

A master manipulator of words, McGregor’s ability to promote both himself, and upcoming fights is just about unparalleled in the sport of mixed martial arts.
You’d be forgiven for thinking that “barely a week” isn’t nearly enough time, even for Conor, to adequately ratchet up the tension for his two-weight-classes-up brawl with Nate Diaz at this weekend’s UFC 196, after his previously scheduled opponent Rafael dos Anjos withdrew mere days prior to the event with a foot injury.
You’d think that, in that timeframe, not a real lot can be done in terms of building animosity, or super-charging tension, or bringing anticipation for the card to a fever pitch.
You would be wrong. Stone, cold, motherless wrong.
At today’s final press conference ahead of Sunday’s (Australian time) event, McGregor and Diaz faced off for a final exchange of words which predictably carried with it numerous choice barbs from both camps.
But it was the face-off press photo-op where the whole thing went from nuts to batshit crazy.
Diaz immediately fronted the stage and shaped up to McGregor, shoving an extended fist directly into his face as UFC boss Dana White attempted to keep the two apart. McGregor, however, didn’t take too kindly to the move, and responded with a fresh air swing.
Then, chaos.

White’s social media team caught an up-close angle of the confrontation, complete with choice words from McGregor being thrown at Diaz and his camp, including his brother Nick Diaz.

Bloody hell. If you weren’t keen on the fights before today, you sure as shit are now.

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Source: Fox Sports.
Photo: Brandon Mangus, Zuffa LLC/Getty.

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