Conor McGregor, Nate Diaz preen and trade expletives at UFC 196 weigh-in
LAS VEGAS – As per the course of this brief, yet vitriolic 10-day promotion, Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz exchanged curse words and middle fingers as both came in under the 170-pound weight limit in front of a raucous pro-McGregor crowd as the two prepare for their UFC 196 main event showdown at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
McGregor, the current UFC featherweight champion, will make his welterweight debut against Diaz, who stepped in on short notice to replace the injured UFC lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos. With little time to prepare, both agreed to square off at the welterweight limit of 170 pounds.
The Irishman looked far different than the emaciated skeleton that stepped on the scale at UFC 194 for his featherweight title showdown against Jose Aldo. A very filled out McGregor hit the stage rubbing his belly as a sign that he is happy to not have to cut weight. Noticeably more defined than Diaz, McGregor weighed in at 168 pounds. His counterpart also made weight at 169 pounds.
With Las Vegas police officers onstage in the event things became physical, Diaz awaited McGregor to step off the scale in a fighting stance as the two fired off middle fingers and expletives in front of a roaring crowd. As the two exchanged words, Diaz flinched at McGregor and caused Dana White, who was already in position, to step in and make sure that the only place that punches and kicks are exchanged is in the Octagon on Saturday night.
“I’m here to kill or be killed,” Diaz said to Joe Rogan before firing off yet another middle finger and another round of curse words to his opponent.
McGregor seemed unfazed and expressed it to the riled up crowd filled with Irishmen.
“It’s just another day for me,” McGregor said. “One falls out and another steps in so I’m used to it.”
Of course, McGregor had to get the final verbal jab in a war of words with his opponent, taking aim at Diaz’ build.
“I was giggling at his little soft body,” he said. “How can a fat guy be so skinny at the same time? It amuses me.”
Although there has been less than two weeks to build to the fight, it certainly hasn’t been lacking in verbal fireworks as the two have traded obscenities, curse words and insults whenever they were in the same room.
At Thursday’s press conference, McGregor and Diaz had a near dust-up when they were faced off as members of both teams spilled onto the stage. Cooler heads prevailed but the tension between the two camps is very thick.
McGregor, who is as much as a 3.5 to 1 favorite, originally sought to become the first UFC fighter to actively hold world titles in two weight divisions when he was scheduled to face dos Anjos. Although he won’t have the opportunity to make history on Saturday night, the main event hasn’t lost any luster due to Diaz’s popularity and ability to engage in a war of words at the drop of a hat.
If McGregor does defeat Diaz, there is a prevailing thought that he will challenge welterweight champion Robbie Lawler at UFC 200. But he’ll have to get past Diaz first before UFC president Dana White can entertain a fight of that magnitude.
The co-main event finds Holly Holm making her first defense of the UFC women’s bantamweight title she won with a shocking knockout of Ronda Rousey as she squares off with Miesha Tate. There was far less animosity between the ladies but there are expectations of these two putting on a competitive fight. Both Tate and Holm made weight (135 and 134.5, respectively) and avoided anything that resembled the friction showcased between the two main event fighters.
“Whole new training camp, whole new nerves, whole new fight, whole new work in progress,” said Holm, who had the support of the crowd. “November’s fight was back in November and I have to be ready for March 5.”
Full UFC 196 weigh-in results
Main Card (Pay Per View)
Conor McGregor (168) vs. Nate Diaz (169) five rounds, welterweights
Holly Holm (134.5) vs. Miesha Tate (135), five rounds for the UFC women’s bantamweight title
Gian Villante (205) vs. Ilir Latifi (205), three rounds, light heavyweights
Corey Anderson (204) vs. Tom Lawlor (204.5), three rounds, light heavyweights
Amanda Nunes (136) vs. Valentina Shevchenko (134), three rounds, women’s bantamweights
Fox Sports 1
Brandon Thatch (170) vs. Siyar Bahadurzada (170), three rounds, welterweights
Erick Silva (170) vs. Nordine Taleb (170), three rounds, welterweights
Vitor Miranda (185.5) vs. Marcelo Guimaraes (185.5), three rounds, middleweights
Chas Skelly (145.5) vs. Darren Elkins (145.5), three rounds, featherweights
UFC Fight Pass
Jim Miller (155.5) vs. Diego Sanchez (156), three rounds, lightweights
Justin Salas (156) vs. Jason Saggo (155.5), three rounds, lightweights
Julian Erosa (144.5) vs. Teruto Ishihara (146), three rounds, featherweights
