Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz met in Los Angeles, California, today to promote their upcoming fight on March 5 at UFC 196.
Diaz is stepping in for the injured champion, Rafael dos Anjos, after the announcement was made on Tuesday that Dos Anjos had broken his foot.
McGregor, 27, has risen to fame in the UFC by being dominant both in and outside of the ring, slaughtering his opponents during verbal jousts and promo smash talk sessions.
While it may be a stretch to proclaim Diaz as the undisputed king of trash talk, McGregor did seem angered and uncharacteristically flustered when Diaz began to probe him.
“Everybody is on steroids, the whole UFC, everybody. Dos Anjos. You, you’re on steroids,” said Diaz.
McGregor responded to the allegations by pointing to two former teammates of Diaz, Jake Shields and Gilbert Melendez, who were both banned for using steroids. Nate’s older brother and UFC star, Nate Diaz, is still serving a ban from fighting after testing positive for marijuana last year.
“Your teammates, Gil and Jake, were two caught on steroids. What about them? Did you know about them?” prodded McGregor. “Not me. What are you talking about? I’m not on no steroids!”
McGregor fired off ammunition of his is own during the interview:
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“I like Nick’s little brother. How can you not like him? He’s like a little wannabe cholo gangster from the hood. He makes gun signs with the left hand and animal balloons with the right. He’s a credit to the community. Nick is so proud of you. It’s okay, he’s doing well up here [on stage],” McGregor assured Nick and the onlookers in attendance.
It should also be noted than some of McGregor’s words for Diaz were a little more kind and genuine than we’re used to seeing with his opponents:
“I always enjoy Nick and Nate and their style of fighting. I always knew that somewhere down the line, I’d meet either one of them. I’m happy,” said McGregor. “I feel like we have a similar will, but the will doesn’t match the skill [with Nate]. That’s going to be the difference. I respect him, don’t get me wrong but business is business. He will be KO’d inside the first,” boldly predicted McGregor.
One thing is for sure— given his well-known success with predictions in the past— it’s becoming more difficult to bet against the trash talking Irishman.
