Between showing up late, Nate Diaz leaving early and the chaotic scene of flying water bottles and cans, Conor McGregor only got a few words in at today’s UFC 202 pre-fight news conference.
That’s all McGregor (19-3 MMA, 7-1 UFC) needed, however, because he made his point very clear: He’s done what’s necessary to assure Saturday’s main event rematch with Diaz (19-10 MMA, 14-8 UFC) at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas goes his way.
“The Notorious” will once again move up to the welterweight division for the fight, temporarily leaving behind his home at featherweight, where he holds the UFC championship.
Read more: Conor McGregor: UFC featherweight fighters are praying I don't come back
The adjustments from the first fight, which he lost by second-round submission, are plenty, according to McGregor. The brash Irishman claims to be doing everything right from preparing from Diaz’s size to his length and, of course, his skills.
He said there’s nothing Diaz or anyone around him can do to stop the rematch from going his way.
Read more: Conor McGregor: My fight with Nate Diaz at UFC 202 will be ferocious and ruthless
“We’re confident in what we’ve been doing here,” McGregor said. “We’re prepared. I’m ready for what this man has to bring. Bring his full camp. Let me see his full camp. I can’t wait to see it. Bring the clinch, bring your jiu-jitsu, bring the whole of (expletive) Stockton. I’m ready for all he has to bring.”
McGregor arrived to the UFC 202 news conference approximately 25 minutes after it began. He immediately began firing verbal jabs at Diaz, who quickly became fed up and began to leave the venue.
He and McGregor began trading unflattering verbal and physical gestures before a flurry of bottles and cans began to go back-and-forth from not just the two men, but their respective teams as well.
The incident only built more momentum toward the rematch, which McGregor essentially guaranteed wouldn’t be the final encounter between the pair.
“There won’t be a trilogy fight right away but there will be,” McGregor said. “We will do it three times. One hundred per cent.”
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